Grub's Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Hockey Starts Now

[Vector]

Yes, Raty makes sense, Dhaliwal's comment on Lekkerimaki was more confusing. He is playing well, generating a ton of shots down there, and we've had to move Suter to wing due to the fact nobody has really popped in the top-six outside Garland. But not sure how they juggle that roster.

Bains down for Raty makes a bunch of sense, especially when Joshua returns. I think it's becoming pretty evident Suter is a better winger than centre.

I have disregarded his Lekkerimaki comment since, like you lay out, it doesn't actually make that much sense.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

This might be controversial, but here goes: this is 100% on the coaching staff. I don't think Tocchet is anything more than a mid-level coach - he can do well when a team is governing themselves, or when he has roster that collectively plays exactly how he wants them to play.

Fact is, he is not a good match for some of our more skilled players and he is forcing them to move away from everything that has made them successful professionals in this league. A quality coach should be getting the most out of players to make them the best versions of themselves - not just Mini Tocchets hitting everything that moves and grinding teams into the ice. There is zero reason this team should be struggling to produce at the level they are currently showcasing with the amount of talent on this roster.

I think the Jack Adams went to Rick's head a bit and he came into camp thinking he knew best across the board. I seriously think Allvin and Rutherford need to consider a coaching change if we see a solid coach sent packing in the first quarter of the season if a team is having a poor start. The hot 1st half last year had everyone fooled - it wasn't anything Rick did. It was that every star player had figured out how to work together and play to each other's strengths.

I'm not an X's and O's guy, but does Tocchet system really stifle that team's skill players that much? Aside from the non-negotiables, like being on the right side of the puck, it doesn't seem like Tocchet's system should be holding the team back that much. It certainly doesn't explain Petey's recent struggles as he was as productive as ever during his first 80 games under RT. It doesn't explain why JTM is making ill-advised passes everywhere.

If this team produce as they are expected on the PP, and has a healthy JTM, those 2 factors alone would boost the offense by quite a bit and the stats would look a lot better.

I don't think RT is telling Petey to forget offense and just go out and hit and become a mini Tocchet, he didn't do that to Hughes and it doesn't make sense he would do it with EP, that change in style is on the player, not the coach. I really don't think the coaching is a major issue, it's mostly the team's 2 struggling star centers not playing up to potential, and a badly constructed blueline, that is causing most of the problem offensively.

 

[Flik]

Willander and a 1st for Anderson.

Yes? No?

Definitely something I'd consider if there was an extension in place, otherwise no.

 

[Blue and Green]

I have disregarded his Lekkerimaki comment since, like you lay out, it doesn't actually make that much sense.

What did he say?

 

[pitseleh]

Willander and a 1st for Anderson.

Yes? No?

That might be a “fair” price for what Andersson brings but you don’t typically see Willander level prospects included for great but not star level late twenties players, as we learned from the JT Miller saga. A couple firsts or a first and and mid-roster young player seems like a more reasonable price. I like Andersson but not sure he’s the guy I’d go all in on, particularly since he will be challenging to keep cap-wise beyond 2026.

 

[bossram]

I'm not an X's and O's guy, but does Tocchet system really stifle that team's skill players that much? Aside from the non-negotiables, like being on the right side of the puck, it doesn't seem like Tocchet's system should be holding the team back that much. It certainly doesn't explain Petey's recent struggles as he was as productive as ever during his first 80 games under RT. It doesn't explain why JTM is making ill-advised passes everywhere.

If this team produce as they are expected on the PP, and has a healthy JTM, those 2 factors alone would boost the offense by quite a bit and the stats would look a lot better.

I don't think RT is telling Petey to forget offense and just go out and hit and become a mini Tocchet, he didn't do that to Hughes and it doesn't make sense he would do it with EP, that change in style is on the player, not the coach. I really don't think the coaching is a major issue, it's mostly the team's 2 struggling star centers not playing up to potential, and a badly constructed blueline, that is causing most of the problem offensively.

