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.