Canucks: 3 reasons why Nils Hoglander will make the jump to the NHL
Vancouver Canucks prospect Nils Hoglander has been making moves overseas. Here are three reasons why he is ready to make the jump into the NHL.
How Swede it is to have moves like Nils Hoglander.
The Vancouver Canucks‘ 40th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is playing some exciting hockey right now. Currently, on a loan with Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League, Hoglander is sharpening his skills in preparation for his first NHL training camp in hopes of locking down a roster spot.
The SHL has kept him busy. Through 19 games, Hoglander has racked up four goals and eight assists for a total of 12 points. His consistent point scoring has been a big part of the team’s winning season as they hold the top spot in the SHL with an impressive record of 14-0-2-4.
But now that an NHL season is starting to take shape, Rogle will miss the point production that Hoglander can provide. His loan expires on December 12th and it’s likely that the young Swede catches the first flight back to Vancouver as he’ll need to quarantine for 14-days under Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions.
With the rumoured NHL start date happening right around mid-January, it’s essential that Hoglander makes his move to Canada’s west coast sooner than later. Either way, he’ll be there and he’ll be ready to report for training camp along with the rest of the Canucks’ hopefuls. Let’s dive into three reasons why he could make the team.
Hoglander is a magician with his stick
The 19-year-old Rogle winger is up to his usual tricks once again. That’s right, the creative playmaker recently attempted another one of those crazy jaw-dropping lacrosse goals. He didn’t get the finish the move deserved, however, it was a sight to see nonetheless, as Hoglander is still finding new ways in approaching how to pull off such an unbelievable move.
He’s accomplished such feats on the world stage, he’s done it in the SHL, but this one was something else entirely. The left-handed winger won a battle along the boards in the left corner before walking the goal line. With time and space on his offside in terms of the lacrosse goal, instead of going around the back of the net, Hoglander elected to cut short side. It was creative, it was different, and it almost worked. Check it out below!
https://twitter.com/ChrisFaber39/status/1335644757372981248
Chris Faber is right, the kid is a freak! And to add to that, he’s extremely creative and he has incredible skill with a hockey stick. He’s doing things in the SHL that players don’t even dare to attempt at the NHL level. Here’s another insane goal! This one literally just happened! How can you say no to this!? He’s got skills for days!
https://twitter.com/ChrisFaber39/status/1337113272546283520
Despite his size, he has an attitude about him that screams, “never give up”. That same attitude can be seen in all aspects of how he plays hockey. He’s unafraid to try new things and failing doesn’t seem to intimidate him at all. His relentless work ethic is the driving force of his creative style and it’s something the Canucks could benefit from by having in their lineup.
The Canucks need to add some speed
It’s no secret that the Canucks lacked some serious speed last season. It became the most apparent when they found themselves locked in their own end for the vast majority of a seven-game series versus the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vancouver’s top two lines managed to keep their heads above water, but the bottom-six was an offensive black hole that lacked the proper sparkplug required to answer back against such a high-powered offensive juggernaut like the Golden Knights.
The Canucks addressed that need by adding an exceptional puck-moving defender in Nate Schmidt, but Vancouver still needs to add speed to their forward group to help smooth out the team’s transition game. Hoglander could serve as the best player available. Not only is he fast on his feet, but he’s young, he’s driven, and he’d breathe a breath of fresh air into an old and tired bottom-six.
Hoglander carries great possession numbers
Hoglander is more of an offensive threat than he is a defensive one, and it’s easy to say that it’s his ability to hold onto the puck that gives him such high possession numbers. The way he’s able to push the play in the offensive end and extend scoring chances goes a long way in him being the guy with the SHL’s 14th best Corsi For percentage.
According to Chris Faber of Canucks Army, at five-on-five play, Hoglander has a CF% of 58.22. That’s nearing last year’s “Lotto Line” numbers, which was one of the NHL’s best. The Canucks can use all the extra Corsi For they can get, as they were sorely embarrassed in that regard against VGK. Honestly, it often looked like boys versus men and the Canucks need to address that area of their game.
The NHL ice surface is a lot smaller and Hoglander will become a much bigger target with less area to run, but if he plays with the right linemates his possession numbers could successfully translate over to the NHL. But if he plays with the wrong linemates, it could be quite the disaster.
Final thoughts…
There are reasons to believe Hoglander is ready to make the jump to the NHL in 2021 and there are reasons against it. Hopfully, the good outweighs the bad and Hoglander finds a way to make things work with the Canucks this season. They can use all the help they can get.
Next. Canucks fans should be excited about an All-Canadian Division. dark
What do you think Canucks Nation? Is Hoglander ready to be an every day NHL player?