Boudreau is building an identity for each of the forward lines

[*Buzzsaw*]

Anyone notice Boudreau set his lines on the first game and hasn't changed them?  He doesn't need to juggle them fifty times a game... he knows what he wants and who will work together.

 

Breakdown:

 

Dickinson/Bo/Hoglander... this is Boudreau's primary shutdown line...  Dickinson doesn't have a lot of scoring jam, but he is good defensively and can retrieve the puck.  Hoglander supplies creativity/speed/backchecking for the line as well as scoring and Bo has the combination of faceoff/speed/physicality/anticipation/shooting which makes him a threat to turnover the puck and be off to the races.  These guys take pride in shutting down the opposing team's big lines and taking the D-Zone starts... but they are also capable of outscoring them too.

 

Pearson/Miller/Boeser...  This line is the Canucks' "Heavy" line... all three guys have size, like to hit, and cycle well... Boeser is underrated as a physical player, he is 6' 1" and 208, the third heaviest forward on the team.  (not counting Chiasson who I hope is gone)  He is also a better passer than most give him credit for and he and Miller are building on their chemistry.  Pearson is a solid player who also hits and cycles and who has a good eye for deflections and is a net front presence.  This line is the most capable on the Canucks' of playing a dump and chase/cycle game... but they also have the passing skills and enough speed, (especially Miller) to take advantages of opportunities on the rush.  Boeser is now playing where he should have been from the start... not on the left boards or at the point, but right in the center of the ice inside the hash marks.  This is his perfect range.  This could be called Boudreau's #1 line... but really there is no #1... just three lines which all present different threats. 

 

Podkolzin/Pettersson/Garland...  This is the Canucks' "Speed line"... all three players are capable of playing at high speed and using short passes to give their line mates shooting chances... both Pettersson and Garland love to shoot, Podkolzin too, but he also likes to take it to the net and cause havoc.  This line works best on the rush... but Garland and Podkolzin and to a limited extent Pettersson, can also retrieve the puck... but he is generally better waiting in the high slot.  This line is potentially the highest scoring line... but it is also the line which will take the most time for the players to get used to each other's moves and timing.  But they are getting better all the time and Boudreau is allowing them the time to improve.

 

Lamikko/Motte/Dowling... The 'Energy' line... Motte makes everyone with him better... it is too bad he doesn't have as high quality players as he deserves, but Lamikko/Dowling are capable enough when their time is limited.  Against Carolina they had their best game and if they can continue to play that way, a lot of the Canucks' problems will be solved.

 

With the exception of the 4th line, which had Chiasson on it till the game against Carolina, these lines have been stable.  Boudreau is confident enough in his decision making that he doesn't need to immediately start juggling lines as soon as one player makes a mistake.  Boudreau understands it takes time to build Chemistry and you have to give the players the opportunity to jell.

 

 

[Zhukini]

Another one?

[250Integra]

And here we had Green doing this every game when his lines don’t have the puck for more than a minute 

 

[VancouverHabitant]

Agreed on all points Buzzsaw except for Boeser's passing.  He's a premier shooter/poacher but just not a big fan of his passing.  

So happy that we're no longer seeing line blending a thousand times a game.  

 

Dickinson is thriving in the shutdown role on Horvat's wing.  Really liking that line's effectiveness against the other team's top lines.  

 

Garland - Elias - Podz has been my favourite line of the bunch though.  As you said our fourth line had a great game tonight which was good to see.  I'm looking forward to Highmore getting healthy again and seeing him on a line with Motte.  I wonder if Dowling has ever played center?  I prefer having Dowling out there instead of Lammikko but we are short a center at the moment with Dickinson playing wing and Sutter out long term.  

[Nuxfanabroad]

Nice overview here, Buzz.

 

Had to miss the first 2 p's today..but sure enjoyed the 3rd.

 

There's room for us to acquire a mighty 4th line C. Then add Lockwood, & the 4th line speed with Motte would be tantalizing.

