Around the League 47 Vancouver Collects All the Petterssons

[Navin R Slavin]

We're one the lowest hitting teams in the league, we never crash the net, we rarely win a box-out in front of the net...that seems pretty soft to me, but I'm curious what your criteria are?

The Canes are one of the lowest hitting teams in the league because they're the top possession team in the league by a wide margin. You don't hit the guy with the puck when he's on your team. And in order to possess the puck, they work like bastards on the forecheck, taking a fair amount of punishment in the process. A soft team can't possess the puck the way the Canes possess the puck.

We need to get over the idea that "toughness" equals "hits". Real toughness is taking a hit to make a play, and the Canes have those guys up and down the lineup.

 

[chaz4hockey]

The Canes are one of the lowest hitting teams in the league because they're the top possession team in the league by a wide margin. You don't hit the guy with the puck when he's on your team. And in order to possess the puck, they work like bastards on the forecheck, taking a fair amount of punishment in the process. A soft team can't possess the puck the way the Canes possess the puck.

We need to get over the idea that "toughness" equals "hits". Real toughness is taking a hit to make a play, and the Canes have those guys up and down the lineup.

There is some nuance here.

You are definitely right about the possession stat impacting hitting stats. Plus, I believe RBA teaches to refrain from hitting the opposition in certain areas on the ice since the hit takes you out of the play and away from our defensive scheme (Orlov, <drink>, used to do that a lot early on in his Canes tenure; now, not as much).

However, we definitely are undersized at D. We don't have physicality at the position (Burns is probably the least hitting big guy in the League....IMO, it's a core reason why he has his consecutive streak) and can't/don't move guys away from the net. That is impactful in some regular season games and generally impactful in all playoff games.

I'd close by saying that outside of Drury, KK & also Pepe back in the day, the Canes don't do a good job at sticking up for teammates/Goalies getting roughed around during the course of play. I think that is a big reason why some teams and their fanbases view the Canes as soft.

 

[bleedgreen]

I think the most physical version we’ve had under Rod, and for years before as well was Rod’s first year. That team had the grind and backed it up more than usual. I do think overall we tend to be soft and I do think over the recent years in some series we can be pushed around to the other teams benefit.

I will say with the additions of Carrier, Jank and Robinson we’re a bigger team, Blake and Stank aren’t guys who can be forced into hiding. I think this years team could be better (in this particular topic) in the playoffs vs some of our other versions over the last six years.

 

[Rad ChaLose]

Ferland had some absolute vicious hits but then either injured himself or ended up in the box

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Just thinking about the story line of the game in Washington on April 10th. 8 will be tied with 99 for the record and Nikishin will be skating in his first NHL game.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Ferland had some absolute vicious hits but then either injured himself or ended up in the box

Ferland played 15 games after his year with the Canes. Concussions are awful.

 

[bleedgreen]

Ferland played 15 games after his year with the Canes. Concussions are awful.

He was a hell of a player when he was on. I don’t believe playing that style automatically leads to the concussions though obviously it makes you susceptible. I think he had one or two real nasty ones and he never gave it enough time to really heal. He would fight too which I’m sure played a role.

 

[Borsig]

Ferland was the shit. That dude - one of my favorite canes. Man could he blast someone

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Ferland was the shit. That dude - one of my favorite canes. Man could he blast someone

Totally agree, dude didn't even play a full season for us but he is still one of my favorite Canes too. Absolutely loved that dude when he was on the ice. His play style unfortunately wasn't sustainable and he also had some off ice problems if I remember right but oh man what could've been. Favorite play was from a bruins game in boston I was at where he absolutely obliterated a guy near the boards then of course the pansy bruins had to fight for a clean hit and I think that caused Ferland to miss some time with a hand injury. But the hit was easily one of the biggest clean hits I've ever seen in person.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Just thinking about the story line of the game in Washington on April 10th. 8 will be tied with 99 for the record and Nikishin will be skating in his first NHL game.

Passing of the torch from greatest Russian player up to this point to future greatest Russian player of all time.

