Canucks are a Dark Horse

[nuckin_futz]

Don't know if this was mentioned before but a major factor in this tourney could very well be who can keep their team healthy. Given the number of Covid infections already it's something to consider. Same thing in the NBA and MLB. Lots of players testing positive.

 

If your starting goalie gets Covid you're chances are finished. If two of your defencemen get it, you're finished.

 

Manage to stay healthy and you should have more of a leg up than usual.

Edited July 11, 2020 by nuckin_futz

[Kevin Biestra]

Agree with most of your positive points about the lineup but there's no way Demko is a top 30 goalie in the league at this particular point in time.

[coolboarder]

They didn't do well against Wild this year and I'm thinking that it is a win-win situation for them.  Win a series, they get to play more games.  Lose, they gained invaluable experience of a playoff series that they might not get otherwise since they were on a downward swing after a good start.  I felt that they lost the momentum after they lost the game in Columbus after giving up late in the third period.   Also it's a win-win situation for a chance on #1 pick if they lost the series against the Wild.   So I feel that it's win-win for them anyways and getting scary if they happen to win the lottery.   Markstrom will be an X-factor if they look to make the playoffs.  The only way they might not be win-win if they lose guys to free agents getting some hit to our depth that we needed badly for next few years until Luongo's recapture penalty expires.  It might be a blessing in disguise if they were able to retain their guys and cap room frees up once recapture penalty expires to snag one free agent available within 2 years.  

[kloubek]

I do feel we could be a dark horse team for sure. If you look up and down a healthy lineup, we have guys throughout who really could play higher if there was room. In turn, individually our forward lines look pretty sweet on paper, imo.

 

Even our d doesn't look bad, just looking at the names and what attributes those players are expected to bring. We have the steady (albeit oft injured) Tanev shutting guys down. Towering Myers who, quite honestly, needs to bring it. Hughes is Hughes... we all know what he can do for us. Steady Eddie as well. The third pairing is really the only place where we don't have much to offer - but Stech is fine in a 3rd pairing role even if he is undersized, and if Fanta or especially Benn play to their ability it could be worse.

 

In short, I feel we have the tools. But our success will mainly come down to 3 things:

 

- If Marky can stand on his head the whole competition.

- If our players play to the level they are capable of. This means our skill guys like Petey and Huggy find ways to NOT get shut down, and it means our heavy guys play heavy.

- If we find a way to play systems thar work. This one scares me, because Green hasn't found it yet. Our 5 on 5 play was similar to that of basement dwelling teams. We relied way too much on the PP and Markstrom. If this doesn't change, I feel the chances of being that Dark Horse team is very dim indeed.

[Phat Fingers]

I have been saying the dark horse stuff since the pre season. 

 

Yet I think continuing the season while the US is on the verge of civil revolt to be revolting.  70k new cases a day, soon to be 100k a day, soon to follow the 3k to 5k a day dead.  With the Trump administration that number could surge past 10k a day if left on it's current trajectory.  

 

This season will not finish, we will end up as 12.5% odds at the 1st, win, but AL ends up in Tampa cause that's what the NHL wants and then Trump gets elected again.  That's one of the signs of the apocalypse, lol....

 

Still, this is nuts... there is no way that the NHL can pull this off in the current climate in the US.  The only way is for entire resorts/hotels with a round the clock security and such to isolate every single person that could come in contact with the on ice players, including their families.  

 

One single JV hitting the bar while sneaking out could bring the whole thing crashing down.  Sorry, but I love a pipedream as much as the rest of us... this is a hair brained scheme.  

 

The NHL should be taking a civic lead to pressure the US administration into acting.  To carry on playing hockey while thousands, by the time this is supposed to resume, maybe 10k a day dying in the country around you from a infectious disease that is in full outbreak, well that is next level head in the sand thinking.  

 

It is insensitive, selfish and it will fail, less than 10 percent odds of keeping the virus out of the game if it held in the US.  

 

3 million known cases to date, leading epidemiologists say that the rate of infection  1 per 300 2 weeks ago, now it likely 1 to 100 in hot spots.  That's up to 30 million cases with only 10% being tested.  

 

I don't think the players can play in not masks... you can breathe, but it does restrict peak air flow.  So that's likely out.  Full face masks won't do anything..  maybe NASA can help cause unless they can make all players wear full face masks, this is dead before it leaves the stall.  

 

The pathogen is spread by yelling, heavy breathing and can travel as far as 27 feet from an infected individual in an enclosed space.  

 

We aren't having outdoor rinks in July and August... 

 

So one or two players sneak out, get busy with a few local bunnies in which ever hub city... they become asymptomatic and go out and play the next day... everyone that they breath on on the bench, on the ice, in the dressing room, scrums etc... they all catch it and then repeat.  

