The Motte Model: The surprising rise of the Canucks’ unsung hero

The pivotal Game 5 was still on the razor’s edge late in the second period. The Vancouver Canucks had been dragged back from the depths by typical names; J.T. Miller and Jacob Markstrom, and found themselves tied with the defending champions St. Louis Blues in a game that had seemed to be slipping away. Deadlocked in a playoff battle most believed they could not win, the Canucks landed the deciding counter-punch from an unexpected triggerman: Tyler Motte.

Reliving that moment, Brandon Sutter‘s just happy to relieve O-zone pressure, and both Blues defenseman Vince Dunn and Colton Parayko are expecting centreman Robert Thomas to corral the bounced puck and continue their shift in the Canucks zone. Only Motte senses the turning tide, and with a head start into his full stride, shows of offensive flair that Canuck fans and opposing teams are slowly starting to recognize.

With ten games through the 2021 season, the first year of a sensible 2-year/$2.45M contract, Motte has quickly emerged as the team’s most important bottom-six forward. The offence is unsustainable (currently tied for 1st in the league in even-strength goals, converting 23.8% of shot attempts as of writing), but his continued evolution as one of Vancouver’s top defensive forwards and penalty killers should ensure a new career-high in ice time this year.

Credit where credit’s due, his linemates (Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle) have also elevated their games to the point where it’s unclear whether the line is the fourth or third unit on the Canucks.

Their signings are often talked about as being too long and overpriced, but Beagle continues to excel as a face-off specialist, winning at a 56% rate while taking the lion’s share of the team’s defensive zone face-offs.

Even Roussel hasn’t completely fallen off the map yet, though his troubling ice time trends suggest he’s a replaceable member of the trio. Take away the past three games against glorified AHL team Ottawa Senators and his average TOI plummets (10:59). He’s not a long-term solution going forward, especially in the playoffs.

Motte was asked recently by Jeff Patterson about the increase in offensive participation from the depth forwards:

"I don’t think a whole lots changed, maybe a little more chemistry, talking a bit more out there, but I think our mentality stayed the same. We want to get in on the forecheck, stall some pucks, come out with possession, and get pucks and bodies to the net."

Okay, so maybe he’s still well versed in the fine art of the hockey clichés, but what more did you expect from a player that was initially an afterthought from the Thomas Vanek trade back in 2018?

Fans back then would’ve preferred a mid-round pick instead, however, Motte has quietly developed into a cost-effective bottom-six forward that is the foundation of contending teams.

From bouncing around AHL affiliates for the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets to scoring some of the biggest playoff goals for the Canucks in almost a decade, the second act for Motte’s Canuck career is just beginning. This time though, the entire fanbase is paying attention.