Is the Current Canuck Defence Playoff Team Quality? (My Analysis)

[canuck73_3]

Currently no, but not as far off and dire as is made out to be. We do need one more move Myers out, top 4 dman in, and a bottom pair bigger dman (think Gudas or similar) move an excess winger or 2 for two defensive specialists/reliable players (O'Reilly lite, Acciari) 

[BC_Hawk]

5 hours ago, canuck73_3 said:

Currently no, but not as far off and dire as is made out to be. We do need one more move Myers out, top 4 dman in, and a bottom pair bigger dman (think Gudas or similar) move an excess winger or 2 for two defensive specialists/reliable players (O'Reilly lite, Acciari) 

Yes, two more players and the D personnel are good. People will be quick to point out this assumes OEL returns to form and Hroneks shoulder injury is behind him. We have to assume both happen at this point; they’re past play when healthy supports thinking so.

 

The elephant  is Myers contract and what that means for 23/24. Me personally, I say just ride out his contract UNLESS opportunity knocks w/o any assets going the other way. We can go get that big bad defensive RHD next offseason. I would aim our focus at bringing Schenn back as a 2 year bridge; one as OELs partner and one as our 3rd pair RHD while we develop depth in the system. 

[hockeyfan-observer]

I would say no at this time that the current Canucks D would make them a playoff team - watching the playoffs so far, the single most important factor though has been goaltending - I don't think you can say there is any team that has a perfect D - its a combination of good team defense and having the netminder bail you out when it breaks down usually 5+ times each game (FLA has Ekblad and still need Brobovsky to constantly bail them out). 

 

Canucks has some core pieces on the D with Hughes and Hronek - but do need to get a bit tougher and more mobile as the D is getting hammered every playoff game

 

Having Foote and Gonchar assisting the process is huge - so for this off season, hopefully they can get some bigger pieces on the D and work out their team systems  - Unfortunately, no matter how good your team D is, you will still need Demko, Silov or Delia to bail you out some nights. Personally I would like to see Jett Woo and Burroughs have some more games next year. Definitely true that playoff hockey is a totally different animal than the regular season.

[billabong]

Who else here has messed around on cap friendly trying to find a series of moves that makes sense, are fair to all parties and makes this team better? 
 

 

more specifically on D…it’s nearly impossible 

[Gawdzukes]

49 minutes ago, billabong said:

Who else here has messed around on cap friendly trying to find a series of moves that makes sense, are fair to all parties and makes this team better? 
 

 

more specifically on D…it’s nearly impossible 

Van
OEL

3rd

3rd

4th

4th

4th

 

Buffalo

Power

 

 

Let me know if you need anything else 

[iceman64]

On 3/29/2023 at 7:53 PM, cripplereh said:

We have so far maybe at best three D and the rest need upgrades.Our 7th to 9 seem decent. 

 

We need two solid more D men in our group if we want to get past the first round and second. 

 

If not then we make the playoffs and that's it.

 

 

Our forwards are looking better but still need another good center. 

 

 

Thus off-season two D and a center and we are golden.

 

As true as most of that is, I disagree with our forwards playing better, I'd argue that maybe to some degree but nowhere close to what it needs to be to be elite

 At any rate yeah we need a cpl of bigger skilled D to round us out, and a 3rd line center with decent skill isn't that hard to find...

 Why we really lack is depth and until we have it, we're not going far. 

[Elias Pettersson]

Only if Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar suited up...

[mikeyman109]

The D is still a work in progress. after Hughes and Hronek Bear is probably the next best option. Myers and OEL are boat anchors and should play bottom 6 minutes. The one that impresses me so far is Hirose and may take a big step with the current coaching staff. I say we keep the 11 OA and draft the defenseman that is best at that pick.I know they are looking at Sandin Pellika but I would like someone with more snarl. maybe thats in the second round.  Need someone that makes life miserable in the defensive zone. Myers just hasnt been that guy often enough.

