I like how they stumbled into Brannstrom trying to ditch Poolman, otherwise the defense would be a complete disaster. We're now poised to play Juulsen (who to my recollection hasn't really had a solid game in nearly a calendar year), over our two NHL defense UFAs. Maybe we should stop letting Tocchet and Foote have input on "project defensemen".
Yep. Credit to Allvin to getting him, but it was pretty much accidental (clearly, considering they left him in the AHL to start). The defense would be horribad without Brannstrom.
If only Allvin listened to some posters here...would have a ready made, legit NHL pair with Brannstrom and Kovacevic. For cheap! If only anyone suggested them...
Please be A but that's also 3.5 million in the press box.
Brannstrom has to be playing. He is their 3D on ability right now.
Hoglander had a bad game so him and Sprong can do their thing on the fourth line but Bains isn't the guy for top six role on this team at this time.
I like the kid but he needs way more reps in the bottom six/Abbotsford first.
Bains is fine on 4th line but I don't get where this obsession is coming from to keep trying him in the top 6.
Yeah. I don't get it. I like Bains, and he's a nice story. I even get that Tocc has issues with Hoglander's two-way game at times, so he gets demoted. But I don't get bumping up Bains. It's very obvious he doesn't have the pace or processing to hang on an NHL scoring line (at least right now).
Interesting that they want Petey to use his PP one-timer even less than he is...I feel like they're passing too much right now and not pulling the trigger in the slot and circles, it's often Hughes taking the shot. I miss seeing Petey's one-timers and wish they brought that play back a bit more, it seems like teams know he's in a bit of a slump and not really covering that shot immediately for now.
Petey is obviously slumping, so that's part of it. But another big part of it is just a league-wide shift in penalty killing scheme. More and more teams are going primarily with a Diamond PK scheme, rather than the Wedge+1 we used to exclusively see in seasons past. The Diamond PK eliminates a lot of flank shooting opportunities, such that flank PP shots really aren't as common (and not nearly as dangerous) as they used to be. Standing around waiting for flank shot one-timers on the PP isn't going to work.
The biggest exploit of this is to try and create chances in the middle of the ice. Ironically, since trading Horvat, the Canucks have not had an effective bumper player on the PP. I don't think it's a coincidence the PP has looked a lot worse.