A Twitter poll run by The Canuck Way has determined that fans of the Vancouver Canucks want to see an all-rookie third pairing on the blueline this season.
Out with the old and in with the new, Canucks Nation has spoken.
Vancouver Canucks‘ training camp begins today, meaning that head coach Travis Green will have his work cut out for him in terms of how exactly he plans to fill out the team’s roster. Realistically, there are only a few roster spots available, but due to a shortened schedule, Green won’t have the luxury this year of thinning out his roster through pre-season games. There will be different ways he can decide to go about it, but one thing remains certain: The Canucks third pairing on defence will feature at least one rookie defenceman this year.
Entering training camp the Canucks have four defenders who are already considered locks for a full-time roster spot. Quinn Hughes will lead the charge as he aims to build off of what was the best rookie campaign by any Canuck in their 50-year history. Nate Schmidt will suit up as the team’s second-best defenceman after being acquired this offseason. And Alex Edler and Tyler Myers will be back once again to log some big-time minutes.
As for the Canucks’ bottom-pairing, a big question mark remains in place, but veteran defender Jordie Benn could find himself filling a hole, regardless of his up and down (but mostly down) performance in 2019-20. Coach Green is a big believer in having a veteran presence within his ranks and it’s tough to imagine him deploying two rookies on the same line.
#Canucks Nation! Which two defencemen would you like to see play together on Vancouver’s third pairing this season?
— The Canuck Way (@FSTheCanuckWay) January 2, 2021
But according to The Canuck Way‘s recently run Twitter poll, rather than Benn be awarded a spot in the lineup by default, Canucks Nation wants to see an all-rookie pairing to start the season. In fact, it’s the pairing of Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi and the offensive-minded Brogan Rafferty that the people are curious to see.
And why not? Juolevi has been a longtime work in progress who is finally healthy and showing signs of blossoming into an NHL defenceman, while Rafferty exploded in the AHL last year by tallying seven goals and 45 points as one of the league’s top offensive-defencemen.
But as much as the fans crave an all-rookie duo, does the coaching staff and management of the Vancouver Canucks feel the same way? It’s tough to imagine Green simultaneously doubling down on youth when he can elect to slowly rotate his rookies over the course of a condensed 56-game grind.
Jim Benning has been adamant over the past couple of months on Juolevi being ready for the NHL. He said so in an interview on Sportsnet 650. “Juolevi looks like he’s ready to play in the NHL full-time.”
Benning - Juolevi looks like he is ready to play in the NHL full time.
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) September 8, 2020
It’s likely he’ll get every opportunity this season to become the team’s 5th defenceman on the depth chart. The real question might actually come down to whether or not Benn can bring enough to the table to re-establish himself as an everyday NHL defenceman.
The truth of the matter is the Canucks will have three of four young defencemen battling it out for the ultimate NHL dream. Anything can happen and it’s only a matter of time until a final decision must be made. Who do you think will round out the Canucks’ defence?