Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from 2-1 loss to Coyotes

Well, the Vancouver Canucks really miss Brock Boeser. Hosting the worst team in the NHL, the Canucks were dominated in every aspect. We break down three takeaways from their 2-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

The Vancouver Canucks only lost 2-1 despite playing by far their worst game of the season. Good thing it was the last-placed Arizona Coyotes, otherwise the Rogers Arena scoreboard operators would have had a long night.

As it turns out, this team is capable of doing very little on offence without rookie sensation Brock Boeser, who’s likely done for the year with a back injury. Being without Loui Eriksson, Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund is also not fun at all.

Arizona won the shot count, putting 34 on Jacob Markstrom while the Canucks could only put up 17. Did we mention the Coyotes are the worst team in the NHL? And the Canucks were at home? No wonder tickets were as cheap as $20 per for this one.

Now, let’s look at three takeways from Vancouver’s 2-1 defeat.

Nikolay Goldobin fails in latest audition

When general manager Jim Benning traded Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks last year, prospect Nikolay Goldobin felt like an excellent return. He’s shown a few flashes here and there, but ‘Goldy’ had a very porous night out there. Hard to believe head coach Travis Green will give him more time.

Twitter was not kind to Goldobin, who played just 7:50 while turning the puck over twice:

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In 24 games this season, Goldobin has four goals and three assists. It’s far too early to give up on  the 22-year-old, but coach Green is now aware that this guy will need a ton of training and mentoring for next season.

With so many injuries at this stage of the season, the Canucks really have no choice but to play some of the kids. But with so much inconsistency and frustration in his game, Goldobin may not be playing much more in 2017-18.  A demotion to the AHL seems like the best choice at this point.

Brendan Leipsic impresses again

Is it too early to say the Canucks won the trade? Brendan Leipsic picked up an assist on Jussi Jokinen‘s goal, giving him six points in four games with his new team. And all this cost the Canucks was a rarely-used blueliner in Philip Holm.

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There is reason to believe Leipsic could be the real deal. His game-breaking speed makes all the difference in today’s NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were simply quick in giving up on him, and the Vegas Golden Knights had enough productive roster players and top prospects as is. They didn’t need Leipsic.

We know Benning won the trades for Granlund and Baertschi, turning those under-performing prospects into studs. Leipsic obviously has to sustain this over a long period, but he could be Benning’s next great reclamation project.

At least, that’s what it looks like through his first four games as a Canuck.

Good day for Team Tank losing this one

For the folks on the Team Tank bandwagon, you’ll be happy to know that the Canucks are now just six points up on the Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres – who are tied for a league-worst 53 points.

Arizona has a game in hand, and the Ottawa Senators are just three points behind Vancouver. The Sabres and Sens play tomorrow, which means one of them will be breathing right down the Canucks’ necks.

Judging by the way they played, you can’t expect the Canucks to get much better in their upcoming slate of games. Their next six games include contests against the three California teams, Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild. Plenty of time to lose more games and fall even more in the standings.

Obviously, the Canucks want to win as many games as they can. But the more you lose, the better chance they get at drafting Rasmus Dahlin. Even if they don’t land the first pick, securing a top-five selection is also monumental.

Next: Canucks: Nothing but back luck in 2017-18

So for those of you hoping this team just keeps on losing, be happy. The Canucks have a prime chance to finish in the bottom-three this season.