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Canucks: 3 questions facing Travis Green in 2021

By Brayden Ursel

Oct 6, 2018; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2018; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Travis Green, Vancouver Canucks. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)
Travis Green, Vancouver Canucks. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports) /

Will Green give Canucks’ prospects a fair shake?

Vancouver had a lethal top-six in 2019-20, but when it came to their bottom-six they weren’t all that good. In fact, the Canucks had one of the worst bottom-six forward groups in the NHL last season and have been among the league’s bottom feeders for three or four years now.

As an NHL player, Green was a bottom-six grinder and as a coach, he likes to run his team to the beat of that same tune. Unfortunately for the Canucks, their bottom-six hasn’t been able to hold up to the speed and quickness of today’s NHL.

Maybe it’s finally time for Green to consider a new approach to how he deploys the bottom-six? As much as he feels the need to have a trusted veteran presence, the veterans within the Canucks’ system are burning out and there are prospects waiting and ready to be given an opportunity.

The GM himself believes it’s time for the team to get younger. Benning recently joined The Starting Lineup where he stated that in 2021, “When we start off the season, we’re going to be younger.”

So how far does Green decide to take Benning’s demands next year? If Green truly decides to put every roster spot up for the taking, Loui Eriksson, Brandon Sutter, Jay Beagle Antoine Roussel and Jordie Benn could all be subject to demotion.

Following a good showing at training camp this upcoming season, players like Nils Hoglander, Zack MacEwen, Jayce Hawryluk, Olli Juolevi, Brogan Rafferty and Jack Rathbone will all have a chance to steal a roster spot. But just how many are truly available? Only Green knows the answer to that!

Can Green get the Canucks back into the playoffs?

Making the playoffs will be the tallest task for Green to check off his list in 2021. As Vancouver nearly won three straight playoff series’ in 2020, expectations will be higher and the Canucks’ core will want another taste.

Back to prove themselves, 2021 will have a similar feeling to it. Vancouver being underdogs once again will feel the blow of losing Markstrom, Toffoli and Tanev in free agency. But with players like Pettersson and Hughes, you can never really count them out.

Green will have to get creative in coming up with the best possible way to supplement his franchise players, but a return to the playoffs isn’t impossible if he can figure it out.

The addition of Nate Schmidt and Braden Holtby can make up for a lot of the lost damage, however, Green will need to be smart with how he pieces the rest of the team together. The depth chart isn’t nearly as thick as it was last year and Green will be forced to find a way to make it work with the second wave of young players.

Final thoughts…

Next. Canucks: 3 reasons why Hoglander is NHL ready. dark

2021 will be a very interesting year for Green as he fights for a new contract and another Canucks playoff berth. The pandemic won’t make things any easier for anyone, but it’ll be fun to see how this situation unfolds.

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