[wai_lai416]

nope i don't think this current defence is playoff caliber.. while we have some great individual pieces like hughes and maybe hronek.. we have a defence that's full of imcompatibility.. we have a bunch of puck moving offensive minded defenceman that are forced into a defensive role. Hughes Hronek OEL all requires a defensive minded defenceman to cover for them in order for them to be most effective.. we don't have a single guy that we can pencil in as that guy for any of the players. OEL looked OK in the 1st year with myers but wasn't great.. and last year was horrible as he's gotten another year older and injured.. the best OEL have ever looked in a canucks uniform was when Hughes was injured and he's back to his natural role.. which he wont have a chance at with how the defence is constructed.. great pieces imcompatible.. again we looekd great against non playoff teams.. which we should.. on paper we are heads and tails above the tankers.. RT had a super easy schedule.. canucks had one of the easiest schedule if not the easiest since he took over in terms of strength of competition winning % wise.. most of the games vs the playoff teams.. we had ok results.. but if you look at the shots against and the scoring chance high danger chance.. we were destroyed in those games but bailed out by goaltending..

[Alflives]

We have Hughes, who is a generational talent. It's absolutely magical what he's been able to do considering he's been saddled with AHL level parters.

And now we have Hronek, who is a great player. He was Detroit's best D, and we stole him. 

So we have two great D. 

The retool of the rest of our D continues. 

[Dr. Crossbar]

20 hours ago, canuck73_3 said:

Currently no, but not as far off and dire as is made out to be. 

This ^^^^ sums it up nicely. Especially the latter part. 

[EddieVedder]

59 minutes ago, Alflives said:

We have Hughes, who is a generational talent. It's absolutely magical what he's been able to do considering he's been saddled with AHL level parters.

And now we have Hronek, who is a great player. He was Detroit's best D, and we stole him. 

So we have two great D. 

The retool of the rest of our D continues. 

I see you restocked on aqualinis koolaid.

Generational talent = crosby, mcdavid,  bedard, makar. 

As solid as he is offensively, Hughes is not in that list.

[Timråfan]

12 hours ago, iceman64 said:

As true as most of that is, I disagree with our forwards playing better, I'd argue that maybe to some degree but nowhere close to what it needs to be to be elite

 At any rate yeah we need a cpl of bigger skilled D to round us out, and a 3rd line center with decent skill isn't that hard to find...

 Why we really lack is depth and until we have it, we're not going far. 

Wich players are missing for the depth you’re talking about?

[Alflives]

2 hours ago, EddieVedder said:

I see you restocked on aqualinis koolaid.

Generational talent = crosby, mcdavid,  bedard, makar. 

As solid as he is offensively, Hughes is not in that list.

Totally wrong. Hughes is a phenom. He's carried AHL partners and still been fabulous. Makar struggled until he got Toews for his partner. 

Kneel to Alf! 

[cripplereh]

16 hours ago, iceman64 said:

As true as most of that is, I disagree with our forwards playing better, I'd argue that maybe to some degree but nowhere close to what it needs to be to be elite

 At any rate yeah we need a cpl of bigger skilled D to round us out, and a 3rd line center with decent skill isn't that hard to find...

 Why we really lack is depth and until we have it, we're not going far. 

In Abby we have three to five players that will get a hard look.As is our right D seems decent same as left D.Yrs a 3 c would be great but one of the players from Abby could fit that role if Amen can play 3 c with his skills.

 

Demko steps up plays better at the start and we are golden.

[Sativika]

I went with option 3. Was torn between 3 and 4, but decided to go with the ideology of the glass half full. This obviously says that our defence is NOT SC caliber. As mentioned earlier in here, we require more mobility and physicality to supplement Huggy and Hronek. 

 

There's no doubt in my mind that we're gonna see some entertaining Canuck games next season. I believe a full camp and season with Tocchet and staff will be effective. BUT..... 