 

Can every single NHLer and hanger on keep their pants on, not party and be smart about this?  If you believe that, well I have a great investment for you.  

 

 

As a nucks fan, this is also complete BS.  For that reason they better beat the Wild or Tampa will get our pick, even if it the 1st.  Cause that is the leagues ruling that winning percentage will determine the draft order if the season cannot be completed, even if it is in the middle of the finals.  

 

 

So if playoffs cannot be completed, but the nucks are knocked out by the Wild, our pick goes to Tampa.  

 

So unless the Nucks go on a bit of tear we are going to have a very disappointing off season cause it is a very stupid plan to continue with this disaster atm.  If you don't understand why, maybe look at videos of mass graves being dug in cities across the US and tell me that this is a good time for group sporting events indoors and in close distance to each other.  

 

Stay safe and realize this is not over, save your money, be safe and be prepared.  

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2020 by Phat Fingers

[Bad_BOI_pete]

Dear Phat Phingers

i would say you should put on a tinfoil hat, but i think it would be safer if i put one on to protect me from your thoughts. there is so much wrong with your post, its as if you have a random number generator spitting out covid-19 data. but nevertheless i hope you have a better day.

Edited July 11, 2020 by Petey_BOI
add username

[D.B Cooper]

21 hours ago, Yung1 said:

The Canucks are a dark horse to do damage in the playoffs this year, and dare I say, possibly even win the cup. Hear me out...

Going into the series with Minnesota, the Canucks will have a completely healthy lineup. This combined with the Toffoli acquisition at the deadline, makes the Canucks Forward group one of, if not THE deepest in the league. Some experts have already said the the addition of Toffoli makes our Top 6 possibly the best in the league, and if Ferland can return after an extended break and play anything close to his potential, an argument could be made for our bottom 6 to be one of the best in the league as well.

Miller Pete Toffoli/Boeser - regardless of who's RW, this is one the top lines in the league. Personally I'd love to see the lotto line back together.
Pearson Bo Toffoli/Boeser - all 4 of these players were on pace for 25+ goals this year. This isn't a 2nd line. It's 1B.
Ferland - Gaudette - Virtanen - This line is a wildcard, but it's 3 players who play hard and fast who could thrive together in playoff hockey. If Ferly fails, slot in Leivo and you still have a solid checking line.
Leivo/Motte/Roussel/Beagle/Sutter/Loui/Macewen... - lots of options here. We'll certainly be okay if injury strikes our bottom 6. Roll with whoever looks good coming out of camp. Lots of these players could play 3rd line on some teams.

Our defense is where we're a bit thin, but what we have is formidable. In an ideal world we'd have a bit more high end talent in the top 4 and maybe an upgrade over Fanta/Benn, but we do have a solid group of 6 that can get the job done on most nights. They will struggle to shut down top talent, but with a strong forward group and a healthy Markstom, it's possible the deficiency could be offset.

Hughes - Tanev - Hughes was slowing down a bit around when the season ended. He looked notably tired, having played the most hockey he had in 1 season. The time off will rejuvenate him. Probably Tanev too, whom we must assume is playing injured at any given time.
Edler - Myers - This pair was split up, but played well together in the first half of the season. If they can return to their early season form, our defensive deficiency is a lot less of a problem
Fanta/Benn - Stetcher - Probably go Fanta over Benn. Middle of the pack bottom paring compared to the rest of the league imo.

Things are a bit thin if injury strikes, but it's possible someone like Rafferty could come in and be reminiscent of a young Chris Tanev circa 2011 playoffs.

Markstrom 
Demko

Goaltending is obviously the least of our worries with these 2. Markstrom can steal us games and can be a workhorse if needed. Demko is probably a top 30 goalie in the league at this point who can fill in if necessary.

This is a team that is lowkey deep and talented. They are young and inexperienced and that makes them a bit of a wildcard, but they're also a firey group that could catch a spark and run ablaze. They could surprise. 

What's your opinion? See poll above.

 

Our top 6 is not even close to the best in the league.  
Please show me where hockey experts outside of Vancouver said we have the best.    
 

But on to the point.   Pretty sure if we beat Minnesota, would we not be facing the Avs in round 1?     
If so, it ends there and see you next season.  

[mll]

44 minutes ago, drummerboy said:

Our top 6 is not even close to the best in the league.  
Please show me where hockey experts outside of Vancouver said we have the best.    
 

But on to the point.   Pretty sure if we beat Minnesota, would we not be facing the Avs in round 1?     
If so, it ends there and see you next season.  

They re-seed after each rounds.

 

The by-teams are playing a round robin to determine their 1 to 4 seeding in the playoffs.  In case of a tie they will use point percentage of the regular season.

