Post-Game Talk: [GM55] Canucks defeat Maple Leafs | 2-1 | Hronek & Boeser | Dead Leafs on the Dirty Ground

[TruGr1t]

I agree with the other posters that they should first leave the other two pairings alone and just slot Hughes beside Soucy to see if that works. Exciting times ahead.

Myers or Hronek will play with Hughes. Soucy may even be traded, though I think that’s a stupid move now he’s proven he can play the RS.

 

[Lenny Levino]

One thought that came to mind-- while obviously he needs to consistently play better, the expectations people have for Pettersson seem a bit odd to me. From the way people talk, it's like they're thinking "He makes 11.6 million, therefore he needs to take the bull by the horns and complete take over games and dominate," but even in his peak 100+ point Selke-worthy season (which is what warranted that contract), since his initial major injuries forced him to change the way he played, he's never really been the type of player to "take over games" even at the best of times. At his best, he was still more of a "quietly do the right things all over the ice and make enough clever/subtle offensive plays that he somehow ends up with 3-5 points" kind of guy.

This game... pretty much looked like that, in my opinion. He could have easily had 2-3 points and was great defensively. Just need to see it consistently.

A player who completely takes over and wins games on their own are few and far between (MacKinnon/McDavid/Draisaitl) and they cost a lot more than 11.6m, especially now with the cap going up.

 

[logan5]

EP25 with around 11 minutes of ice time, which was the least among D men by about 2 minutes. I get the feeling that after the break, Pettersson will be the odd man, unless Soucy gets traded. I hope that happens so Pettersson can continue getting NHL experience.

Canucks had 14 high danger chances vs 6 for Toronto, so it really was a closer game than it should have been.

 

[DFAC]

Hughes - Soucy
MP3 - Myers
Forbort - Hronek
EPII

LFG

 

[dez]

Watching Elias Pettersson II on the blueline, count me as being absolutely gob-smacked. I mean where did this kid come from? No way anybody could have predicted he'd be so good, so fast.

He's reminding me of a young Oliver Ekman-Larsson, during his salad days in Arizona. How can you take him out of the lineup?

To me, unless it's a mirage, D-Petey is one of the most encouraging things about this season so far.

He's played great as a rookie but he's probably not playing over Forbort, maybe he plays his off side but I think Soucy has shown he is able to do that already.

 

[Shareefruck]

D.Pettersson is almost for sure coming out when Hughes is back and you’ll probably run Forbort-Soucy as the bottom pair pre-Willander.

I dunno, Forbort - Soucey still kind of scares me as a pairing. I'd like them to try

Hughes - Soucey
Pettersson - Myers
Forbort - Hronek

 

[Nuckles]

 

[CanucksSayEh]

I have never watched a leaves game, and been impressed by Matthews-Marner. Not once.

They play like EP has the past year, but somehow end up with 80-100 points like clockwork.

Fully convinced they are just paying someone to fudge their stats on the NHL site, and they're secretly both 40 point guys. No other explanation.

 

[TruGr1t]

He's played great as a rookie but he's probably not playing over Forbort, maybe he plays his off side but I think Soucy has shown he is able to do that already.

This is Tocchet we’re talking about, basically zero chance he scratches PK God Forbort.

 

[arttk]

Remember when Drance was shaking his head and crying because we went out and traded for a 25 year old top 4 RD?

The legend of Filip Hronek grows. We really got our right-shot #2 D for the next decade in exchange for a mid first and second.

What a home run deal and signing. That 7.25M cap hit is going to look so good in a couple years. We really did our own version of Devon Toews. Great job from Allvin and co.

So glad to see him being able to anchor a line.

 

[ephmrl]

Looked to be favoring his lower left side from the clips HNIC showed. Hip maybe?

 

[Canuckle1970]

Stating the obvious here, but what a difference it makes having a functioning defense - to hold the fort and transition to the forwards.
Hronek and Lanks were incredible, and the entire team was energized. Everyone busted their asses tonight.

 

[Lenny Levino]

I'd just plug in Hughes to EP2's slot when he comes back.

EP2 has looked great relative to expectations but is still playing very little and there's no way you can disrupt the other pairings.

I'd rather play EP2 than Forbort (even though Forbort has been playing good lately). Because EP2 is 20 years old and his ceiling is likely a lot higher. So, you have more to win by giving him ice time and experience. And it's not like Forbort is so much better that you're going to lose games by playing EP2 over him (from what it looks so far, EP2 may even be a better player already - but it's hard to say for sure right now).

 

[TruGr1t]

I dunno, Forbort - Soucey still kind of scares me as a pairing. I'd like them to try

Hughes - Soucey
Pettersson - Myers
Forbort - Hronek

I don’t really see an issue with Forbort-Soucy as a bottom pair. The minutes will be light and they will load on the PK.

