Vancouver led the league in points at Christmas, Can they continue this run into the New Year?

[notbias]

They aren't even done constructing the team. JR has pointed out that they like to improve that defense. Also Podkolzin, Lekker and Wilander joining the team in future might make them even a better and deeper team than they are now. I will say they will be adding another top 4 D in trade deadline. Their defense still needs improvement.

Who are they adding and who are they losing?

Boeser, Pettersson, and Hronek are all due for raises within the next 2 years.

They have OEL on the books and at almost 5 million for two years (25/26 - 26/27).

Hughes is a UFA the OEL contract goes back down to a more manageable hit.

One good D signed next year.

Miller is getting older.

I think this year is their best year while everyone is on a discount and they have a decent D assembled, it starts looking worse in a couple of years.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

If it’s just honestly talking about regression because you’re so into stats then why is only one team ever talked about this way?

Because “regression” is COPE for haters.

because only 1 team has 5 players with a shooting percentage above 23% (min 20 games)...no other team has more than one player and most teams, even the top teams like Boston, have none

they're bound to regress Kuzmenko-style

obviously a top 3 team in the Pacific with the regression though

 

[kranuck]

Rangers and kings have proof of concept.

Not so much with the nucks

We also beat you

The rangers have a negative 5 on 5 goal differential.

 

[jackjohnson]

I don’t think any team has ever garnered half this level of talk about PDO

I didn't know what PDO was before 2023-2024 season. Canucks progression to a playoff team this year made me learn about PDO and xGF etc.

 

[Romang67]

If it’s just honestly talking about regression because you’re so into stats then why is only one team ever talked about this way?

Because “regression” is COPE for haters.

Are you saying that the 2023 Vancouver Canucks is the first team where people have pointed to their unusually high shooting percentage and save percentage as something that is unlikely to last over an extended period of time?

 

[jackjohnson]

because only 1 team has 5 players with a shooting percentage above 23% (min 20 games)...no other team has more than one player and most teams, even the top teams like Boston, have none

they're bound to regress Kuzmenko-style

obviously a top 3 team in the Pacific with the regression though

Kuzmenko still has 8 goals playing limited 4th line minutes most season and scratched for 5 or so games or benched many times. I wouldnt call it regression based on how much he has played lol. 8 goals is damn good with how Kuzmenko has been deployed. He could have had 13 to 14 goals if he was deployed normally like last year.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Which is why am saying that you guys in theory are a small market team but McDavid coverage is what shines the light on your team. Embrace it while you still can. McDavid is a gem

they weren't a "small market" before Connor though, they were "mid-market"...constant sell-outs, cap team and always paying into revenue sharing despite the poor performance on the ice
Oilers fans are loyal to a fault (look at the Oiler presence on HF for example)

 

[jackjohnson]

Are you saying that the 2023 Vancouver Canucks is the first team where people have pointed to their unusually high shooting percentage and save percentage as something that is unlikely to last over an extended period of time?

Don't know about other teams but it's my first time hearing PDO and regression based on that stat specifically. And I post here a lot.

 

[notbias]

I don’t think any team has ever garnered half this level of talk about PDO

They have the highest PDO of the last 10 years... their puck luck is good, it should be talked about.

The next two highest teams are Boston from last year, who lost in the first round, and Tampa from 2018-2019, who got swept in the first.

Not saying that will happen to them as well... just pointing out that those two teams had monster regular seasons and ultimately didn't continue the same luck into the playoffs.

 

[Nasti]

weird!

it's almost like it's later elsewhere, 4am in some places and still relatively early on the west coast

it's like magic

(this happens routinely, at this time, but you're just noticing now when it's positive threads)

Funny how much butt hurt there is when simply pointing out how it’s not been quiet. Multiple people now. Notice I didn’t say anything negative about the Canucks in that post. So fragile.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Kuzmenko still has 8 goals playing limited 4th line minutes most season and scratched for 5 or so games or benched many times. I wouldnt call it regression based on how much he has played lol. 8 goals is damn good with how Kuzmenko has been deployed. He could have had 13 to 14 goals if he was deployed normally like last year.

his shooting percentage went from 27% to 18% this year is my point

 

[Romang67]

Don't know about other teams but it's my first time hearing PDO and regression based on that stat specifically. And I post here a lot.

It's been a semi annual tradition since at least the 2013-14 Colorado Avalanche.

