Fansided

3 remaining questions ahead of the Vancouver Canucks’ home opener

By Bailey Broadbent |
CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

With the Vancouver Canucks 50th anniversary well underway, the team is now primed for their home opener Wednesday, October 9th against the LA Kings.

Here’s a look at three burning questions that still remain unanswered ahead of the Vancouver Canucks‘ home opener tomorrow night.

1. What is going to fix the powerplay?

Lots of Canucks’ chatter heading into the season revolved around the expectation of a much-improved power play — and for good reason.

The Canucks’ assistant coach Newell Brown was given even more weapons to work with for this year’s iteration of the powerplay units. J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, and Tyler Myers were all expected to deliver on improving last years’ powerplay that ranked 22nd in the league.

That delivery has yet to come to fruition. In the Canucks preseason-opening loss against the Edmonton Oilers, the powerplay went 0 for 4. The following game against Calgary? An abysmal 0 for 6.

While the two games on the road have yet to provide any sort of real sample size, it is something that is already being questioned — justified or not.

Travis Green has opted for a first powerplay unit comprised of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Miller, and Josh Leivo, with the lone defenceman in Alex Edler manning the point thus far.

Many fans have called for Hughes to replace the latter on the unit, including boiling down Green’s reluctance to swap the defenders to Edler merely being the more experienced of the two.

Green recently addressed these rumours to TSN 1040 reporter Jeff Paterson:

Whether a change is needed or not, the powerplay is a question that remains to be answered heading into Wednesday’s game. Although, today’s practice lines would suggest that Leivo and Horvat will be swapping places.

CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) and Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) and Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. When will the top line click?

It’s no secret the Canucks need a healthy Boeser and Pettersson in order to succeed and make a push for the playoffs this year. But when healthy, they also need Boeser and Pettersson to produce offensively.

Just a few games into the season, and the two have yet to get on any sort of roll with Pettersson being held pointless and Boeser limited to a single assist. While the small sample size may deter you from any sort of worry, what is certainly concerning is Pettersson’s increasing cold streak.

The Swede has recorded a measly three goals over his last 25 games dating back to last season, with his last even-strength goal coming 30 games ago on February 5 against the Washington Capitals. Something has got to give.

Likely looking to spark some offence, the Canucks swapped Ferland with Miller in the top six during Sunday morning’s skate:

The move may work out for both lines, as Ferland is coming off a pair of rough outings in Alberta. It will be interesting to see when the Canucks top six clicks, because as it stands, Tanner Pearson is the only top six forward who has picked up a goal.

CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) directs teammates into position during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) directs teammates into position during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Who will be named captain?

While it may seem silly to list it as a question, it still *officially* remains unanswered by the team, as a captain’s “C” remains absent from Bo Horvat’s chest.

The Canucks’ next captaincy began being questioned long before the Sedins’ retirement in 2018,  but that question will finally have an answer on Wednesday night.

If there was any sliver of doubt the teams next captain would be Horvat, team owner Francesco Aquilini just about put those doubts to rest in a recent interview on Sportsnet 650 Radio.

In what will surely be a spectacle in front of the attending fans and those watching on television, the Canucks will make it worth the watch.

Some have predicted Henrik Sedin will be in attendance to “pass on” the letter, much like the teams’ very first captain Orland Kurtenbach did so in 2010, while others with connections close to the planning have predicted the return of Mark Messier as part of the festivities.

Kidding, of course.

While the role of captaincy may or may not change Horvat’s place within the team, the conversation finally ending will only do good for a Canucks group that has other questions facing them so early into the season.

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