The criticism doesn't really track. I've been critical of Tocchet, but he has been open to changing the system and working with the roster he has. Last season his focus was on fixing the Green/Boudreau era defensive disasters. This season, he's trying to address the lack of creativity on offense from last season and move away from just the point shot + tip/deflection offensive scheme. The Canucks have made a concerted effort to create more rush chances, and more east-west passing plays. There is an evolution there.

Tocchet's biggest problem is taking too much control of the PP. It's clear he doesn't have a feel for it. Let someone else handle it directly and keep his hands off.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Decided to lurk around the Islanders boards to understand why some of them on the main boards are persistent in wanting to see Dobson moved and this is the first comment I see:

“Lou traded a bunch of junk to get Horvat. Whether that’s fleecing someone or not, but VAN got nothing out of that deal.”

lol

 

[iRageWin]

I think there's a little too much emphasis on puck possession and how low percentage shots are viewed as turnovers. It feels like a lot of the players are trying to move the puck to a teammate as to not be blamed for taking a missed/saved shot, but the over-passing is actually causing more turnovers. Keeping possession is good but skilled players need to be taking risks. Guys like Miller, Boeser, and Pettersson have the shot to beat goalies clean even if they are already set, they need to be allowed to try more of this (within reason of course) without any fear of getting reamed/punished

 

[thecupismine]

Decided to lurk around the Islanders boards to understand why some of them on the main boards are persistent in wanting to see Dobson moved and this is the first comment I see:

“Lou traded a bunch of junk to get Horvat. Whether that’s fleecing someone or not, but VAN got nothing out of that deal.”

lol

Yeah that top pairing, younger, RHD who’s signed for cheaper than Horvat sure is nothing!

Also doubt Willander gets dealt. If they end up acquiring the type of top 4 LHD they need at the deadline (Hamhuis equivalent), Willander holds the keys to this team having the best defensive core in the league during his ELC.

 

[Scumbag Frank]

Decided to lurk around the Islanders boards to understand why some of them on the main boards are persistent in wanting to see Dobson moved and this is the first comment I see:

“Lou traded a bunch of junk to get Horvat. Whether that’s fleecing someone or not, but VAN got nothing out of that deal.”

lol

Watch Dobson's giveaway on NYR's shorthanded goal yesterday - pretty much sums up his issues.
Gets his points but defensively he's like Evan Bouchard from 2 years ago.
Think this would be fine if he was like 21, but this is his 6th season now and he's still not figuring it out

 

[Deeds26]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853506258042831231

As well, for the Tocchet Talk, NHL 25 now has realistic coaches. So, for the low low price of a $100K mortgage and your first born child, you can purchase NHL 25, start a Canucks franchise and fire him if you so choose.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Man if Boston continues to flounder I would have serious interest in Hampus Lindholm. Lots of term but I bet that brings the acquisition cost down. Love that guy.

 

[Hodgy]

The criticism doesn't really track. I've been critical of Tocchet, but he has been open to changing the system and working with the roster he has. Last season his focus was on fixing the Green/Boudreau era defensive disasters. This season, he's trying to address the lack of creativity on offense from last season and move away from just the point shot + tip/deflection offensive scheme. The Canucks have made a concerted effort to create more rush chances, and more east-west passing plays. There is an evolution there.

Tocchet's biggest problem is taking too much control of the PP. It's clear he doesn't have a feel for it. Let someone else handle it directly and keep his hands off.

Ya, I am not as concerned at this point because Tochett has identified this as an issue, and I think the fact that Pettersson and Miller have been so ineffective so far (as @Vector pointed out) and the fact that Demko has been injured, hasn't really allowed us to see whether Tochett is capable of adapting his system to open up the offense a bit.

 

[MS]

When both Pettersson and Miller were playing like 100+ point superstar Cs, we scored lots of goals.

When Miller is hurt and playing like a 70-80 point C and Pettersson is ... whatever the f*** is happening to him, we don't score lots of goals.

It isn't really rocket science.

 

[Vector]

When both Pettersson and Miller were playing like 100+ point superstar Cs, we scored lots of goals.

When Miller is hurt and playing like a 70-80 point C and Pettersson is ... whatever the f*** is happening to him, we don't score lots of goals.

It isn't really rocket science.