The Canuck Way Mailbag: Hoglander, Miller, chances in 2020-21
In this week’s mailbag, we answer your Vancouver Canucks’ questions about Nils Hoglander, JT Miller, and their chances at repeating last season’s success.
This past week hockey fans everywhere got some great news regarding the NHL’s 2020-21 season. All signs point to Jan 13 as the return of hockey to our television screens and more importantly, we will be able to start talking about new Vancouver Canucks games rather than rehashing the past.
An all-Canadian division hasn’t been officially confirmed by the NHL, but it’s almost a certainty at this point given the restrictions at the borders. So, instead of speculating about different scenarios, we can finally start previewing the Canucks’ 51st season in the NHL. They will most likely be going against every Canadian team at least seven or eight times, maybe even more, so rivalries will most certainly get more heated.
I don’t know about you, but I am getting excited just thinking about it. Hockey is in our blood, and it’s been far too long since we have seen a live hockey game. We may not be able to see it in person for a while, but just watching the Canucks every other day on TV lowers the stress levels, at least it does for me. The next few weeks should be interesting as every team prepares for training camp and every general manager attempts to get their rosters in order for the new season.
Questions abound for many teams over the salary cap, which includes the Canucks. But we are going to keep this week’s edition short and sweet! Let’s get to those questions!
Nils Hoglander has now scored a lacrosse goal and a goal through his legs, both tremendously difficult moves but something he’s doing with great confidence. Can fans expect the same fancy maneuvers when he comes to the NHL or should people lower their immediate expectations?
— PP1 PODCAST (@ThePP1Podcast) December 11, 2020
Nils Hoglander has been nothing short of amazing since he became a Canucks’ prospect back in 2019. As you said, he has scored a lacrosse goal in both the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and the World Junior Championship (WJC) and now has scored one between his legs. Is there anything this kid can’t do? He’s not only creative, but he will try anything to score and his motor never stops running. He also doesn’t back down from a fight, as we saw in his final game in the SHL.
Hoglander finished his loan with five goals and 14 points in 21 games and exited the league on fire with four points in his last three games. He also had 25 minutes of penalties in his final game. Based on all that and the fact that he has the two-way game and speed to play in the new age NHL, I think he’s probably ready to play in the big leagues.
It will definitely be more difficult to execute those kinds of moves in the NHL, but as we have seen in the past from Elias Pettersson and Daniel Sedin if you’re skilled enough you can make it happen. It’s not like we haven’t been surprised by a skilled Swede before, right? I am going to bet that he will attempt those moves at least once this season.
More Questions
Do you think that JT Miller can replicate his play from this past season or will he drop off a bit?
— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) December 12, 2020
JT Miller will once again be playing with Pettersson, so at this point anything is possible. I am going to go out on a limb and predict that he will not only replicate his play from last season but eclipse it. If everyone is predicting a career-season from Pettersson, then Miller will have one as well. They go hand in hand, as they are one of the Canucks’ dynamic duos.
The leadership and consistency Miller showed in 2019-20 were very impressive, and I don’t see him pulling back from that. I think he’s turned a corner from being a secondary scorer to a top-line star who is counted upon for offence every night. He will have his work cut out for him, no doubt, but I just see more great things coming from him in 2020-21.
After years spent near the bottom of the standings, the Canucks enjoyed a successful season & were Canada’s best team in the playoffs.
— Brayden Ursel (@bkursel23) December 11, 2020
Will that success be short-lived in a Canadian division after the team suffered several key UFA losses or can this young core keep winning?
The Canucks may have been Canada’s best team in the playoffs in 2019-20, but they are not the best Canadian team overall. Like I said in the last mailbag, I think that team is the Toronto Maple Leafs especially with the additions they made in the offseason.
The Canucks lost several key pieces to their roster in Tyler Toffoli, Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, Troy Stecher, and Josh Leivo and have a lot of question marks right now. Nate Schmidt is a huge addition to the blue line and will more than make up for the loss of Tanev and Holtby definitely solidifies the goaltending, it’s the lack of depth on defence that’s got me worried.
Stecher was a big part of the bottom pairing, mostly because he could jump up into the top-four when needed. Olli Juolevi, Jack Rathbone, and Brogan Rafferty are not proven NHL defencemen at this point and the depth beyond them is not experienced either. If injuries strike, they will be pushed into roles they are not accustomed to, and the team could struggle as a result.
Having said all that, the Canucks still have the constantly improving dynamic young core of Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Boeser to lead them into 2020-21. Hoglander and Vasili Podkolzin are coming up fast as additional point-producing options and Rathbone and Juolevi are sure to impress as well. At this point, it’s probably foolish to bet against these young guns, especially when they have surprised us in the past.
The Canucks remain a young team on the rise, and if they can figure out a way to beat the many goaltenders who have given them issues in the past, I see them surprising a lot of pundits this season once again. If anything, they will be exciting to watch once again.
Next. Canucks: 3 questions facing Travis Green in 2021. dark
That brings us to the end of another mailbag. We finally have a 51st season to look forward to Canucks fans! There’s sure to be more movement and news in the coming weeks as the team starts preparing for training camp and teams attempt to get under the salary cap. Until next time, remember to follow us on Twitter @FSTheCanuckWay and keep those questions coming!