 

 Needless to say,  a lot depends on what we do at the draft and beyond this summer. And how in house players, like OEL, Myers, Hogs, Pods, to name a few, perform. The addition of Hronek changes the makeup some for sure. That being said, we do need to offload some cap to acquire help on D. Also acquiring more size and grit for our 3rd and 4th lines. A speedy two way 3rd line centre...Yep.

 

I'm of the ilk that all this isn't gonna happen this season. We'll be in the playoff picture assuredly in a couple of seasons. But addressing our cap is first and foremost.

 

[The Lock]

Until we have a more stable season where we're not having a dismal start followed by a "good" last leg, I'm rather hesitant on determining if we have a defense that can be the playoffs or not. I want to know what we consistently have and I don't think we've seen that yet.

 

I'm hoping next season we have at least a decent start. Unfortunately, none of what happened near the end of the season amounts to anything come the beginning of next season given than you have a few months of no playing and likely some roster changes. It's basically a clean slate and up to us in October to not mess it up again.

Edited May 31, 2023 by The Lock

[billabong]

8 hours ago, mikeyman109 said:

The D is still a work in progress. after Hughes and Hronek Bear is probably the next best option. Myers and OEL are boat anchors and should play bottom 6 minutes. The one that impresses me so far is Hirose and may take a big step with the current coaching staff. I say we keep the 11 OA and draft the defenseman that is best at that pick.I know they are looking at Sandin Pellika but I would like someone with more snarl. maybe thats in the second round.  Need someone that makes life miserable in the defensive zone. Myers just hasnt been that guy often enough.

***BPA not best defenseman available***

 

I could make a strong argument we need a young C more than anything cause after pettersson and Miller there’s nothing for the future except Raty who still needs another year in the A

[Sativika]

10 minutes ago, The Lock said:

Until we have a more stable season where we're not having a dismal start followed by a "good" last leg, I'm rather hesitant on determining if we have a defense that can be the playoffs or not. I want to know what we consistently have and I don't think we've seen that yet.

 

I'm hoping next season we have at least a decent start. Unfortunately, none of what happened near the end of the season amounts to anything come the beginning of next season given than you have a few months of no playing and likely some roster changes. It's basically a clean slate and up to us in October to not mess it up again.

I'm okay if we lose a few games at the start. It's how we lose 'em that'd be the concern. That record for most losses with multi goal leads should've been a wake up call. Coming out strong is all fine and dandy, but those weak 3rds were definitely not the bomb!

 

I'm guessing Tocchet's coaching will bring in more consistency. Though we require some of our present players to implement what's impressed upon them from such. If they're not able to sustain those good habits, then we need different players. 'Nuff said!

[Gawdzukes]

16 hours ago, Sativika said:

I went with option 3. Was torn between 3 and 4, but decided to go with the ideology of the glass half full. This obviously says that our defence is NOT SC caliber. As mentioned earlier in here, we require more mobility and physicality to supplement Huggy and Hronek. 

 

There's no doubt in my mind that we're gonna see some entertaining Canuck games next season. I believe a full camp and season with Tocchet and staff will be effective. BUT..... 

 

 Needless to say,  a lot depends on what we do at the draft and beyond this summer. And how in house players, like OEL, Myers, Hogs, Pods, to name a few, perform. The addition of Hronek changes the makeup some for sure. That being said, we do need to offload some cap to acquire help on D. Also acquiring more size and grit for our 3rd and 4th lines. A speedy two way 3rd line centre...Yep.

 

I'm of the ilk that all this isn't gonna happen this season. We'll be in the playoff picture assuredly in a couple of seasons. But addressing our cap is first and foremost.

 

This is where I am at too. Well stated. We're slowly turning the corner and it's all coming together but the cap is the biggest thing we need to address. It's coming (playoffs) but likely not this year. I've always said we won't truly be able to compete until Myers is off the books and his $$ reallocated. For that reason they can sign Bear for one year as a stop gap, even though I'd rather not. Any more is a mistake.