GDT: Canucks Training Camp Thread | FINISHED

[Vector]

Practices:
-starting to build the team together
-have to be cautious since they had 5 games in 7 days and 2 back-to-backs
-over the nexy 8 days will be strategic with practices
-will have a couple of days off between practices/games

Lekkerimaki:
-sneaky guy with a great shot
-knocking at the door
-could play a little inside more
-told the coaching staff he needs to win more 50/50 puck battles

Roster Cuts:
-two years ago there weren't really hard decisions, on roster cuts, and now there are
-PDG had a really good cap; there are numbers involved and mentions the salary cap
-hopes PDG isn't claimed
-kept several players around so long because they played 5 games in 7 days

Suter:
-getting evaluated
-got banged up during the scuffle in yesterday's game

Hirose:
-has a concussion
-feeling better but who knows

Miller:
-will play Friday
-came in to camp in great shape

Roster Construction:
-maybe there's something in the works, he doesn't know
-may have to put another guy on waivers
-always want to be strong at defence and centremen

Demko:
-doesn't have a target date
-has had some really good days
-is still around the team, may come on the road trip

Powerplay:
-working on it now
-a lot of video behind the scenes
-really hard to run powerplay drills with a large camp roster
-players on their own have gone into the video room and discussed stuff
-Svejkovsky has been discussing the powerplay with the players

Malhotra:
-very studious guy; takes a lot of notes
-wants to make sure that Malhotra has his own style

Sprong:
-has liked his camp but still has a ways to go with coverages
-has been diligently trying to understand and asks a lot of questions
-will try Debrusk-Pettersson-Sprong as a line

Joshua:
-a couple of weeks ago was really down
-starting to smile a little bit
-he's beat it and is a big part of the team
-wants to have him around

Pre-Season:
-six exhibition games is plenty

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

On the whole I think we're a very good team but a clear step behind the top tier cup contenders. As already said, our forward depth is wide but lacking that game breaking winger outside Boeser who remains an unknown at this point. On defense, we're extremely top heavy with Hughes and Hronek. Either one of them gets injured, especially Hughes, and we're playing the likes of Desharnais or Soucy 20 mins a night.

None of this is to say depth can't work. Montreal went on their Cinderella run with less than we have. It just means we have a lot less margin for error than say, Florida, Dallas or Colorado. Dunno if I quite agree with Credulous about Vegas being on their level. Their forward depth isn't great either after Stone.

Anywho! I haven't watched much of the preseason but did Baines impress at all? I suppose the fourth line might be a revolving door of "tryouts" between him, Raty and Aman until Joshua draws back in.

 

[tyhee]

Waive juulsen & aman today, wait for better players on waivers from other teams as replacements.

I'd have no qualms about waiving Juulsen and Aman, both of whom appear to me to have been beaten out for spots on the club. On the other hand, unless they get claimed the idea of replacing them with waiver claims runs into the question of whether upgrading bottom of the roster depth is worth using up their remaining two contract slots, reducing flexibility for later moves, especially for a team that has numerous depth options already available.

 

[NailsHoglander]

Garland is the second best winger and the rare type who is capable of driving a line. The team has 2 star centers, a top line wing, another 2 top 6 wings, and strong bottom 6 depth. The only thing they really lack is one more true skilled top 6 winger/PP option, but every team is lacking something in the cap era. As long as Pettersson isn’t the Pettersson from February onward, it’s a top 10 forward group.

And Hughes is basically another elite play making/driving winger when he wants to be

 

[Regal]

i like garland okay and he's probably a decent top six winger but unless he's playing with pettersson or miller i don't see how he's going to get top six minutes

the depth is good and their 3rd and 4th lines will be above average but i don't believe you can substitute quantity for quality when it comes to nhl minutes and offensive production



maybe i'm sleeping on heinen, debrusk and sprong but those are flawed players that were available for a reason. i just don't see how a team relying on those 3 to be productive is in a good spot

He doesn’t have to though and that’s actually why he’s valuable. Last year he was tied for 41st among forwards in 5v5 points with guys like Horvat, Konecny, and Reinhart. And his line had a 65% GF% and 60% xGF% when he was on the ice. If he can come close to replicating that again with some combo of Joshua/Blueger/Raty/Hoglander then the “third line” isn’t just above average it’s a legit 2nd line in terms of results. That’s a huge bonus.

Meanwhile Miller and Boeser showed they were a great combo last year regardless of the third guy on the line. Whether that’s Heinen or Suter this year, it’s not ideal, but both Miller and Boeser should continue to be productive enough and outplay opponents enough that it doesn’t really matter.

Then, if Pettersson can play like he’s capable of, he’s routinely shown his line will end up on the positive in terms of GF%. DeBrusk and Sprong/Hoglander/Sherwood/Heinen also isn’t ideal, but the options mean you can play the hot hand and in the end what matters is scoring more than your opponents.

I get what you’re saying about quality over quantity, but the Canucks have a mixture of both. They’re not Seattle, they have two legit star forwards and a somewhat unique player in Garland who isn’t a star but plays better as the best player on his line. As long as they play like they can, I think there’s enough surrounding talent that each of them can make their line produce like a second line or better. And if they really want to load the lineup if they need a goal they can do that too.

They’re not Edmonton or Colorado where McDavid/Draisaitl and MacKinnon/Rantanen are so good they’ll always score a bunch, or Dallas, who had a ton of strong depth, but you look around the league and I think it’s hard to name 10 better groups.

 

[kanucks25]

Don't think it's unfair to question the quality of this forward group.

We're going to be relying on several flawed/limited players to play important roles and make significant offensive contributions.