[48MPHSlapShot]

I like that a good coach doing good coach things is threadworthy. Just goes to show how bad things were under Green.

[DownUndaCanuck]

He's gone back to NHL 04 style where you play a playmaker, a shooter and a gritty forward together for the best chemistry and it works. I've always said it seems to be a common trend amongst top, elite teams in the playoffs because you need all those qualities on the ice to have success. You need a gritty guy to retrieve pucks, crash along walls, defend well and provide a net front presence.

 

Petey, Miller and Boeser worked really well in their first season together because Miller played with more grit and defensive structure back then. Now he's become a bit of a superstar so doesn't play with the same grit, which is why Pearson helps that line in more ways than most fans can see.

 

Podz brings a bit of grit to Petey and Garland as well which is what we need, and Hoglander is quite a playmaker himself alongside a shooter Bo and shutdown/gritty guy in Dickinson.

 

These 3 lines are causing havoc right now because all of them can defend and all of them can score and they're getting almost equal ice opportunities which is what we need.

[PetterssonOrPeterson]

While I do agree with this to an extent, I'd also say that being undefeated under Boudreau (4-0) so far, factors in. It could very well be him rolling with what's been working. 

 

We'll have to see how he structures this team when it gets into a rough patch and whether he juggles the lines as most coaches tend to do to try different things.

[Elias Pettersson]

Dickinson playing the left wing is one of the bigger changes made by Boudreau that has worked really well.  He was a left winger in Dallas and that is where he is comfortable with.  Not sure why Green was trying to play him all the time at 3C.  He can play as a 3C, but his best position is at left wing.  We really need a true right hand 3C/4C to complete the forward group.

 

When Green put Podkolzin and Garland with Petey, it seemed to work right away.  Then he broke them up as fast as they were put together.  Green just can't coach, period.  That line I think will stay together for awhile.  The other two lines can be moved around depending on match ups, but I'd really like Petey to be able to have the same wingers every game as he needs to get to his old self again.  We need him to be a 1C or else we cannot be an elite team.

[King Heffy]

1 hour ago, PetterssonOrPeterson said:

While I do agree with this to an extent, I'd also say that being undefeated under Boudreau (4-0) so far, factors in. It could very well be him rolling with what's been working. 

 

We'll have to see how he structures this team when it gets into a rough patch and whether he juggles the lines as most coaches tend to do to try different things.

In the podcast he did with Russo he did say he prefers to not juggle the lines in order to develop chemistry.

[ShawnAntoski]

11 hours ago, *Buzzsaw* said:

Anyone notice Boudreau set his lines on the first game and hasn't changed them?  He doesn't need to juggle them fifty times a game... he knows what he wants and who will work together.

 

Breakdown:

 

Dickinson/Bo/Hoglander... this is Boudreau's primary shutdown line...  Dickinson doesn't have a lot of scoring jam, but he is good defensively and can retrieve the puck.  Hoglander supplies creativity/speed/backchecking for the line as well as scoring and Bo has the combination of faceoff/speed/physicality/anticipation/shooting which makes him a threat to turnover the puck and be off to the races.  These guys take pride in shutting down the opposing team's big lines and taking the D-Zone starts... but they are also capable of outscoring them too.

 

Pearson/Miller/Boeser...  This line is the Canucks' "Heavy" line... all three guys have size, like to hit, and cycle well... Boeser is underrated as a physical player, he is 6' 1" and 208, the third heaviest forward on the team.  (not counting Chiasson who I hope is gone)  He is also a better passer than most give him credit for and he and Miller are building on their chemistry.  Pearson is a solid player who also hits and cycles and who has a good eye for deflections and is a net front presence.  This line is the most capable on the Canucks' of playing a dump and chase/cycle game... but they also have the passing skills and enough speed, (especially Miller) to take advantages of opportunities on the rush.  Boeser is now playing where he should have been from the start... not on the left boards or at the point, but right in the center of the ice inside the hash marks.  This is his perfect range.  This could be called Boudreau's #1 line... but really there is no #1... just three lines which all present different threats. 

