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The Canucks have Norris and Vezina Trophy finalists, the coach of the year, a good core and a strong culture. But they have holes to fill
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Published Jun 23, 2024 • 6 minute read
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J.T. Miller has familiarity and productivity with Brock Boeser, and they put up career numbers this season, but who is going to join their line next fall? Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
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With the Edmonton Oilers prepared to punch their enormous daily-double playoff ticket Monday in Florida, and also ascend to rare and special sporting status in this country, the question begs:
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What are the Vancouver Canucks to make of all of this? Everything? Something? Nothing?
After all, there was a possibility the Oilers wouldn’t be positioned for Game 7 against the Panthers to become the first Canadian franchise to capture the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens — and the first to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the final since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs — if a Canuck player had been positioned differently on that fateful night at Rogers Arena.
Or, if there was a fortuitous bounce in the waning seconds of Game 7 in the second-round series between the Canucks and Oilers.
Dakota Joshua helped hold Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to one assist in Game 7 of the second-round series. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
With goaltender Arturs Silovs pulled for an extra attacker, J.T. Miller’s one-timer was tracking to find the net, but it struck teammate Nikita Zadorov with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. It ended a spirited third-period rally from a 3-0 deficit and left the Canucks to wonder.
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What if a perplexing power play actually struck in the final four games (0-for-12)? What if Brock Boeser wasn’t on blood thinners and delivered a decisive Game 7 blow, or got the game to overtime? He lit up the Oilers for six goals in the regular season and three more in the post-season.
What if Thatcher Demko was ready to play Game 7? What if it was just a rite of passage for 11 playoff newbies, who’ll be better for the experience by helping to hold Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to one assist in the series finale?
However, the dynamic duo did combine for 23 series points (4-19) and both struck for four points (1-3) in Game 2.
“We learned a lot about ourselves,” Miller said in his year-end address. “The challenge is the whole point of creating a culture and a DNA is that you’re not thinking about that stuff, it just becomes part of the way we play.
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“We’re going to have to trust that again going into next season. We developed a standard for ourselves and once you have that, who know what to expect from yourself and your teammates.”
Perhaps perspective from a Stanley Cup winner, who also guided McDavid and Draisaitl for a season in Edmonton, can provide clarity. Ken Hitchcock wasn’t swayed when the Oilers were down 2-1 to the Canucks because he was convinced greatness would find a way.
“They know how much this means to them and they’re going to keep pushing the envelope,” Hitchcock told this reporter at that time. “Sooner or later, one of these teams is going to crack a bit. Connor and Leon and that core group of guys know what’s at stake and they’re not going away.”
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And, of course, they didn’t. McDavid and Draisaitl amassed 44 regular season power play points (7-37) and 39 (21-18) respectively to finish fourth and 10th and they’re in the top three of post-season performances.
McDavid leads with 42 points (8-34) and Draisaitl is third with 31 points (10-21) in 24 games. Its’ why they’ve drawn parallels to duos who dominated when it mattered most. Think Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri or Brett Hull and Adam Oates.
“I coached against Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr and it was also Mario and Kevin Stevens or with Ron Francis — and like Connor and Leon — they were so dominant that you couldn’t help but be dragged along by the wake,” summed up Hitchcock.
The Oilers have 24 playoff goals from depth players and the Canucks had 14 in 13 games, which is encouraging.
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The Oilers also have emerging cap-friendly restricted free agents in winger in Dylan Holloway, 22, and defenceman Philip Broberg, 22, which is crucial for roster improvement and the bottom line. The Canucks need Vasily Podkolzin, 22, and Linus Karlsson, 24, to stick next season.
Captain Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek should form a dynamic defensive duo next season. Hughes led all defencemen in scoring during 2023-24 campaign. Photo by Adam Hunger /AP
Advancing to the Western Conference final would have been further validation for a remarkable Canucks season of redemption and resolve. The 50 wins, 109 points and a Pacific Division title — plus career seasons for Miller (103 points), Norris Trophy favourite Quinn Hughes (92 points), Vezina Trophy finalist Demko and Jack Adams Award winner Rick Tocchet — won’t be forgotten.
However, amid the off-season reality of salary-cap gymnastics, and the Oilers looking like a juggernaut to dominate next season, the anticipation of next fall comes with some angst.
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Expected departures of unrestricted free agents Elias Lindholm, Dakota Joshua, Ian Cole and Casey DeSmith, coupled with uncertainty whether a negotiation gap can be bridged to retain UFA Zadorov, are concerning because of roster holes that will need filling.
The versatile Teddy Blueger might be kept from the open market but Tyler Myers needs a contract extension.
Here’s a look at the roster challenges:
Jake Guentzel has a history of scoring big goals, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs Photo by Bruce Bennett /Getty Images
Three wingers and a prayer
A successful free-agent pursuit of long-coveted winger Jake Guentzel — it’s not a July 1 slam-dunk because of a number of suitors — will ease some top-six concern if it comes to fruition.
If it’s a big swing and miss are we talking about a Tyler Toffoli reunion here? Some initial kicking of the trade tires on Martin Necas only created significant sticker shock.
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However, if there’s a workable trade departure of underachieving Ilya Mikheyev and the impactful Joshua is lost to free agency, we’re left to wonder about who joins Miller on the left side, unless Tocchet wants to load up a line. Pius Suter spent some time there, but is bettered suited as a third or fourth-line centre.
If Nils Hoglander can build off a 24-goal season, and also learn from his playoff struggles with just two points (1-1) in 11 games, then he could return to the left side with Elias Pettersson. Or he might drop down to the third line. But who aligns with Pettersson? Conor Garland could move up but that creates a smaller line.
The bottom six is easier to figure out. Phil Di Giuseppe has a year left, Podkolzin should be better, Karlsson should replace the expected exit of Sam Lafferty, and Nils Aman can play centre or wing.
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Power play strategy summit
It’s gone well beyond having talent and allowing players to dictate the fumbling flow, especially when you go 3-for-20 in a second-round series that was there for the taking.
The post-season was buried by what has always troubled the Canucks.
You can’t be plodding and predictable on the power play. You can’t stand still, try to thread seam passes through sticks and skates, and lack creativity. Failing to connect in the final four series games against the Oilers brought the playoff futility to 5-for-36, a paltry 13.9 per cent success rate and just 33 shots.
What could have been a post-season hammer after better success in the regular season with an 11th-rated 22.7 per cent success rate — 16 goals from Boeser, 13 from Pettersson and 10 from Miller — dried up in the playoffs. Only Lindholm had more than one goal, with a pair.
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It’s why Henrik and Daniel Sedin will help script a better power play path next season along with promoted assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky and new skills coach Jason Krog.
That riddle in the middle
The Canucks are in go-for-it mode and that comes at a price.
Going to the bargain bin to flush out the middle might make financial sense, but not to ice a third line with some production, shutdown ability and bite. Suter started there this season before Blueger and Lindholm joined Joshua and Garland, but there needs to be a stronger presence.
Then again, that won’t come cheap. Clearing cap space is imperative for any significant play.
UFAs expected to top wish lists July 1 with projected salary-cap hits (all figures in US dollars):
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1. Elias Lindholm, 29, expiring (4.85 million), new ($7-$8 million
2. Chandler Stephenson, 30, expiring ($2.75M), new ($5.5 million)
3. Matt Duchene, 33, expiring ($3M), new ($4.5 million)
4. Sean Monahan, 29, expiring ($1.9M), new ($4.5-$5 million)
5. Alex Wennberg, 29, expiring ($4.5M), new ($4 million)
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/lessons-learned-oilers-stanley-cup-run