GDT: GM15 | Vancouver Canucks vs New York Islanders | Thur. Nov 14th | 7:00pm PST | SNP | Bronco Horvath

Leif Rohlin

Registered User
Jan 25, 2024
104
212
The justification for the top 6 deployment is the same as giving Lekkerimaki PP1 time last night. I don't mind it at all, but Bains has zero points with Miller and Pettersson.

Ultimately I think he tops out as a Pius Suter type, which is good, but players like that don't tend to wow often.
It's not the same at all though. Boeser got injured which opened up a spot on 1st-line RW, and they brought up Lekk who is

1. Clearly our top forward prospect
2. A right-handed shot
3. Producing in Abbotsford

I didn't mind giving Bains an opportunity in bottom-6 minutes with Joshua out to start the season but I didn't think putting him on the top line made any sense at that point.

He's definitely better this year but not night and day better, and in preseason did not look like a top-6 NHL forward. He's got the awareness and creativity to make a nice play a couple of times in a game, but his skillset is still pretty unpolished and his skating isn't there yet either. He's got speed in straight lines but struggles changing direction and that was getting exposed even in preseason.

Raty really hasn't been great either but they've sheltered his minutes for the most part so it's not a big deal. Even there I feel like it's getting hard to justify. He's consistently a step behind in reading the play and gets caught out of position both in the D zone and on the forecheck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flakes15

tantalum

Hope for the best. Expect the worst
Sponsor
Apr 2, 2002
25,500
14,717
Missouri
I think the thing to be mindful for is Suter is not signed long term so there is a world where Suter goes and Hog slides in as the replacement.
In order to address the blueline a pending UFA isn’t going to cut it. It will involve younger player that still has several years of team control.

Either that or they are showcasing Lekk but I don’t think that’s the case.
 

Hodgy

Registered User
Feb 23, 2012
4,837
5,047
One of the goalies has been unplayably bad and we haven't had a busy schedule. 11 goalies have played more than Lankinen and 7 have played the same amount as him.
Also, their load management plan for Lankinen probably assumes Demko is returning this yearn or early next year.
 

God

Free Citizen
Apr 2, 2007
10,736
8,402
Vancouver
It's not the same at all though. Boeser got injured which opened up a spot on 1st-line RW, and they brought up Lekk who is

1. Clearly our top forward prospect
2. A right-handed shot
3. Producing in Abbotsford

I didn't mind giving Bains an opportunity in bottom-6 minutes with Joshua out to start the season but I didn't think putting him on the top line made any sense at that point.

He's definitely better this year but not night and day better, and in preseason did not look like a top-6 NHL forward. He's got the awareness and creativity to make a nice play a couple of times in a game, but his skillset is still pretty unpolished and his skating isn't there yet either. He's got speed in straight lines but struggles changing direction and that was getting exposed even in preseason.

Raty really hasn't been great either but they've sheltered his minutes for the most part so it's not a big deal. Even there I feel like it's getting hard to justify. He's consistently a step behind in reading the play and gets caught out of position both in the D zone and on the forecheck.
It is the same - it's giving a young player an opportunity to play with good players so that they can learn. If Boeser wasn't injured, I'm sure Lekk would be getting 4th line spot duty with occasional playing time with Miller/Pettersson just like Bains.

This is a typical development path that makes sense to keep prospect's confidence up. It's also fair to comment on how they do in those minutes too.
 

Peen

Rejoicing in a Benning-free world
Oct 6, 2013
31,495
27,776
One of the goalies has been unplayably bad and we haven't had a busy schedule. 11 goalies have played more than Lankinen and 7 have played the same amount as him.
80% load is a lot which is what he's had since he took the starting role

Silovs been awful and belongs in the AHL but we don't control Lankinen's future
 

wonton15

Höglander
Dec 13, 2009
20,533
30,345
80% load is a lot which is what he's had since he took the starting role

Silovs been awful and belongs in the AHL but we don't control Lankinen's future
The absolute value of games Lankinen is starting might seem high, but I believe he’s been getting ample(?) breaks in between a lot of his starts (2-5 days off). As long as he’s feeling fine I’d keep going.
 

MS

1%er
Mar 18, 2002
55,941
92,523
Vancouver, BC
The absolute value of games Lankinen is starting might seem high, but I believe he’s been getting ample(?) breaks in between a lot of his starts (2-5 days off). As long as he’s feeling fine I’d keep going.

Yeah, we've had a butter-soft schedule to start the year. We've played the fewest games in the NHL, have had 0 back-to-backs so far, and a ton of games against bad teams.

Two B2Bs in the next two weeks, though. I'm guessing Silovs plays against Chicago on the 16th and Lankinen gets Nashville on the 17th. Maybe Demko will be back for the one at the end of the month?
 

Canuckle1970

Registered User
Mar 24, 2010
7,333
6,535
Welcome back Dakota! :thumbu:

We need this one. Take advantage of struggling teams whenever you can. As we saw last year, it just gets tougher and tougher as the season rolls on.

The Horvat trade was necessary, but I can't hate Bo. Always wish him well, just not tonight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ozone

Ad

Ad

Ad