 

[jackjohnson]

they weren't a "small market" before Connor though, they were "mid-market"...constant sell-outs, cap team and always paying into revenue sharing despite the poor performance on the ice
Oilers fans are loyal to a fault (look at the Oiler presence on HF for example)

I think there was a period where you GM Kevin Lowe at the time was talking about how hard it was to attract players to come to Edmonton. That's usually the problems small market teams have. You guys could still have average attendance during those times but the team was not seeing much coverage before McDavid especially from American media.

It's been a semi annual tradition since at least the 2013-14 Colorado Avalanche.

I honestly just heard about PDO this year and am not lying. And I post in a lot of hockey forums. Maybe since the Canucks are now the focus of this, I don know.

 

[MardyBum]

If it’s just honestly talking about regression because you’re so into stats then why is only one team ever talked about this way?

Because “regression” is COPE for haters.

One team ever talked about?

Tell me you're self absorbed without telling me you're self absorbed.

Nick Suzuki himself had a running regression chart just last year .

 

[Three On Zero]

Edmonton is a smaller market team due to the population though. McDavid has made Edmonton look more like a bigger market than it is. There was a time where players would avoid trades or signings with Edmonton and Edmonton had a tough time attracting UFAs and I think Oilers fans remember that. McDavid changed the culture of the team and their outlook. It even made Oilers a much more valuable team. It's like Toronto Raptors getting Jordan or like inter Miami with Messi. Hall of Fame players and legends can make a team a lot more popular.

And a new aren/ice district which saw the valuation sky rocket. Same would happen for Vancouver if they ever got to the point of building a new arena

 

[kranuck]

because only 1 team has 5 players with a shooting percentage above 23% (min 20 games)...no other team has more than one player and most teams, even the top teams like Boston, have none

they're bound to regress Kuzmenko-style

obviously a top 3 team in the Pacific with the regression though

Whatever helps you cope with the oilers being garbage.

 

[jackjohnson]

his shooting percentage went from 27% to 18% this year is my point

He hasn't played much though. Also probably the sophomore slump has something to do with it and lack of confidence. When he shoots like last night, he usually scores or when he plays the slot on PP for deflections. He has not been used same way as last year. Boeser is now playing in the slot on PP instead of Kuzmenko.

 

[notbias]

He hasn't played much though. Also probably the sophomore slump has something to do with it and lack of confidence. When he shoots like last night, he usually scores or when he plays the slot on PP for deflections. He has not been used same way as last year. Boeser is now playing in the slot on PP instead of Kuzmenko.

Is the sophomore slump even a thing? Or is it just a way to excuse players who overachieved in their first season?

I am curious if there is any data to back this up, I have no clue either way, I just always assumed it was not an actual thing.

 

[Brookbank]

“Quietly”. At this exact moment, the top three threads on the main boards are about the Canucks.

There has been threads about player stats and whatnot. While their record was around 5th in the league. And when they were 5th everyone was predicting a crash.

 

[Three On Zero]

Is the sophomore slump even a thing? Or is it just a way to excuse players who overachieved in their first season?

I am curious if there is any data to back this up, I have no clue either way, I just always assumed it was not an actual thing.

It’s not real, it’s just a term fans use when the league adjusts to a new player and figure out his play style

 

[jackjohnson]

And a new aren/ice district which saw the valuation sky rocket. Same would happen for Vancouver if they ever got to the point of building a new arena

True, the McDavid factor plus new arena in a rejuvenated district has something to do with it. Vancouver with a larger population and more wealthy people would have a bigger valuation of they were in Oilers position of having that type of franchise player and a new arena.

 

[bobbyb2009]

Rangers 2 pts behind with 3 games in hand.

Kings with the same pts percentage too

It’s not gonna last

Agreed, it won't. Rangers and Kings (and Vegas and a few others are GOOOD).

But, who cares. It feels so good not to be almost last and a joke. To have earned being in 1st place at Christmas is truly cool. Simple as that. Worth celebrating for sure!!!

And congrats on having such a great team in New York. You guys have ben really good for a few years now.

In O/T where the Canucks outplayed and outshot the Rangers? Yes total domination by the Blueshirts lol….

Ironically, I think the Canucks out chanced and outplayed the Ranger, but the Rangers out PDO'd the Canucks in that game IIRC

 

[Hoek]

Last year felt like they were way worse than they should've been and this year is the opposite. Crazy.

 

[bobbyb2009]

There has been threads about player stats and whatnot. While their record was around 5th in the league. And when they were 5th everyone was predicting a crash.

HAHAHAH Oh man, I love your Avatar

 

[jackjohnson]

if/when alvin gets another top 4 rhd and another top 6 winger to play alongside petey look out in the 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs anything can happen.

Don't need another top 6 winger if they play Kuzy in top 6. I agree with needing another top 4 RHD