 

Podkolzin/Pettersson/Garland...  This is the Canucks' "Speed line"... all three players are capable of playing at high speed and using short passes to give their line mates shooting chances... both Pettersson and Garland love to shoot, Podkolzin too, but he also likes to take it to the net and cause havoc.  This line works best on the rush... but Garland and Podkolzin and to a limited extent Pettersson, can also retrieve the puck... but he is generally better waiting in the high slot.  This line is potentially the highest scoring line... but it is also the line which will take the most time for the players to get used to each other's moves and timing.  But they are getting better all the time and Boudreau is allowing them the time to improve.

 

Lamikko/Motte/Dowling... The 'Energy' line... Motte makes everyone with him better... it is too bad he doesn't have as high quality players as he deserves, but Lamikko/Dowling are capable enough when their time is limited.  Against Carolina they had their best game and if they can continue to play that way, a lot of the Canucks' problems will be solved.

 

With the exception of the 4th line, which had Chiasson on it till the game against Carolina, these lines have been stable.  Boudreau is confident enough in his decision making that he doesn't need to immediately start juggling lines as soon as one player makes a mistake.  Boudreau understands it takes time to build Chemistry and you have to give the players the opportunity to jell.

 

 

Great points !

 

Ìnteresting, to see the difference between the two coaches: someone who understands & knows how to win in the NHL vs someone who only plays the role of an NHL coach - a poser - cause I don't need to see, any [fancy] stats to tell me, that the same roster that was struggling 5 games ago, is (now) playing with more urgency & structure - hence, winning.  In the end, Greens' inability to fix the situation - only proves, that he should had been fired long time ago.  Imo, Greens'  insecurity & cluelessness, showed in how he coached the team on & off the ice - he only got more rigid vs Boudreau, who from day one, gave the players more leash, to fix there confidence.

 

JB gambled with Green, by giving him an extension & a deeper roster; and Green repaid him with mediocrity.

Edited December 13, 2021 by ShawnAntoski

[Jester13]

When Smyl mentioned all the finger pointing, well, Green blending his lines every shift was his way of saying, "It a not me, it's the players."

 

News flash: It was you, Green. 

 

[Battlemonger]

Sutter back centering the forth line would just solidify it all, I'm thinking.

[TGT68]

The way this team is put together (Benning) is not as bad as it was deployed (Green).  

 

Boudreau has fixed the deployment.  Even on D the guys are playing to their strengths now and all the D look better, even with 2 of our top 5 d-men injured.  

 

Curious how much better this can get with a couple of tweaks from Rutherford.  I think he will see what I am seeing.  We are not strong enough on the puck, not heavy enough, don't hit enough, can't punish the opposition.  Both Carolina and Winnipeg leaned on us and got pressure from adding size and strength to the speed.  

 

Rutherford will give Boudreau more toughness to mix in to this lineup.  I think that will help.  

[Sweathog]

4 minutes ago, TGT68 said:

The way this team is put together (Benning) is not as bad as it was deployed (Green).  

 

Boudreau has fixed the deployment.  Even on D the guys are playing to their strengths now and all the D look better, even with 2 of our top 5 d-men injured.  

 

Curious how much better this can get with a couple of tweaks from Rutherford.  I think he will see what I am seeing.  We are not strong enough on the puck, not heavy enough, don't hit enough, can't punish the opposition.  Both Carolina and Winnipeg leaned on us and got pressure from adding size and strength to the speed.  

 

Rutherford will give Boudreau more toughness to mix in to this lineup.  I think that will help.  

I agree, I wonder if we can pry Nick Ritchie for a reasonable price.

[JM_]

6 hours ago, 48MPHSlapShot said:

I like that a good coach doing good coach things is threadworthy. Just goes to show how bad things were under Green.

has anyone thought of the 'lotto line' in the last 4 games? almost seems like a last season thing.

[JM_]

4 hours ago, King Heffy said:

In the podcast he did with Russo he did say he prefers to not juggle the lines in order to develop chemistry.

and can you imagine letting your 10th oa pick get some real development time? its so crazy it just might work.

