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

Completely. Well aware that we could move up ... even quite a bit. If we go on a bit of a run, say win 3 of the next 4, and then go 6 - 1 - 1 in Mar, up until the Utes games, we would be at 15 games over .500

No disrespect meant at all, but that sounds so very easy peasy!!! The result of that would mean this team went on a run of 15-3-2 over that span and the last 7. Sounds reasonable to me....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indiana
Other than Lankinen,and EP40, who were outstanding.I thought Tyler Myers had an exceptional game, especially on the rush…Where did that come from.?
The 33 year old didn’t resemble the player he was 2-3 years ago.
 
  • Love
Reactions: Indiana
It's always a little extra sweet to beat the Leafs on HNIC. Little bit crazy how turbulent the season has been, and one good stretch of play sets us up nicely for the home stretch.

Good game by EP40. Just need him to start putting those together.

Lineup finally looks right. But Tocchet is going to reunite DeBrusk-EP-BB after the break just because.

It was always clear that this group needed another top 4 D. It was also clear that it was just a matter of time before one was added. Building from the net out is always the right approach.

D-Petey will and should be sent back to Abby when QH is back in the lineup. Still EP25"s first year in NA, no need to rush his development. Great showing and our blueline is now as good as it's ever been, both for the present and the foreseeable future.

I love the idea of spreading QH, MP, FH through the lineup, giving each their own pair. Play them together situationally--after an icing, late in a period, etc--but essentially have at least one on the ice 100% of the time (give or take some PK time).

Team needs another piece in the top 6/9 (depending how Chytil does in the top 6). Also need a RH face-off option, ideally one that can PK. Be ideal if this all came in one package. Looking forward to Vector providing a realistic list of RHC targets, sorted by contract and top 6, bottom 6 options.

I was on board with moving Soucy even for a draft pick. But he's looked good on the right side, and with us giving Friedman away, I'm less willing to do so now. Now I'd only trade Soucy if it helps get us the top 6 forward (or at least a RHC) that we need.

Team is playing strong hockey, even without Quinn and with limited contributions from EP40. We've got all the cap space we could possibly need now, so really excited to see what topping Allvin is cooking up for this Celly Sunday.

PS enjoy the break boys, you've earned it.

PPS hope Demko just wanted to get his buddy some ice time and it is nothing serious.
 
Other than Lankinen,and EP40, who were outstanding.I thought Tyler Myers had an exceptional game, especially on the rush…Where did that come from.?
The 33 year old didn’t resemble the player he was 2-3 years ago.

He's been playing well for a while but that pairing with Marcus Pettersson has gelled instantly and been absolutely fantastic. These couple games with Pettersson are as controlled and effective as I've ever seen Myers look.
 
He's been playing well for a while but that pairing with Marcus Pettersson has gelled instantly and been absolutely fantastic. These couple games with Pettersson are as controlled and effective as I've ever seen Myers look.

One thing to keep in mind about Myers, Tocchet might the first non-terrible head coach (aside from a season and a bit of Ted Nolan) he's ever played for - the others are Lindy Ruff, Claude Noel, Paul Maurice, and of course Green and Boudreau.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: vanuck
Willander is a far better skater and better passer than Myers, and much higher IQ. He can evade the forecheck in a similar way that Hughes does. All together that equals a much higher rate of zone exits with control of the puck, which is an area Myers is terrible at. I'm forecasting Willander to be our 2nd best right D coming into next season. Myers in our bottom pair at 3 million is too much. Ultimately though, he will be kept around as an overpaid 3rd pairing guy. Right now he is on a stretch of good games but his bad games far outnumber the good ones.

25/26 Defense pairings:

Hughes Hronek
M Pettersson Willander
E. Pettersson Myers
Quite the prediction for somebody who hasn't even played a game. Don't think the coaching staff will be on board with that but what do they know?
 
Quite the prediction for somebody who hasn't even played a game. Don't think the coaching staff will be on board with that but what do they know?
The best players in College hockey tend to make the jump straight to the NHL out of college, so there is a high probability that Willander makes the team next year. Not some bold prediction. I predict he will be better than Myers. I guess that can be seen as bold, but Myers has some glaring weaknesses in his game.

There's a good chance we see him a near the end of the season. We'll get a pretty good idea how NHL ready he is then.
 
It's always a little extra sweet to beat the Leafs on HNIC. Little bit crazy how turbulent the season has been, and one good stretch of play sets us up nicely for the home stretch.

Good game by EP40. Just need him to start putting those together.

Lineup finally looks right. But Tocchet is going to reunite DeBrusk-EP-BB after the break just because.

It was always clear that this group needed another top 4 D. It was also clear that it was just a matter of time before one was added. Building from the net out is always the right approach.

D-Petey will and should be sent back to Abby when QH is back in the lineup. Still EP25"s first year in NA, no need to rush his development. Great showing and our blueline is now as good as it's ever been, both for the present and the foreseeable future.

I love the idea of spreading QH, MP, FH through the lineup, giving each their own pair. Play them together situationally--after an icing, late in a period, etc--but essentially have at least one on the ice 100% of the time (give or take some PK time).

Team needs another piece in the top 6/9 (depending how Chytil does in the top 6). Also need a RH face-off option, ideally one that can PK. Be ideal if this all came in one package. Looking forward to Vector providing a realistic list of RHC targets, sorted by contract and top 6, bottom 6 options.