 

The Canucks will be seeded 5, 6 or 7 but cannot be 8.  Calgary-Winnipeg both finished lower than the Canucks so Vancouver will always be seeded ahead of them. The other 2 play-ins have a team ranked ahead and one lower in the standings.  

 

Edited July 11, 2020 by mll

[Googlie]

Obviously skill level isn't the same in the lesser leagues, but the intensity is comparable 

 

So, a couple of other winners to add to Beagle, Pearson and Toffoli .....

 

Petey was MVP in The Swedish league playoffs

Marky took Utica to the Calder Cup finals

[IBatch]

11 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

Agree with most of your positive points about the lineup but there's no way Demko is a top 30 goalie in the league at this particular point in time.

Yep.  Until the last season neither was Markstrom.  Guys and gals there are only 31 starter spots and a lot of experienced vets like Allen (former starters) are back-ups.   Demko would be ranked in the lower range of  those players at the moment - at best average so in the 45 range ...  likely around 50.

Edited July 11, 2020 by IBatch

[Baratheon]

11 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

Agree with most of your positive points about the lineup but there's no way Demko is a top 30 goalie in the league at this particular point in time.

 

19 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Yep.  Until the last season neither was Markstrom.  Guys and gals there are only 31 starter spots and a lot of experienced vets like Allen (former starters) are back-ups.   Demko would be ranked in the lower range of  those players at the moment - at best average so in the 45 range ...  likely around 50.

As of right now I agree with both of you.  However considering his age, is Demko not a bit of a wildcard?  He has the potential to take a big step forward with his game at almost any time imo.  It is just unclear when that step will take place.  The extra time off makes him even more of a wildcard if you ask me.  

 

I guess you could say that about quite a few players though.

[Nucker 67]

I'm thinking if the Canucks can get past COL, they can win it all. These playoffs are going to be about speed and skill, and who stays healthy.

 

With Pettersson, Hughes and Markstrom, I feel good about our chances.

[Kevin Biestra]

1 hour ago, Baratheon said:

As of right now I agree with both of you.  However considering his age, is Demko not a bit of a wildcard?  He has the potential to take a big step forward with his game at almost any time imo.  It is just unclear when that step will take place.  The extra time off makes him even more of a wildcard if you ask me.  

 

I guess you could say that about quite a few players though.

 

Well, I think he showed where he is currently at when Markstrom got injured and we plummeted our way out of the playoffs with him as the starter.

 

I think he will continue to grow, and sure, he could take the next step at an unpredictable moment...but we have very fresh and recent data on him.

[IBatch]

3 hours ago, Phat Fingers said:

I have been saying the dark horse stuff since the pre season. 

 

Yet I think continuing the season while the US is on the verge of civil revolt to be revolting.  70k new cases a day, soon to be 100k a day, soon to follow the 3k to 5k a day dead.  With the Trump administration that number could surge past 10k a day if left on it's current trajectory.  

 

This season will not finish, we will end up as 12.5% odds at the 1st, win, but AL ends up in Tampa cause that's what the NHL wants and then Trump gets elected again.  That's one of the signs of the apocalypse, lol....

 

Still, this is nuts... there is no way that the NHL can pull this off in the current climate in the US.  The only way is for entire resorts/hotels with a round the clock security and such to isolate every single person that could come in contact with the on ice players, including their families.  

 

One single JV hitting the bar while sneaking out could bring the whole thing crashing down.  Sorry, but I love a pipedream as much as the rest of us... this is a hair brained scheme.  

 

The NHL should be taking a civic lead to pressure the US administration into acting.  To carry on playing hockey while thousands, by the time this is supposed to resume, maybe 10k a day dying in the country around you from a infectious disease that is in full outbreak, well that is next level head in the sand thinking.  

 

It is insensitive, selfish and it will fail, less than 10 percent odds of keeping the virus out of the game if it held in the US.  

 

3 million known cases to date, leading epidemiologists say that the rate of infection  1 per 300 2 weeks ago, now it likely 1 to 100 in hot spots.  That's up to 30 million cases with only 10% being tested.  

 

I don't think the players can play in not masks... you can breathe, but it does restrict peak air flow.  So that's likely out.  Full face masks won't do anything..  maybe NASA can help cause unless they can make all players wear full face masks, this is dead before it leaves the stall.  

 

The pathogen is spread by yelling, heavy breathing and can travel as far as 27 feet from an infected individual in an enclosed space.  

 

We aren't having outdoor rinks in July and August... 

 

So one or two players sneak out, get busy with a few local bunnies in which ever hub city... they become asymptomatic and go out and play the next day... everyone that they breath on on the bench, on the ice, in the dressing room, scrums etc... they all catch it and then repeat.  

 

Can every single NHLer and hanger on keep their pants on, not party and be smart about this?  If you believe that, well I have a great investment for you.  

 

 

As a nucks fan, this is also complete BS.  For that reason they better beat the Wild or Tampa will get our pick, even if it the 1st.  Cause that is the leagues ruling that winning percentage will determine the draft order if the season cannot be completed, even if it is in the middle of the finals.  

 

 

So if playoffs cannot be completed, but the nucks are knocked out by the Wild, our pick goes to Tampa.  

 

So unless the Nucks go on a bit of tear we are going to have a very disappointing off season cause it is a very stupid plan to continue with this disaster atm.  If you don't understand why, maybe look at videos of mass graves being dug in cities across the US and tell me that this is a good time for group sporting events indoors and in close distance to each other.  

 

Stay safe and realize this is not over, save your money, be safe and be prepared.  

 

 

 

Sarcasm meter isn’t so good but I can tell your view ain’t hopeful.   Canada isn’t the US ... 3/4 of the league teams would be safer here then in the cities they play in.    Why don’t we just give it three weeks and see how it goes before worrying about what if’s.   There is absolutely no way Trump will get re-elected ... it will be a landslide the other way.  The US is dealing with huge wake up calls all over the place.  Educated citizens know that their rhetoric that they are the greatest is a big pile of BS and change is coming.   There is enough division in their own party to safely bet he’s down in the fall.   He’s been watched very closely by an element within his party for most to understand he’s on very thin ice  - he won’t survive much more stupid crap.  Literally won’t.   Yes I agree their numbers won’t peter out until the states put a stop to it - which easily could happen before the election but most definitely after.   Or 400ish tested players 26 so far have it - all upon arrival and have been isolated.   Maybe a few stragglers will come in and miss the play-ins that’s what the math is saying.   Both EDM and TO will be ready...not panic time not even close as far as the rest of this season goes....next year?   Well I agree it could be a write off completely until they get their sh!t together.

[IBatch]

1 hour ago, Baratheon said:

 

As of right now I agree with both of you.  However considering his age, is Demko not a bit of a wildcard?  He has the potential to take a big step forward with his game at almost any time imo.  It is just unclear when that step will take place.  The extra time off makes him even more of a wildcard if you ask me.  

 

I guess you could say that about quite a few players though.

Absolutely.   Point is he’s not there yet - however I love Demko and hope he’s the it back-up or ideally wins the starter spot based on ability once he hits his prime.   He’s a very valuable player for us... but he’s also not a top 30’goalie yet...heck Markstrom didn’t make the cut at the start of this season either and didn’t until maybe 1/4 or the way through ...

[Chris12345]

I hate it when people say we are healthy. Who isn't healthy? Every player but Stamkos?

 

Also - do people think we will win 5 rounds without an injury? Being healthy is irrelevant. Good teams win. Bad teams lose.

 

Sure, there's cases where I am wrong but the majority of the time not so much.

 

Reality: if Marky is the better goalie and our forwards score we have a chance. That's very difficult to do night in and night out as we aren't better than some of the teams out there. The bigger ones will beat us up. 

 

Yes I want to win I just think we aren't there yet and the team needs more time. 

 

Yes....I would love to be wrong.

[Chris12345]

34 minutes ago, NUCKER67 said:

I'm thinking if the Canucks can get past COL, they can win it all. These playoffs are going to be about speed and skill, and who stays healthy.

 

With Pettersson, Hughes and Markstrom, I feel good about our chances.

I was thinking of that. What do you think about MacKinnon?

 

Pretty sure if he feels like winning the series is over.

[Baratheon]

21 minutes ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

Well, I think he showed where he is currently at when Markstrom got injured and we plummeted our way out of the playoffs with him as the starter.

 

I think he will continue to grow, and sure, he could take the next step at an unpredictable moment...but we have very fresh and recent data on him.

 

17 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Absolutely.   Point is he’s not there yet - however I love Demko and hope he’s the it back-up or ideally wins the starter spot based on ability once he hits his prime.   He’s a very valuable player for us... but he’s also not a top 30’goalie yet...heck Markstrom didn’t make the cut at the start of this season either and didn’t until maybe 1/4 or the way through ...

True true.  I guess I am mostly curious if the time off has functioned like an off-season for Demko.  From 2017 to 2018 he improved significantly.  I'm hoping (not predicting) that he can make similar improvements here!

 

As of right now, both of you are correct.  I hope it's no longer true in a couple of months though!

[shiznak]

I like the optimism kid. You keep that up and you’re going to go far in life.

[10pavelbure96]

You are being a little too optimistic.

 

While I agree that we have the potential to have one of the best if not the best top 6, we arent there yet. Not even close. Petey and co will only get better.

 

At this moment, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Tampa,  Washington , Boston all have us blown out of the water with our top 6.

 

Our goaltending, bottom 6, defense and special teams is severely underrated though.

 

We have the potential to go on a run and do some damage if Marky picks up where he left off.