[DrJockitch]

I have liked Dickenson much better in this system. 
Pettey’s  game needs a power forward with him. Jake never worked, that’s on Jake, but Podz looks great and for such an angry little elf, Garland is amazingly good on the boards. This is creating a lot of space for Pettey.  Podz is also a very good passer and goes to the net which will be a great asset to play with Pettey. 
Maybe we finally found a partner for Myers in Poolman. 

[Attila Umbrus]

9 minutes ago, DrJockitch said:

I have liked Dickenson much better in this system. 
Pettey’s  game needs a power forward with him. Jake never worked, that’s on Jake, but Podz looks great and for such an angry little elf, Garland is amazingly good on the boards. This is creating a lot of space for Pettey.  Podz is also a very good passer and goes to the net which will be a great asset to play with Pettey. 
Maybe we finally found a partner for Myers in Poolman. 

There were several times last night where Podz just ploughed thru bodies and forced his way thru, I can only imagine where this goes from here, but those are some strong moves from such a young man lol. I see a power forward in the making, one with pretty good hands! And a quick shot. 

[VegasCanuck]

8 hours ago, *Buzzsaw* said:

Anyone notice Boudreau set his lines on the first game and hasn't changed them?  He doesn't need to juggle them fifty times a game... he knows what he wants and who will work together.

 

Breakdown:

 

Dickinson/Bo/Hoglander... this is Boudreau's primary shutdown line...  Dickinson doesn't have a lot of scoring jam, but he is good defensively and can retrieve the puck.  Hoglander supplies creativity/speed/backchecking for the line as well as scoring and Bo has the combination of faceoff/speed/physicality/anticipation/shooting which makes him a threat to turnover the puck and be off to the races.  These guys take pride in shutting down the opposing team's big lines and taking the D-Zone starts... but they are also capable of outscoring them too.

 

Pearson/Miller/Boeser...  This line is the Canucks' "Heavy" line... all three guys have size, like to hit, and cycle well... Boeser is underrated as a physical player, he is 6' 1" and 208, the third heaviest forward on the team.  (not counting Chiasson who I hope is gone)  He is also a better passer than most give him credit for and he and Miller are building on their chemistry.  Pearson is a solid player who also hits and cycles and who has a good eye for deflections and is a net front presence.  This line is the most capable on the Canucks' of playing a dump and chase/cycle game... but they also have the passing skills and enough speed, (especially Miller) to take advantages of opportunities on the rush.  Boeser is now playing where he should have been from the start... not on the left boards or at the point, but right in the center of the ice inside the hash marks.  This is his perfect range.  This could be called Boudreau's #1 line... but really there is no #1... just three lines which all present different threats. 

 

Podkolzin/Pettersson/Garland...  This is the Canucks' "Speed line"... all three players are capable of playing at high speed and using short passes to give their line mates shooting chances... both Pettersson and Garland love to shoot, Podkolzin too, but he also likes to take it to the net and cause havoc.  This line works best on the rush... but Garland and Podkolzin and to a limited extent Pettersson, can also retrieve the puck... but he is generally better waiting in the high slot.  This line is potentially the highest scoring line... but it is also the line which will take the most time for the players to get used to each other's moves and timing.  But they are getting better all the time and Boudreau is allowing them the time to improve.

 

Lamikko/Motte/Dowling... The 'Energy' line... Motte makes everyone with him better... it is too bad he doesn't have as high quality players as he deserves, but Lamikko/Dowling are capable enough when their time is limited.  Against Carolina they had their best game and if they can continue to play that way, a lot of the Canucks' problems will be solved.

 

With the exception of the 4th line, which had Chiasson on it till the game against Carolina, these lines have been stable.  Boudreau is confident enough in his decision making that he doesn't need to immediately start juggling lines as soon as one player makes a mistake.  Boudreau understands it takes time to build Chemistry and you have to give the players the opportunity to jell.

 

 

Agree completely with your analysis!