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Vancouver Canucks: Top 5 underrated players going into 2019-20

By Matthew Zator

VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 31: Brendan Gaunce #50 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammates Tyler Motte #64 and Antoine Roussel #26 after scoring during their NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 31: Brendan Gaunce #50 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammates Tyler Motte #64 and Antoine Roussel #26 after scoring during their NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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4. Tyler Motte

Tyler Motte was a forgotten man at the beginning of the season. Fighting for a bottom six job with a two-way contract is not an ideal place to be for a player. Throw in the one-way contracts and veterans on the roster, Motte had a mountain to climb.

But climb it he did. At the end of the pre-season, it was him, not Sam Gagner who made the team. Motte went on to play 74 games with the Canucks, scoring a career-high nine goals (16 points). Not bad for a player not expected to be on the team.

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Motte showed throughout the year that he could be a useful forward in the bottom six. He led the team in hits with 200 and was second among forwards in blocked shots with 52, trailing only Bo Horvat’s 63. He was also a key member of the 11th ranked penalty-killing unit, racking up 126:27 minutes shorthanded, which was good for sixth on the team.

Going into 2019-20, Motte will have to continue to display the versatility and work ethic that won him the job out of training camp last season. The tables are flipped, however, as he will be the one fighting off the hoards, as there are plenty of forwards who would love to take his role in the lineup. But knowing him, he will probably fight them off to live another day.

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