North Division: How the Canucks stack up against the Flames

How the goalies stack up

There is no hiding the fact that the Flames were more than happy to take the Canucks’ back-to-back MVP off the market. It was a win-win situation that not only solved all their goaltending issues for the foreseeable future but also landed them the best available option.

It means a bitter-sweet good-bye for the Canucks, but management is keen on Braden Holtby and Thatcher Demko being a very solid rotation. How could they not be? Demko stole the spotlight in a 4-game playoff performance where he registered a mind-blowing 125 saves on 128 shots.

Holtby, on the other hand, had himself an off-year. However, he’s only two years removed from a Stanley Cup and he’s excited to get going again under Vancouver’s highly praised goalie coach, Ian Clark. Here’s what he said.

"“It was definitely big. I know how far a good relationship and talent of a goalie coach can go, so it was definitely a big part of really wanting to come to Vancouver and have a good chance of success.”"

Clark is a big asset to Vancouver and he’s helped raise a lot of talented young goaltenders. Every goalie he’s coached in the Canucks system has gone on to be a really great NHL goaltender. For that, I give the edge to the Flames and Markstrom, but by years end it could be a completely different story.

Should be equally as interesting to see what a year away from Clark will do for Markstrom, as it will be to see what Clark can do to better the overall game of Holtby and Demko. Together they could be the North division’s best duo after 56 games.

How special teams compare

The Canucks were better than average when looking at their special teams as a whole, but it was their fourth-best ranked power play (24.2%) that helped average out their 16th-placed penalty kill (80.5%).

With a carousel of offensive power, Vancouver was an unstoppable force on the man-advantage and by adding Hughes they completely took off. Not only did they have an Ovechkin-like shot in Pettersson, but the team had it all in net-front presence Bo Horvat, board-man Brock Boeser and the pivotal J.T. Miller. But it was all perfectly run by their rookie defender.

As for the Flames, they ranked 12th on the power play (21.2%) and 8th on the penalty kill (82.1%). Tkachuk, Monahan and Johhny Gaudreau make up the bulk of the man advantage, but it’s possible Leivo could help boost their second units both on the PP and the PK.

The Canucks have the better power play. The Flames have a better penalty kill. The special teams crown at this point is a toss-up which only time will tell.

Players to watch

Demko: Coming off an incredible showing at the 2020 NHL Playoffs, the 24-year-old netminder is going to be giving it all he’s got in terms of defeating his former mentor and proving he’s the right man for the starting role in Vancouver.

Markstrom: He wanted to stay in Vancouver and the Canucks wanted him to stay as well. Unfortunately, that was unable to become a reality and now Markstrom will be striving to stick it to his former teammates.

Stay tuned… The Canuck Way has a lot more in store for the North division preview!