There are even questions marks surrounding some of our better forwards like Petey, Boeser and Debrusk.

It's very possible that things will work out well given the plethora of options and combinations but it's also possible a lot of guys disappoint.

 

[kanucks25]

As for the lineup, kind of surprised/disappointed that Raty is the odd-man out.

Just not a fan of Blueger + Aman as our 3/4 centers. I know they are safe NHL players but the upside is just so limited.

Also personally not a huge fan of Blueger in general and don't think he needs to be between Garland and Joshua. Would love to see Raty get a real chance with those two when Dak is back. If Raty can hang it can be an excellent 2-way line.

And I imagine Bains is sent down once Suter is healthy.

 

[David71]

pdg dime a dozen player could get claimed by another team for forward depth. this years team has too many players thats why. maybe vancouver finds someone on the waiver wire they like younger player

 

[DiggerDan]

As for the lineup, kind of surprised/disappointed that Raty is the odd-man out.

Just not a fan of Blueger + Aman as our 3/4 centers. I know they are safe NHL players but the upside is just so limited.

Also personally not a huge fan of Blueger in general and don't think he needs to be between Garland and Joshua. Would love to see Raty get a real chance with those two when Dak is back. If Raty can hang it can be an excellent 2-way line.

And I imagine Bains is sent down once Suter is healthy.

I agree with giving Raty a shot over Aman, but Blueger is still a solid level above both.

 

[kanucks25]

I agree with giving Raty a shot over Aman, but Blueger is still a solid level above both.

I don't see it with Blueger over Raty.

Now Raty definitely hasn't proven anything and it's possible these flashes we've seen in the preseason don't translate into the regular season.

But Blueger is at best a 4th liner on a contender whereas Raty has real 3rd line upside. And until you put him in that position you don't know what he can do.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

He's got enough building blocks that I can see a reality where he's a 4th line winger/centre.

FWIW, I liked Lammikko's game, so there's a big swath for what that could be for me. Could be Gretzky, could be Wade Brookbank for all f***, I don't care hahaha.

 

[Vector]

 

[GreatSaveLuongo]

Bluegar is a more defensive guy Raty is more of an offensive guy, i think Rick will try Raty when our offensive drys up

 

[Vector]

 

[Deeds26]

This is what I expected the forward lines to be after the cuts.

 

[credulous]

pretty surprising raty is still lined up with garland with blueger back imo

 

[wonton15]

pretty surprising raty is still lined up with garland with blueger back imo

Love to see it. Hope he gets to start the season there to see how he holds up.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

pretty surprising raty is still lined up with garland with blueger back imo

That has the potential to be a pain in the a$$ line with lots of energy. At least until Joshua comes back.

 

[Canucks LB]

Raty getting a serious shot, love it

 

[Deeds26]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841565605910245586

Suter day-to-day, probably will be somewhat ready for next week, enough to be the 13th forward.

 

[DiggerDan]

I don't see it with Blueger over Raty.

Now Raty definitely hasn't proven anything and it's possible these flashes we've seen in the preseason don't translate into the regular season.

But Blueger is at best a 4th liner on a contender whereas Raty has real 3rd line upside. And until you put him in that position you don't know what he can do.

I agree that Raty has more upside, but as you've mentioned he is not proven. I have high hopes but Blueger brings stability, is a proven pk specialist, and centered arguably the best 3rd line in the NHL for a meaningful/material number of games last year. Raty has good upside, but Blueger is a proven commodity.

 

[Bankerguy]

once healthy.

Heinen. Miller. Boeser.
DeBrusk. Pettersson. Sprong.
Dak. Suter Garland
Hoglander Raty Sherwood

i'd like to see this with Blueger coming in for Raty depending on what the Coach wants to see. or maybe Raty coming in for Suter to try out a new 3rd line.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

once healthy.

Heinen. Miller. Boeser.
DeBrusk. Pettersson. Sprong.
Dak. Suter Garland
Hoglander Raty Sherwood

i'd like to see this with Blueger coming in for Raty depending on what the Coach wants to see. or maybe Raty coming in for Suter to try out a new 3rd line.

That’s a pretty stacked forward group with Blueger added. There will always be an injury or two so hopefully Raty gets an extended look and sticks. I’d like to see Sherwood get a shot up higher in the lineup maybe switching with Sprong at times. There may be untapped offense with him that we can unlock. He’s looked really good so far and gives that speed and heavy play that Tocchet seems to be looking for on the wings and is also defensively sound.

 

[Bankerguy]

That’s a pretty stacked forward group with Blueger added. There will always be an injury or two so hopefully Raty gets an extended look and sticks. I’d like to see Sherwood get a shot up higher in the lineup maybe switching with Sprong at times. There may be untapped offense with him that we can unlock. He’s looked really good so far and gives that speed and heavy play that Tocchet seems to be looking for on the wings and is also defensively sound.

yeah, i like this forward group a lot better than last year. lots of options , like you mentioned w/ Sherwood moving up

 

[Regal]

I don't see it with Blueger over Raty.

Now Raty definitely hasn't proven anything and it's possible these flashes we've seen in the preseason don't translate into the regular season.

But Blueger is at best a 4th liner on a contender whereas Raty has real 3rd line upside. And until you put him in that position you don't know what he can do.

I think you’re underrating Blueger a bit here. He has 126 points in 336 games in the league. That’s just over 30 points per 82, almost entirely at ES. While being a solid defensive player and PKer. He’s not an ideal 3C on a contender but I think he’s a fairly strong 4C. I do agree that they should see if Raty can fulfill his greater upside, but it might be a short leash.