 

[Stanky and Janky]

Totally agree, dude didn't even play a full season for us but he is still one of my favorite Canes too. Absolutely loved that dude when he was on the ice. His play style unfortunately wasn't sustainable and he also had some off ice problems if I remember right but oh man what could've been. Favorite play was from a bruins game in boston I was at where he absolutely obliterated a guy near the boards then of course the pansy bruins had to fight for a clean hit and I think that caused Ferland to miss some time with a hand injury. But the hit was easily one of the biggest clean hits I've ever seen in person.

Was that when he blew up Marcus Johansson while we were making anyone associated with the Bruins eyes bleed by wearing the Whalers jerseys?

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Was that when he blew up Marcus Johansson while we were making anyone associated with the Bruins eyes bleed by wearing the Whalers jerseys?

Yep exactly. Bruins fans around me were so f***ing annoying. I think we lost in a shootout unfortunately but that hit alone made the game well worth going to

 

[chaz4hockey]

Totally agree, dude didn't even play a full season for us but he is still one of my favorite Canes too. Absolutely loved that dude when he was on the ice. His play style unfortunately wasn't sustainable and he also had some off ice problems if I remember right but oh man what could've been. Favorite play was from a bruins game in boston I was at where he absolutely obliterated a guy near the boards then of course the pansy bruins had to fight for a clean hit and I think that caused Ferland to miss some time with a hand injury. But the hit was easily one of the biggest clean hits I've ever seen in person.

The hit:

 

[Bub]

Stop what you're doing and watch the end of this crazy CBS-VAN game. Last one with the puck wins!

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Stop what you're doing and watch the end of this crazy CBS-VAN game. Last one with the puck wins!

Another incredible game ruined by the shootout.

 

[HisIceness]

Stop what you're doing and watch the end of this crazy CBS-VAN game. Last one with the puck wins!

We had a game like that last year, Washington I think?

 

[Blueline Bomber]

So let’s see how the Eastern Wildcard players are doing:

Canadiens: 3-4-3 in their last 10
Red Wings: 3-7-0 in their last 10
Blue Jackets: 3-6-1 in their last 10
Rangers: 3-6-1 in their last 10
Islanders: 4-3-3 in their last 10

And I’d say it’s surprising how no one seems to want that final Wildcard spot…except I remember last year, where the same thing played out between Detroit, Philly, and Washington

 

[chaz4hockey]

Tampa seems to have turned on the afterburners as we head towards the end of the season. I wonder if they are going to finish first in the Atlantic, play Ottawa and have Leafs-Panthers fight it out?

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Give me Battle of Ontario and Battle of Florida. Metro bracket is rather dull for those outside the respective markets.

 

[chaz4hockey]

This is quite a battle at the top of the Atlantic.....top team probably gets an improved Ottawa but I wouldn't want the alternative to finish 2nd or 3rd.

 

[robbieberns]

Very funny that Toronto’s greatest team in a lifetime has had less success than three other teams in their division over the span of a decade. Between the Boston playoff domination and three cups going to the state of Florida, the Leafs have been an after thought all this time.

 

[sabremike]

Very funny that Toronto’s greatest team in a lifetime has had less success than three other teams in their division over the span of a decade. Between the Boston playoff domination and three cups going to the state of Florida, the Leafs have been an after thought all this time.

Did you know that if you don't count the COVID season with the odd all Canadian division the Atlanta Thrashers have won a division title (06-07) more recently than the Leafs (99-00)?

 

[sabremike]

 

[Derailed75]

Don't look now but this truly awful 2024-2025 Canes team with a historicaly bad power play, lack of scoring, crap goal tending, and defensive lapses left and right.....

Have the second best point total in the East and either have the same amount t of game played or have games in hand on everyone in the conference.

 

[To Be Determined]

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i welcome most of your posts, but you're selling kevyn adams slander in the wrong place, friend.

man was winning stanley cup final faceoffs with a broken wrist.

(and has done an admirable job keeping the sabers in the basement as an encore.)