 

[Nuckles]

Stating the obvious here, but what a difference it makes having a functioning defense - to hold the fort and transition to the forwards.
Hronek and Lanks were incredible, and the entire team was energized. Everyone busted their asses tonight.

No longer seeing Desharnais fling it off the glass and out 30 times a game has done wonders for my blood pressure

 

[DFAC]

 

[ferroid]

I'd rather play EP2 than Forbort (even though Forbort has been playing good lately). Because EP2 is 20 years old and his ceiling is likely a lot higher. So, you have more to win by giving him ice time and experience. And it's not like Forbort is so much better that you're going to lose games by playing EP2 over him (from what it looks so far, EP2 may even be a better player already - but it's hard to say for sure right now).

I don’t know about this — Forbort is playing much harder minutes than EP2 right now, and coming out ahead. The team is in a dogfight to make the playoffs, and there’s no way Toc will favor development over safety on defence

 

[xtr3m]

I'm reading alot of takes about Petey that seem to be missing the point. The old Petey is still in there and we just saw it. The terrifying idea that he's forever this 55pt disappointment with no possibility of redemption is dead. He lives.

The terrifying idea is not dead until he starts scoring, especially 5on5. Sorry.

 

[logan5]

What are these Elias Pettersson rumours on Twitter? Guy on post game brought it up.

 

[Lemmiwinks]

Nice win for the boys Sans Quinn again. Other than his assist (which was nice) petey did nothing, Hope demko is ok, thankfully he has a couple of weeks now to rest and recouperate

That’s not true. He had a near short-angle snipe that hit the post and set up a few other scoring chances. Much better effort from him.

 

[wonton15]

Tocchet seems to have had a mid season coaching revelation, too. No longer being a super hardass on certain things, and has seemed to relax the dump and chase. Seems to have realized something and pivoted his focus from pure defensive staples to keeping our foot to the pedal and getting to the inside.

Also interesting he has practiced less and is letting the vibes flow. Definitely feels like he’s taking a bit of a new approach.

Now fix the PP!

 

[Bleach Clean]

One thought that came to mind-- while obviously he needs to consistently play better, the expectations people have for Pettersson seem a bit odd to me. From the way people talk, it's like they're thinking "He makes 11.6 million, therefore he needs to take the bull by the horns and complete take over games and dominate," but even in his peak 100+ point Selke-worthy season (which is what warranted that contract), since his initial major injuries forced him to change the way he played, he's never really been the type of player to "take over games" even at the best of times. At his best, he was still more of a "quietly do the right things all over the ice and make enough clever/subtle offensive plays that he somehow ends up with 3-5 points" kind of guy.

This game... pretty much looked like that, in my opinion. He could have easily had 2-3 points and was great defensively. Just need to see it consistently.

This is the 'Super Computer' analogy. Generally, you are right. He just maximizes most situations to lead to strong overall production. Few players can do this with consistency. At his best, he did.

That said, one aspect of maximizing most situations is arriving at the puck and carrying the puck with speed. He's missing this even now.

And so, he can get by still trying to out-think his opposition, but he won't be back until he shows this aspect of his game consistently, because when he does, his ability to play in space and off of others will be at an elite level.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

Stating the obvious here, but what a difference it makes having a functioning defense - to hold the fort and transition to the forwards.
Hronek and Lanks were incredible, and the entire team was energized. Everyone busted their asses tonight.

Average at best the Canucks gave up nothing. Even at the end Matthews gave Lank that save by taking an entirety to shoot. If that was a Canucks player we would be killing them for taking that long.

 

[Josepho]

I'd rather play EP2 than Forbort (even though Forbort has been playing good lately). Because EP2 is 20 years old and his ceiling is likely a lot higher. So, you have more to win by giving him ice time and experience. And it's not like Forbort is so much better that you're going to lose games by playing EP2 over him (from what it looks so far, EP2 may even be a better player already - but it's hard to say for sure right now).

Forbort is better on the PK right now and got 7.5 more minutes than EP2 in this game. They aren't even close in terms of their current impact.

I'm sure this is a replacement they'll consider doing in the offseason.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

That was a gutsy win. Incredible after the state of the defense to start the season watching our defense win us games without even having Hughes in the lineup. MP3 and D-Petey have been huge - but also credit to Myers, Forbort and Soucy (Soucy has had a good couple of games, and Forbort has been quietly solid for a while).

Hope Demko is okay - at least he gets a break to rest right now. Huge game from Lankinen to come in and play the way he did.

The team just looks committed and hard working at the moment. You’d like to see some offense come, but at least we are showing we can win close games.

EP40 looked more like himself today. Huge shift to set up the first goal and nailed a crossbar later in the first. Looked a lot quicker and more engaged today.

Solid win to cap off a solid run of games. Sucks the break comes now, but hopefully some of our guys who are banged up can use it to rest up. And hopefully Hughes, Petey and Lankinen make it through it all unscathed.