The speed dynamic that the Canucks are missing


- Pacificgem

I have always wanted William Carrier on the team. Years back when Vegas got in cap trouble, I had hoped a mid to late round pick would be enough to get him.

4th liners should be able to make plays still and not just dump and chase. Joshua and Aman have been better at that.

Just look at the heat map and look where the most shots and goals came from for Vegas. Van is by far the worst team at giving up high danger chances. Good teams will make them pay.
https://www.naturalstattr...eason=20222023&game=20300

I'm waiting for him to mature. Reminds me a bit of Nichushkin when he was that age. So inconsistent. I'm not sure the rotation of line mates and as you said the rest of the team stick waving away helps.
- manvanfan

Podz has nowhere near the hands of a Nichuskin. You can't really learn hands. He'll be a grinder at best, hopefully a good one. He hasn't been shy about playing body and digging for pucks.

That said, he just got his face punched in probably for the first time. He may be stick waving for a little bit.

Dermott for a 3rd
- Nucker101

I bet Toronto wishes to have that trade back

The speed dynamic that the Canucks are missing

Before the game turned into a wild back-and-forth affair, I thought the first period was really telling.

It was telling because the Canucks were mostly playing well and yet they were still overwhelmed. Vancouver came out of the gate strong with surprisingly crisp passing, clean breakouts and some sustained offensive zone pressure. But after the first handful of minutes, Vegas started controlling the game. It wasn’t because the Canucks were all of a sudden making boneheaded plays with the puck, losing winnable battles, or creating other self-inflicted wounds, which is often the issue.

No, it was because the Golden Knights had a jump of speed that the Canucks had no answer for. There were a ton of sequences to highlight the pace difference but a 30-second stretch around the six-minute mark stood out because it wasn’t Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, or any other top player doing the damage. It was Vegas’ fourth line.

The sequence started with William Carrier getting behind the Canucks’ defence after a neutral zone faceoff in mere seconds. He couldn’t bury the partial breakaway attempt but the Golden Knights hounded the puck like hungry dogs, zipped it around the offensive zone with decisive passes and generated multiple Grade-A chances right on the doorstep.

The Canucks eventually got the puck back and countered but weren’t fast enough to generate an uncontested shot. Vegas picked up the loose puck and this time they showed speed isn’t just about how fast you can move with your feet but how quickly you can make plays as well. The Golden Knights demonstrated tight, organized puck support and connected fast passes for a scoring chance in the slot off the rush.

It’s like Vegas was ripping around doing 120 km/h on the highway while the Canucks were stuck in the slow lane with a car that couldn’t push past 80.

The first period was striking because the Canucks were decisively outplayed, outshot 17-8, despite not playing all that poorly. Vancouver’s own play slipped in the final two periods. They eventually reverted back to mental mistakes, structural breakdowns and porous net-front defence. But before all of that, the Canucks were overwhelmed because they were underpowered in their speed and skill.

That’s genuinely concerning because it’s further proof that even when the Canucks are competent and polished by their standards, they’re not in the same league as the top teams in this league.
- Pacificgem

He isn't saying anything that several here have been saying

Podz has nowhere near the hands of a Nichuskin. You can't really learn hands. He'll be a grinder at best, hopefully a good one. He hasn't been shy about playing body and digging for pucks.

That said, he just got his face punched in probably for the first time. He may be stick waving for a little bit.
- Sayros

Let's not mistake Nich of now for Nich of the Dallas days. Broke 30 points once up till last season. Nich left the league for 2 years because he couldn't play.

I like him because he can/will mix it up. He's certainly needs work on his defensive skills. Still only 24.
- VanHockeyGuy

Stillman is a bust. 24 is not an 'only' age in today's NHL.

A waste of a 2nd rounder which is exactly what this team should be stockpiling. A desperation move by management when they tried to course correct the horrible start. It's probably why they're so gun shy to make a move now ... afraid to make another mistake. Management plays like the hockey team.

Stillman is a bust. 24 is not an 'only' age in today's NHL.

A waste of a 2nd rounder which is exactly what this team should be stockpiling. A desperation move by management when they tried to course correct the horrible start. It's probably why they're so gun shy to make a move now ... afraid to make another mistake. Management plays like the hockey team.
- Sayros

Yup.

Let's not mistake Nich of now for Nich of the Dallas days. Broke 30 points once up till last season. Nich left the league for 2 years because he couldn't play.
- manvanfan

Agree, but he always had the hands. Just not the drive/compete and hadn't adapted to North American game (maybe North America in general).

I think Podz can be solid. Give him some time and space and he can bury like Boeser. Far more speed and compete than BB and I think he will always get on D-men fast on the forecheck. I just don't see the hands for the in tight plays. He kind of barrels into the zone, which isn't bad. We need that too. Just never going to live up to the position of the pick. Missed Zegras by one dang.

Agree, but he always had the hands. Just not the drive/compete and hadn't adapted to North American game (maybe North America in general).

I think Podz can be solid. Give him some time and space and he can bury like Boeser. Far more speed and compete than BB and I think he will always get on D-men fast on the forecheck. I just don't see the hands for the in tight plays. He kind of barrels into the zone, which isn't bad. We need that too. Just never going to live up to the position of the pick. Missed Zegras by one dang.
- Sayros

Another stick waver.
Sure the kid has a ton of skill, but not what this team needs.

