Well, we made it through another offseason. This one was better than others, but still had us wondering, “What will it take for this team to shake the bad voodoo off?” The Canucks were one Thatcher Demko away from getting into the Conference finals. Unlike last October, the fans actually have expectations for this team, and I wonder if we are all just setting ourselves up for a major disappointment. The start of the season already has it share of questions, with Demko’s injuries and Joshua’s cancer, this team will have to find ways to win without a full complement of weapons.
As always, I think there are some areas that have some questions attach to them and will determine if this team can be a contender this year or if the one year of “Holy fuck, they won again.” Was a mirage.
If you go through Demko’s injuries over his career, his lower body seems to have past some sort of warranty due date. Of course, any person over 6’2 who is ask to drop down repeatedly to his knees and back up, will have wear and tear issues. The Canucks played a far better style of team defense last year, which helped them win a lot of games. To win a cup though, the Canucks need Demko to be healthy to steal the games where the special teams are less than special.
2. The Penalties that kill.
Last year, by the end of the regular season, the Canucks PK was almost at 80%. This was a great improvement over the year before. Unfortunately, this number was still in the bottom half of the league. And man, did the Oilers pick them apart in the 2nd round at some points. Coach Taco had JT and Petey out there playing PK at certain points, which did lead to some shorthanded goals, but I am sold on those guys playing more minutes on special teams, especially when the team took lots of dumb penalties. A better PK starts with taking less penalties period…and then a system that is more aggressive.
3. Defense…..(clap, clap, clap)……Defense
The loss of Nikita was expected and sad at the same time. The loss of Ian Cole….already forgotten. It will be interesting to see two different areas. The first one is having Myers/Soucy as a “2nd” pairing. The giraffe tandem got some playing time together last year and were Jekyll and Hyde. The new pairing of Forbort/Deshy will probably get sheltered minutes until Taco gets a feel for their strengths and weaknesses. The next area will be the role of the forwards, especially the new ones, and how they are asked to protect the bottom two pairings.
4. Petey.
This is probably issue number 1 or 1a. Petey’s decline in the 2nd half of the regular season and the playoffs is well-documented. He says injuring, the team said, “Say what now?” Petey is now in the first year of a monster contract and should feel less pressure…and hopefully injury free. It looks like he will get some new linemates who can score, which frees him up to create space and distribute the puck, which will open more space for his shot. It goes without saying that the team needs him to put up 90+ points and gets more of them 5vs5. Some will say that the asshole, JT, is the main cog for this team because he produces no matter what condition Petey is in, but a healthy Petey against Edmonton, could have won that series without Demko.
5. That DeBrusk guy.
Remember when everyone was saying that Guentzel was the piece to put the Canucks over the top. Me neither. The other Jake is who we got and he might be a cheaper version of Guentzel, who could put up 30+, playing with Petey. In my mind, I see a Sprong/Petey/Debrusk line, with each of them scoring 30+. (I am greedy like that). Hopefully Jake brings some of that annoying Boston swagger and douchebaggery to keep people honest around Petey. For the Canucks to have three lines that score, then Jake has to put up numbers for the 2nd line to score.
6. That October schedule
Ever heard the adage, “Win 50 games, win a prize!” Well, the prize the Canucks got was a shitty schedule to open the year. 7 games against Eastern teams, including 2 against Philly, one against Pitt, TB, New Jersey and Carolina. The Canucks are straight into the fire to start the year, and I really am hoping for a .500 or better start. Watch them lose to Chicago.
The Canucks are more of an enigma to predict this year than last. Last year they were supposed to be a shit show on certain days and played far better than anyone predicted. This year, do we hold them to that level, knowing Demko is not healthy, that the defense and offense has new parts….or do we downplay the success and dream of realistic scenarios. The Eeyore in me sees doom and gloom and hopes we can make it into the playoffs with no injures.
