Hoglander is like a dog on a bone
Who would have thought that the Canucks’ 2nd round selection in the 2019 NHL Entry draft would be a better fit next to Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson than the six-year pro, Jake Virtanen?
After an offseason where the Canucks right side depth was obliterated due to the losses of UFA right-shots Tyler Toffoli and Josh Leivo, Virtanen seemed like the inevitable first choice to fill the position. All the right boxes were checked off: Virtanen was emerging as a future 20-goal scorer, he was getting power play time, and he was next on the depth chart.
Travis Green didn’t see it that way. In fact, he never did. Green gave Nils Hoglander the position right out of the gate of training camp and he’s been keen on the trio ever since. Surprisingly, Hoglander has been the perfect puzzle piece to Horvat’s revolving door of right-wingers, and not just offensively either.
Yes, Hoglander can bring it when he’s got the puck on his stick. His six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games can attest to that. But it turns out that Hoglander can play defence too. In fact, when he’s not bringing the puck up ice, he’s like a dog on a bone when he’s trying to get it back. The energy is relentless as his motor never dies. His assist to Tanner Pearson a few nights ago is the perfect example of his hard work.
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Just 11 games under his belt in the NHL, but Hoglander is already being more of a sparkplug for the Canucks than Virtanen has ever been. He’s got a work ethic for days and his ability to adapt his defensive game on the fly has been something special to witness.
Yet again, the Canucks might have another Calder Trophy candidate in their ranks
Bottom-six players are contributing more
Not only has Virtanen’s top-six competition (Hoglander, MacEwen) been outplaying him, but a few of Vancouver’s bottom-six forwards are rising up and contributing to the team’s success more than Virtanen is.
Their spots in the lineup were more or less already considered to be a given, but Brandon Sutter and Tyler Motte have been hungry goal-getters early on for the Canucks. Sutter netted his first career hat-trick in a 7-1 win over the Ottawa Senators the other night and Motte already has five goals on the season, enough for a tie for third place on the team.
After a healthy scratch and a -5 plus/minus, Adam Gaudette returned to the lineup and has looked like a rocket shot out of a cannon ever since. He hasn’t got going offensively just yet, but the speed and energy he brings to the lineup is something Green will choose time and time again.
Final thoughts…
The Vancouver Canucks have finally found their identity this season and right now Virtanen doesn’t look to be a part of the picture. Will he have another crack at the lineup soon or is Jim Benning working the phones to try and find the Canucks a trade partner?