The Canuck Way Mailbag: 3 stars, Demko, Boeser, Hoglander, Juolevi, more
It’s been a minute since The Canuck Way put out its last mailbag, so we’ve decided it’s time for another one! And why not? The Vancouver Canucks have won four of their last five games, and look determined to scratch and claw their way back into a playoff spot.
The impressive thing about it all is the team is winning without their star player, Elias Petterson. Without him, the Canucks have had to come together as a team, and for the most part — minus their 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens — they have done a quality job.
The team’s most recent win came last night against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers. Thatcher Demko was the first star of the game, playing lights out for a full 60 minutes — just like he did against the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs on back-to-back occasions last week.
It’s the type of hockey you want to see from the Canucks. You know, when they’re actually winning? It’s brought new light to the season and hope that maybe — just maybe — the Canucks can pull off a comeback. Now, I’m not saying it will be easy because it won’t be. It’s a long shot at this point but it’s got Canucks fans excited and asking questions. So let’s jump right into it!
Can Thatcher Demko single-handedly bring the Canucks into the playoffs?
— James Kenneth (@JamesKe74835850) March 14, 2021
With the way he has been playing lately, why the heck not? No bias here, Demko has looked like one of the best goaltenders the National Hockey League has to offer. Forget separating himself from Braden Holtby to grab the starting spot. He’s gone from a potential 1B netminder for the Canucks to their legit starter to the goaltender with the most saves in the NHL (608).
Realistically, it’ll take a full team effort to climb out of the hole that the Canucks have created for themselves, but none of it will be possible if Demko isn’t playing the way he has been. His save percentage keeps climbing, from well below average to a respectable 0.917SV%.
With Vancouver facing a lighter schedule through the back half of the season, Demko could see the net a whole lot more moving forward. And he should. “Bubble” Demko has returned, and it’s time to remove the name completely. It’s just Demko now, and this is the level of goaltending that should be expected of him moving forward.
Sure, he’ll have his hiccups now and again, but Demko is proving to be the right long-term choice for the Canucks. He’s their most important player when it comes to making the playoffs this year.
Shouldn't the #Canucks play Juolevi and Chatfield more? Playoffs chances are slim anyways so might as well let them develop.
— GLrebirth (@GLrebirth) March 13, 2021
If it was up to me, Olli Juolevi would be a regular in the Canucks lineup. He’s played better than most people expected and he looks like he’ll be able to turn his injury-riddled past into a bright future.
Jalen Chatfield has been a nice surprise as well. He’s leaped other defenders on the depth chart and has solidified himself as an extra skater for the Canucks. With a completely healthy roster, he’s the eighth defenceman on the squad, I just don’t see Travis Green selecting two rookies like Juolevi and Chatfield over Jordie Benn and Travis Hamonic. It’s just not going to happen, especially when the playoffs are still a possibility.
However — for a couple of different reasons — I think it would be smart for Green to start rotating Juolevi and Benn. First of all, Juolevi has played well enough to claim a top-six spot. Secondly, he’s going to be the guy to fill the boots of this team’s defensive future, and it would be wise to get him playing more games while he still has a quality veteran presence in Alex Edler watching over him.
But with the way Benn has been playing this year, he might just be good enough to start quiet rumblings of a trade at this year’s deadline. It wouldn’t be much of anything in return, but a late-round selection is better than nothing, especially if the Canucks fall out of favour in the playoff race.
The Canuck Way Mailbag continued…
Up to this point in the season, who are the three stars for the Canucks?
— PP1 PODCAST (@ThePP1Podcast) March 13, 2021
A week or two ago I would have said that anyone saying that Brock Boeser isn’t the first star of this team is completely out to lunch because he’s been absolutely excellent. The Minnesota native leads the team in points (29) and goals (14) while completely restoring faith in people that he’s an incredible player worth keeping around.
But over the last little while, another potential first star has emerged in the Canucks starting goalie. As mentioned above, Demko’s play between the pipes has been the best regular-season hockey of his career. He’s gaining confidence with every passing game and he’s starting to bring that same confidence in his fans that they had when Jacob Markstrom was between the pipes.
At this point in the season, for me, it’s a toss-up deciding which of these two players gets the top spot. But for the third and final star of this team, it has to be the rookie forward, Nils Hoglander. He’s cooled off points-wise over the last span of games, but the relentless “dog on a bone” work ethic is something else.
His transition to the NHL has been smooth, fitting in on any line he’s been assigned. Whether it’s on the team’s shutdown line with Bo Horvat or the top line with J.T. Miller and Boeser, Hoglander has found a way to be effective. His 12 points and rank him fifth in team points by a forward, even ahead of Stanley Cup winner, Tanner Pearson.
https://twitter.com/Macusian12345/status/1370793431962775552
Given the statement made by general manager, Jim Benning recently, the Vancouver Canucks shouldn’t be truly competitive for another two seasons. With that in mind, it’s wise that he sells at the deadline rather than signing players who are already at the peak of their careers or slightly over the hill.
The COVID-19 circumstances naturally drop trade deadline value because of federal restrictions (at least outside of the North division), but the Canucks need to take what they can get for players facing a contract year. Guys like Tanner Pearson, Brandon Sutter, Tyler Motte, Alex Edler, Travis Hamonic and Jordie Benn should be traded for almost anything.
Even players like Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette shouldn’t feel safe. If Benning can add a multi-year contract (Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel) to a deal that moves Virtanen or Gaudette for picks, it’s probably worth pulling the trigger.
Benning needs to abandon the “day-to-day” approach and come up with a real plan to help this team.
Will the Canucks lose their entire coaching staff after this year because FA doesn't want to spend a single cent more than he has?
— Ryan Hank (@always90four) March 13, 2021
It’s difficult to gauge the thought process behind Francesco Aquilini and Benning when it comes to new contracts for the team’s coaching staff. Green has become a respectable head coach in the National Hockey League, and it’s widely thought that if Vancouver doesn’t find the money to ink him to a new deal, he’ll be scooped up almost immediately by another team.
But Green isn’t the only staff member in need of re-signing. Goalie coach, Ian Clark has an expiring contract that needs to be re-upped immediately. He’s one of the best goalie coaches in the world, and he’s got the resume to prove it, turning both Markstrom and Demko into top-tier netminders.
Quite honestly, my guess is as good as yours when it comes to a question like this. I don’t have the inside knowledge to give a real answer, but my guess is that ownership is waiting on a lot of things due to the uncertainty of this team’s future. That and money. Money talks and the Canucks have been surprisingly hesitant with spending this year.
But with management feeling the heat under their seat, it makes sense that deals haven’t been handed out yet. If the Canucks decide to cut ties with Benning in the offseason, a new manager might feel the need to clean house and bring in an entirely new set of fresh faces.
Next. Should the Canucks re-sign defenceman Nikita Tryamkin?. dark
That’s all the time we have for this week’s The Canuck Way Mailbag. Come back next week for some more of it, but make sure you get in on the fun too. Ask a question when we drop the Tweet every Friday!