Bo, who has 29 goals in the last 37 games, tops the trade list, Brock at 16.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....couver-canucks-bo-horvat/

Agree, but he always had the hands. Just not the drive/compete and hadn't adapted to North American game (maybe North America in general).

I think Podz can be solid. Give him some time and space and he can bury like Boeser. Far more speed and compete than BB and I think he will always get on D-men fast on the forecheck. I just don't see the hands for the in tight plays. He kind of barrels into the zone, which isn't bad. We need that too. Just never going to live up to the position of the pick. Missed Zegras by one dang.
- Sayros

That would lead the same discussion that has been going on for a while now, BPA in the draft.

Canucks don't really need another soft skilled player that has no willingness to play defence.

He isn't saying anything that several here have been saying
- Reubenkincade

Like I said last night, keeping everything in context, we’re talking about the Canucks here, one of the worst defensive teams in the league against one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. They were playing well, for the Canucks, the first two periods. Yes they were getting outplayed but they were playing well enough to keep it close, and then they just fell apart reverting back to their lazy soft-checking pond hockey ways.

I bet Toronto wishes to have that trade back
- manvanfan

wish granted

Bo, who has 29 goals in the last 37 games, tops the trade list, Brock at 16.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....couver-canucks-bo-horvat/
- Reubenkincade

I saw part of the Ducks game last night as well. 7m for Klingberg is nuts. Another defender, I wouldn't give up a 1st round pick for.

Like I said last night, keeping everything in context, we’re talking about the Canucks here, one of the worst defensive teams in the league against one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. They were playing well, for the Canucks, the first two periods. Yes they were getting outplayed but they were playing well enough to keep it close, and then they just fell apart reverting back to their lazy soft-checking pond hockey ways.
- Pacificgem

I hate when you actually make sense.😁

I saw part of the Ducks game last night as well. 7m for Klingberg is nuts. Another defender, I wouldn't give up a 1st round pick for.
- manvanfan

It is the reason Dallas had no intention of resigning him. Terrible defender.

Like I said last night, keeping everything in context, we’re talking about the Canucks here, one of the worst defensive teams in the league against one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. They were playing well, for the Canucks, the first two periods. Yes they were getting outplayed but they were playing well enough to keep it close, and then they just fell apart reverting back to their lazy soft-checking pond hockey ways.
- Pacificgem

Seemed like an entertaining game watching on replay. But wow no words on how many ways Canucks Find to lose. Like they say good teams find ways to win like VGK did.

Placed on NHL waivers today: Zach Sanford (NSH), Magnus Hellberg (SEA) and Wayne Simmonds (TOR).

Bo, who has 29 goals in the last 37 games, tops the trade list, Brock at 16.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....couver-canucks-bo-horvat/
- Reubenkincade

“The better he plays, the better return we can get for him,” Rutherford told Sportsnet 650 earlier this month

This kind of talk is why Vancouver has a losing attitude and will struggle to attract highly sought-after free agents.

Even if your intention is to trade him, or at least entertain trading him, the message should be 'Bo is playing great, we need him to play great for this team to turn it around' or something along those lines.

I don't have much sympathy for millionaire kids, but they are still human. After a long stint and being captain of a team, if my play and value was deemed out in the open media as simply 'sweet, look at our asset increasing', I'd be less than impressed. Lame duck coach is one thing, lame duck captain is not a good idea imho.

I hate when you actually make sense.😁
- Reubenkincade

Nice quick edit by you.

Placed on NHL waivers today: Zach Sanford (NSH), Magnus Hellberg (SEA) and Wayne Simmonds (TOR).
- Pacificgem

Sanford has a bit of defensive pedigree, might be worth taking a look.

Stillman is a bust. 24 is not an 'only' age in today's NHL.

A waste of a 2nd rounder which is exactly what this team should be stockpiling. A desperation move by management when they tried to course correct the horrible start. It's probably why they're so gun shy to make a move now ... afraid to make another mistake. Management plays like the hockey team.
- Sayros

Not wanting to defend this management team. But the trade happened before the season started. For what mostly was reported as cap reasons. To say they gave a second for Stillman is misleading.

Anyway, we can all agree that the pain of watching this mess will continue. At least it can be entertaining.

That would lead the same discussion that has been going on for a while now, BPA in the draft.

Canucks don't really need another soft skilled player that has no willingness to play defence.
- manvanfan

Fair, he's not what this team needs now but Z has next level skill. Surrounded with a team and some maturity who knows what he could be.

“The better he plays, the better return we can get for him,” Rutherford told Sportsnet 650 earlier this month

This kind of talk is why Vancouver has a losing attitude and will struggle to attract highly sought-after free agents.

Even if your intention is to trade him, or at least entertain trading him, the message should be 'Bo is playing great, we need him to play great for this team to turn it around' or something along those lines.

I don't have much sympathy for millionaire kids, but they are still human. After a long stint and being captain of a team, if my play and value was deemed out in the open media as simply 'sweet, look at our asset increasing', I'd be less than impressed. Lame duck coach is one thing, lame duck captain is not a good idea imho.
- Sayros

Yup, it would be strike 8 on Booners on-going list of garbage from this management team.

Like I said last night, keeping everything in context, we’re talking about the Canucks here, one of the worst defensive teams in the league against one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. They were playing well, for the Canucks, the first two periods. Yes they were getting outplayed but they were playing well enough to keep it close, and then they just fell apart reverting back to their lazy soft-checking pond hockey ways.
- Pacificgem

You're sounding like the rest of the excuse givers.