Vancouver Canucks: Who could replace Brock Boeser on top line?
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser is dealing with concussion like-symptoms. Who should replace him on the top line if he’s misses time?
On Tuesday morning, the Vancouver Canucks were dealt a crushing blow, as first line winger Brock Boeser was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms and put into concussion protocol. Now, his status for the season-opener next Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers is in jeopardy.
The news came less than a day after the Canucks 6-4 preseason win in Abbotsford over the Ottawa Senators, where Boeser was hit from behind late in the game by Senators forward Chris Tierney.
Coach Travis Green put in bluntly Tuesday afternoon, following the news of Boesers admission into concussion protocol:
“First and foremost, we need him back, you are not going to replace a Brock Boeser,” Green said, via NHL.com. “Am I upset he has a concussion? Yeah, I am, but it’s going to happen in the game of hockey, and it does happen.”
With less than a week before the Canucks regular season opener, there suddenly becomes a real possibility the team starts the season without one of their top offensive weapons and Elias Pettersson‘s go-to trigger man.
With that said, let’s look at some of the possible short-term replacements for Boeser on the Canucks top line.
Realistic: Josh Leivo
In Josh Leivo, the Canucks have a winger that does bring experience playing alongside Pettersson, spending the majority of his minutes last year alongside both Pettersson and Boeser on the left side.
While his 10 goals and eight assists through 49 games with the team were respectable, Leivo posted substantially good Corsi For numbers while playing on the line, which surprisingly went largely unnoticed.
While his numbers were strong with Pettersson, Harman Dayal of The Athletic, also pointed out on Twitter that Leivo’s positive possession numbers away from the line meant he was far from merely being a beneficiary of playing with good players.
Josh Leivo when AWAY from Pettersson last year:
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) September 23, 2019
53.3% shot share (CF%)
53.8% expected goal share (xG%)
13-6 goal share
For reference, no other Canuck skater was above both a 50 percent share on shots and xG. Most underrated Canuck in my opinion
By rolling a line of Pettersson, Leivo and newcomer Micheal Ferland, the Canucks would also minimize the impact of Boesers absence, keeping their much anticipated second line of Bo Horvat, J.T. Miller and Tanner Pearson intact.
And for what it’s worth, while preseason lines can’t be read too far into because, well, it’s the preseason, Travis Green did pair Leivo with Pettersson at Tuesday mornings practice.
Next. J.T. Miller. dark
Realistic: J.T. Miller
When J.T. Miller was acquired by the Canucks on day two of the NHL dtaft, the fan base had largely mixed reviews. While the cost of a future first round pick was steep, the strengths Miller brought to the Canucks were hard to ignore.
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While officially listed as a centre on NHL.com, the 26 year-old Miller brings experience playing all three forward positions, both up and down the lineup.
His versatility saw him play parts of last season alongside Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos on the Lightning’s first line, and at other times with Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn on the third line.
Miller proved to be both a play driver and complimentary piece, which makes him an intriguing option to stand in for Boeser on the first line.
A pass-first player like Miller, who posted 34 assists last season, could highly compliment the line in his ability to create space and provide Pettersson with more opportunities to shoot.
It is, however, worth noting that Miller’s addition to the first-line would create a ripple effect into the second line. With that said, it has been proven that Bo Horvat can hold his own centering a line of Pearson, whom he showed through the latter stages of last season to have chemistry with, and Sven Baertschi, a consistent lineman of Horvat’s over the last few seasons.
Next. Nikolay Goldobin. dark
Unrealistic: Nikolay Goldobin
While Nikolay Goldobin has had a fairly lacklustre preseason thus far, posting just one assist through four games, he is an intriguing case when discussing an opening night replacement for Boeser.
The 23 year-old began the season as a frequent linemate of Pettersson’s, including a dominant November by posting 12 points in 14 games.
Of course, inconsistency and defensive lapses became a driving factor for Goldobin’s eventual demotion from the line, but it goes without saying the he does have a history of finding chemistry in a small, yet significant sample size.
It is for this reason that even before Boeser’s injury, fans and pundits alike were making efforts to “Free Goldy” and see the winger play on the top-line.
Chris Faber of Canucks Army is an avid member of the “Free Goldy” campaign, and he vouched for a Goldobin, Pettersson, Ferland line just last week.
Can I get Ferland-Pettersson-Goldobin?!?
— 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 Faber 🔥🎙 (@ChrisFaber39) September 18, 2019
While it seems unlikely given Goldobin’s history with Green, it does go without saying the the line would carry a nice combination of speed and skill, along with grit in Ferland.
The Canucks still have a number of preseason games to go before their opener, so if Goldobin does have any chances between now and the opener to play with Pettersson, he will have to take full advantage.
Next. Canucks: Elias Pettersson ranked 37th by TSN. dark
So Canucks fans, what do you think? What wingers not mentioned would you like to see replace Boeser’s minutes on the top line – if he does indeed start the year sidelined?