Mar 18, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save during warmup against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save during warmup against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /
Are the Vancouver Canucks falling apart behind the scenes?
The Vancouver Canucks ended Week #24 on an ugly note, alternate captain Daniel Sedin revealing how he is displeased about some members of the lineup who were not bringing the compete and the effort to each game. They also ended the week with four straight losses to contenders and non-contenders alike.
If those games weren’t difficult enough, here’s some more news for the Canucks that will call for all hands to be on deck.
Desjardins said Sutter (jaw), Vrbata (knee), Edler (leg) have been shut down for the season. #Canucks
No need for concern, though. This facilitates the youth movement and the bid for Auston Matthews. Here’s my piece from this weekend on how Auston Matthews brings a ton of possibility to Vancouver not only on the ice but also on the trade front. Yes. Want to dangle some young talent, folks?
And this week will be all about the young guys. Alex Grenier is here. Brendan Gaunce is here. Andrey Pedan is here. What else can the Canucks do? They had to bring up Chris Higgins to fill up the bench! So here are your three keys to Week #25.
KEY #1 – Time for the Young to be Youthful No More
The youth has something to prove. Emerson Etem, Linden Vey, and Markus Granlund are in the last 11 games of their current contracts, set to hit restricted free agency in the summer. Sure that Etem and Granlund (who is injured right now) would come back as Sven Baertschi did last year, each on one-year “prove yourself” contracts. But Vey has something to prove after burning his second chance this year.
Pedan was verbally assured a contract by Benning after his current one expires, but he still has things to prove. So do Grenier and Mike Zalewski. This list does not seem to end. But the fact is that players like Bo Horvat, Jared McCann, and Gaunce also have things to prove to wrap up this season. At this rate, McCann is bound for the AHL next year.
KEY #2 – Alex Burrows a Milestone Night
Alex Burrows came into the NHL as an unrestricted free agent and has played his entire career as a Vancouver Canuck. He did not envision playing 1000 games at the pro level back then. But now that milestone is here, as the veteran left wing will play his 1000th pro game on Saturday. It is a road game and the Canucks won’t be able to give him a special ceremony of sorts, but the atmosphere should be there in the locker room.
A source of inspiration and experience for sure, Burrows seems to have regained his spot on the top line. For now. Maybe this is Willie Desjardin’s way of congratulating the veteran of the milestone.
Can you believe that the Canucks have a winning road record after that loss against the Edmonton Oilers? The Canucks are 14-13-7 on the road, earning 35 of 68 possible points away from Rogers Arena. With three games on the road this week, the Canucks will have history on their side. Now without further ado, here it is, Week #25 Outlook and its Predictions!
After what Daniel Sedin and coach Willie said over the weekend, these Canucks better wake up and rise t0 the challenge. Desjardins looks pretty frustrated in this press conference, let me tell you.
Coach updates injuries -including the players who are being shut down for the year- & discusses the team's culture.https://t.co/acgSFSoJVp
Without Sutter, Vrbata, and Edler for the remainder season, the fight begins now for the Canucks who should be hungry for their next contracts. Return the favour to these Winnipeg Jets who embarrassed you last week in Rogers Arena. Go for it and get yourself a win with the right mental attitude as your coach says. Best of wishes.
And it seems that Alex Burrows is returning to the top line to be with the Sedins. Always dangerous, they were. Dangerous as 35-year-olds, they can be. Grenier was dropped after a couple of games, Virtanen returns to form the “kid line” that the Canucks were so enthusiastic about at the start of the season. It is up to that first line to lead the charge for a win with a superb effort.
Lastly, please don’t let the opponent get 50 shots on you again? That St. Louis Blues loss was embarrassing.
Predictions
For a Vancouver Win: Everyone
107. 4. 104. Final. 2
For a Winnipeg Win: Just me?
4. 107. 3. 104. Final
I see a lot of fluke-y goals off of skates, bodies, sticks, and maybe faces. Tough night for whoever is in net, and I have a feeling that the Canucks are going to get hit again with the injury bugs. The Horvat line with Baertschi and Virtanen is bound to produce soon.
Next: AWAY @ Nashville
@ Nashville Predators (33-21-12) Thursday, March 24th
As good as the Nashville Predators are, there has got to be a way to beat these guys. Well, Virtanen can take one guy out.
So don’t worry much about Forsberg. Don’t worry too much about Ryan Johansen, nor about Shea Weber. Vancouver may be overrating them. Underrated is Roman Josi, who is the team leader in assists and the leading scorer on the blueline.
The Canucks are going to have to look for counter-attack opportunities. These Preds are going to be well-rested after their game on Monday. The Canucks cannot go toe-to-toe with these guys playing the 200-foot game. These Preds are too quick. Play a turtle-shell game and look for chances. Of course, hope Miller/Markstrom is as sharp as they can be.
That being said, the Predators are coming off of games against top teams in the NHL. They lost already to the Washington Capitals and they play the L.A. Kings, a matchup I see the Kings dominating. Why not continue this losing trend for the Predators? The Canucks could maybe form some kind of a locker room depressing in Nashville, eh?
The Canucks can do that if they strike quickly. So how’s this: score five minutes into the first and then protect a one-goal lead for 55 minutes? That might get taxing for a back-to-back, however. The St. Louis Blues are up in just 24 hours!
Predictions
For a Vancouver Win: Dave and Jannik
151. 4. 104. Final. 2
After a feisty effort in Winnipeg resulting in a loss, the Canucks are going to grit their teeth and fight on for a win. If they don’t, the table is set for next season to become a losing locker room and another high draft pick.
Folks, the St. Louis Blues will be on your TV screens for the second week in a row. And the Canucks will be faced with the task of trying to beat Brian Elliot for the second week in a row. This time, that will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
Obviously, the Canucks have a lot to learn about these Blues. Tryamkin does too. But he showed flashes of brilliance in the loss last week against these Blues. If Tryamkin can play a pairing with Dan Hamhuis that shuts down the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko and the rest of these big bad Blues wingers, that will serve to prove that Tryamkin is learning quickly on the fly.
One way Tryamkin helped was to clear the net front. With the second goal against last meeting coming off of a poor net-front control by the Canucks, if the netminder does his job to shut down the sharpshooters, the rebound game should help the Canucks survive this meeting. On the other end, Elliot was giving away nice rebounds for the Canucks, who shot it straight back into his pads. Think more with those rebounds, get to them!
And the first goal against in that meeting… looked worse. Both defenders committed to the same guy on a two-on-two, and Miller was committing to the shot as he rightfully should. Result? A tap-in. Make sure these fast hitting Blues don’t get under your skin and keep that coverage tight down the middle lane.
Predictions
For a Vancouver Win: Sarah, Jeff, and Dave
104. Final. 1. 99. 3
I saw potential in the loss to the Blues last week. Ryan Miller was just sublime. If the Sedins can pull Burrows along for his 1000th pro game, the team has the potential to break out of this rut and make it a win. Elliot? Someone just please run him over?
Here’s the bottomline. If the Canucks do not man up and listen to the coach and the leaders at this point, they have no one to blame but themselves. Sure the injuries happened. Sure pucks shattered teammates’ faces and jaws. Sure the deadline happened and nothing with it. But these Canucks still have a reason to play.
As Alex Burrows said, every time this jersey is on the ice, the city watches. These Canucks have the city to play for. These Canucks have their next contracts to play for. These Canucks have points to play for. Go get them. Please.
