Canucks monthly October edition: Depth, the Lotto Line and more

Welcome to the second installment of Vancouver Canucks monthly! A look back through 12 October games where we saw eight victories, the rise of the Lotto-line, an improved defence, a superb goaltending tandem and much more.

Jim Benning shook up the teams supporting cast this summer and like a lot of Vancouver Canucks fans, I spent a fair amount of the off-season jotting down possible line combinations for October. On paper, the Canucks looked like a much-improved team, but I was hesitant to fully believe they would come out of October looking like playoff contenders.

After a hard fought pre-season the roster was thick with scoring wingers and it was quite clear some tough roster moves had to be made. Jaws dropped and eyes popped across Vancouver and the rest of the hockey world when Sven Baertschi and Nikolay Goldobin were sent down to Utica in favor of last years scraps, Tim Schaller and Loui Eriksson.

A lot of fans, including myself, were outraged for two reasons. First, there was absolutely no way Baertschi and Goldobin were going to clear waivers, they did. Second, our bottom six wasn’t going to be able to provide offence, they have.

There is a reason Benning is the general manager for this franchise and there’s a good reason Travis Green is the head coach making all the calls. Surprising many, the Canucks have looked better than expected, coming out of October in second place in the Pacific Division with two games in hand.

Maybe it had something to do with naming Bo Horvat team captain, but after an 0-2 start to the season the Canucks have been on fire, going 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Everything seems to be clicking for this new-looking club. Let’s take a walk through the highlights of an impressive October, shall we?

Captain Bo Horvat

It was the city’s, “worst kept secret” according to team owner, Francesco Aquilini. On October 9th, the night of the Vancouver Canucks home-opener, Horvat was named the 14th captain in team history. A sight that was definitely worth the wait as the team wanted the fans to get an in-person look for the reveal.

It was a very special night. Many team greats from years prior were in the building to kick off the 50th season and help bring life to this franchise. The crowd cheered for their retired players such as Stan Smyl, Kirk McLean and Orland Kurtenbach, but it was Todd Bertuzzi who got the loudest response from the fans. A special, “closing of the book” for Bertuzzi here in Vancouver.

Horvat was met at center-ice by previous captain and Canucks legend, Henrik Sedin and original captain Kurtenbach to officially receive the captaincy. The place was electric and everyone was extremely happy for, Bo. The team fed off the energy of the building and crushed the LA Kings 8-2. The flood gates had opened and the goals were just beginning.

More from The Canuck Way

• Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
• What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
• Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Depth scoring

With two quality wingers in Baertschi and Goldobin clearing waivers, being sent down to Utica, it was hard to see where the Canucks were going to find scoring outside the top line. Crazy to think now that the team leads the league in goal differential with a +16 and has averaged 3.75 goals per game. That’s good enough for fourth place league-wide. Not to mention, they’ve also played fewer games than most teams at this point.

Every regular roster player has already scored a goal, minus newcomers Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn. Outside the team’s superstars, the supporting cast is firing on all cylinders and it looks like their is new life in the teams once dead-looking bottom six.

Brandon Sutter seems rejuvenated and managed to win his 3c position back from Adam Gaudette with some much improved offensive play. The palates-enthusiast is finally looking like the 4.375 million dollar man that he can be. He’s got an impressive six points through 12 games including three goals. Hopefully, he stays healthy and continues to be the elite penalty killer he’s known to be.

The depth scoring keeps on going. Josh Leivo has quietly put up six points while Jake Virtanen, Tanner Pearson and Micheal Ferland all have five. But, even more impressive, Schaller, who was once thought by fans to never play again for this team, looks like a new player all together with four goals scored already. He’s also an amazing penalty killer. It’s, “Schaller Nothing.”

We already have 12 goals in 12 games from the teams bottom six. That’s impressive.

Two hat tricks and winning on the road

The Vancouver Canucks as a whole, average about a hat trick a year give or take. In the month of October, the team managed to have two, both of them coming on the road. Something even more difficult to pull off. Who, you might ask? Horvat and Brock Boeser.

After a three-game homestand that saw the Canucks flip their losing record into a 3-2 start, all while outscoring their opponents 16-5, captain Horvat hit the road without a goal. He led his team to a comeback victory over the defending champions before scoring a hat trick in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. A couple of games later, the road trip is complete and at the time Horvat led the team in goals. He now has six. That’s one behind Boeser for the team lead.

Boeser, on the other hand, got clicking on the powerplay in the final game of the month against the Kings. He netted his first hat trick of the season in impressive fashion with absolutely absurd passing from Elias Pettersson. He now leads the team with seven goals in 12 games played. That’s 0.583 goals per game.

Clearly something is working well for the Canucks. They score 16 goals at home in three games, they hit the road and manage to get two hat tricks in one month. No doubt, that’s going to improve a team’s chances of winning hockey games.

The lotto line

Fans of the Canucks were torn on the approach of finding who was going to be the perfect line-mate for Pettersson and Boeser. Was it J.T. Miller or was it going to be Ferland? Management and coaching seemed set on giving Ferland all the chances he needed to get going on the top line. Why? Protection for Pettersson.

The three never got to play together in pre-season as Brock suffered a concussion scare and Micheal fell very ill, dropping nearly 10 pounds in the process. Ferland took his time getting back to full health and it was pretty clear he wasn’t ready for top line minutes. The chemistry never formed and Miller was playing lights out on the second line just waiting for his chance to play with the team’s elite.

Miller got his opportunity on the top line and cashed-in. He’s a staple to hold together the trio and it doesn’t look like things are going to change anytime soon. Why would they? He’s been an absolute beast on their wing, he can win faceoffs when called upon and he plays a very good 2-way style.

Some people thought he was suited for the second powerplay unit, but there was no chance he was getting pulled away from “Boesersson.” The chemistry was just too good, too quick. Instead, Horvat joined PP1 and then things really started going.

Pettersson, Boeser and Miller are one, two and three in team scoring and show no signs of slowing down. It appears the Canucks have won the lottery with this grand-slam acquisition. Number nine rounds out the 6-40-9 trio and hopefully the luck continues all the way to a Stanley Cup championship.

Improved defence

If there is one thing that’s different about the overall make-up of this team as opposed to last year, it’s the new and improved defenders. Myers and Benn were brought in during free agency for size, grit and heavy-hitting while rookie sensation, Quinn Hughes was highly expected to take over this team’s powerplay.

The three new faces on defence have exceeded expectations this far and old-timers like Alex Edler and Chris Tanev are stepping up, almost as if they aren’t quite ready to give up their “bigger” roles on the squad.

The defence on this team has stayed the exact same through 12 games, screaming instant chemistry throughout all three pairings. Never a bad thing when your defence is playing well together. We all know it can take time for new linemates to click, especially on the defensive side of the puck.

Myers has exceeded expectations in October, showing he’s easily able to handle top-pair minutes. He also takes a little defensive pressure off of Edler who can shift more of his focus to scoring points. Edler is having the best start to his career and could arguably have his best season to date. He already has nine points in twelve games.

Hughes has been the stand out performer on the back end with his amazing footwork, insane hockey IQ and ability to quarterback the Canucks powerplay like never before. I seriously can’t remember a better option in the teams 50 years and the kid has only played 17 career games.

The Orlando born star already has ten points in 12 games and is in first place in rookie scoring. By seasons end, perhaps a Calder trophy for the kid? I’d take that bet. The Canucks have a superstar defender in the making.