I was on board with moving Soucy even for a draft pick. But he's looked good on the right side, and with us giving Friedman away, I'm less willing to do so now. Now I'd only trade Soucy if it helps get us the top 6 forward (or at least a RHC) that we need.

Team is playing strong hockey, even without Quinn and with limited contributions from EP40. We've got all the cap space we could possibly need now, so really excited to see what topping Allvin is cooking up for this Celly Sunday.

PS enjoy the break boys, you've earned it.

PPS hope Demko just wanted to get his buddy some ice time and it is nothing serious.
Seriously hoping Hughes does not play in the Four Nations. If he is too injured to play for his team he shouldn't be suiting up for an extra tourney. Let him rest and heal for the playoff push.
 
He's been playing well for a while but that pairing with Marcus Pettersson has gelled instantly and been absolutely fantastic. These couple games with Pettersson are as controlled and effective as I've ever seen Myers look.
Let's not forget Marcus Pettersson made Gudbranson look decent when they were a regular pairing for the Penguins. To that I would add maybe Myers has finally learned to play within his limitations.
 
“I’ll cheer when Van misses the playoffs”

Good to know the leafs board is measured and full of really good smart takes.

Get f***ed losers your team stinks lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: vanuck
No disrespect meant at all, but that sounds so very easy peasy!!! The result of that would mean this team went on a run of 15-3-2 over that span and the last 7. Sounds reasonable to me....
Optimistic I know. but actually I expect we should win most of the next 12 games or so. Up til the Jets game on Mar 18, we should be the favourites for every game in Mar, and 2 - 2 - 1 In the last of February would not be surprising.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobbyb2009
Let's not forget Marcus Pettersson made Gudbranson look decent when they were a regular pairing for the Penguins. To that I would add maybe Myers has finally learned to play within his limitations.

Myers always seems at his worst when he's trying to anticipate his partner's side as well as his own. Some players are great at it, Myers isn't and gets chaotic. Petterson means Myers can just stick to his side and trust Petterson and Petterson can cover got Myers. Petterson should be a good fit for Myers, or just about anyone.
 
Well, Forbort is going back to playing 10-12 minutes a game once Hughes is back anyway. I also think EP25 and Soucy have been playing really well together.

Maybe they'll have to alternate between the three of them (Soucy, Forbort and EP). Everyone plays two games, sits out the third.
This is something that I think has merit. You could see it in last season when they rode Cole into the ground. By the time playoffs rolled around the wheels were falling off. A rotation would help keep the veterans fresh while helping the rookies continued development.
 
This is something that I think has merit. You could see it in last season when they rode Cole into the ground. By the time playoffs rolled around the wheels were falling off. A rotation would help keep the veterans fresh while helping the rookies continued development.
Hughes also seemed exhausted by the end of the playoffs last year. The best thing about his recent injury is the sense that maybe he doesn't have to play 25-30 a night every night.
 
Let's not forget Marcus Pettersson made Gudbranson look decent when they were a regular pairing for the Penguins. To that I would add maybe Myers has finally learned to play within his limitations.

Myers is pretty much a good #4 in that he's partner dependent. He can handle 20ish minutes per night and compliment a pair as long as his partner is a true #3 that can consistently anchor the pairing. He even did it with Soucy down the stretch and into the playoffs last year when Soucy elevated his play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tradervik
Myers is pretty much a good #4 in that he's partner dependent. He can handle 20ish minutes per night and compliment a pair as long as his partner is a true #3 that can consistently anchor the pairing. He even did it with Soucy down the stretch and into the playoffs last year when Soucy elevated his play.
It's so odd to be able to be able to say that Myers is not the problem on this team, not even the problem on the defence, not even the problem in the salary structure. We live in Bizarro World.
 
It's so odd to be able to be able to say that Myers is not the problem on this team, not even the problem on the defence, not even the problem in the salary structure. We live in Bizarro World.

A lot of problems were related to defensemen playing up the depth chart where they got erratic due to too many minutes. We briefly solved it last year when Cole, Zadorov, and Soucy all elevated their play into the 18-20 min range, but obviously Soucy regressed and the other guys left. This year pre-Pettersson(s) was a total disaster. Myers was actually good before Pettersson arrived when paired with Hughes, and I'd argue has largely maintained his play from last season, but had partner problems earlier in the year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vanuck
Seriously hoping Hughes does not play in the Four Nations. If he is too injured to play for his team he shouldn't be suiting up for an extra tourney. Let him rest and heal for the playoff push.

I mean ya that would be ideal. But on the other hand, Quinn Hughes has earned the right to do whatever the f*** he wants.

Considering the season he is putting up while being smack in the middle of a shit storm salad, if he decides he's healthy enough and wants to go play with his brothers and a bunch of guys he grew up playing with or looking up to, then Canucks fans should do nothing but support our captain.

I'd like him to stay home. But Quinn Hughes has earned all the benefits of the doubt.
 
Most likely due to the fact the team is rumoured to be trying to move Soucy and absolutely no one wants to play Juulsen again. If they don’t trade Soucy, then the need for Willander on the right-side isn’t as big an issue.
can still find another rhd via trade either in a boeser/soucy package or seperate deal.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad