The Canuck Way Mailbag Part 2: Podkolzin, DiPietro, more

The second half of this week’s edition of The Canuck Way mailbag is here! Plenty to discuss and to mull over for the Vancouver Canucks, who have been losing a lot more games than they are winning lately. Let’s jump right into the next round of Canucks questions!

The fact that Vasili Podkolzin will be coming to Vancouver next season is enough to get me feeling all giddy inside. He’s a heck of a hockey player, who I believe is going to make an instant impact on this team, similar to what Nils Hoglander did for the Canucks this year.

Originally, I thought he would make an excellent winger for the Bo Horvat line, but considering how defensive-minded that line can already be, it might make more sense if Podkolzin plays on a different line altogether — help spread out the team’s two-way skaters.

I think first-line minutes next to Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser would be asking too much from the rookie, but a third-line starting position on the wing of either J.T. Miller or a young Kole Lind might be what’s in store.

If Travis Green wants to spread out the talent and give the Canucks depth at centre, a duo of Podkolzin and Miller on the third line could prove to be too much for the opposition.

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With the way Mikey DiPietro‘s year went, it’s hard to say if he’ll be ready to be a real NHL backup in 2021-22. He looked excellent in his return to the Utica Comets, but I’ll have to get a longer look at him before making any big decisions on this question.

My gut says he’s on the verge of being an NHL backup, but considering the lack of games he’s been involved in since the pandemic, and his naturally smaller frame as a goaltender, and I’d have to side with him needing another half-season, perhaps another full year in the AHL before making the jump full-time.

Having a veteran presence going into next season would be the smart choice, but I do think DiPietro will at least get into some games as a backup next season. I just don’t expect the Canucks to roll into next season with two goalies averaging an age of 23.

For a defenceman, Quinn Hughes is as offensive as they come. He’s incredibly gifted on his skates, he has exceptional vision and passing abilities, and he’s quickly become Vancouver’s best power play quarterback of all time.

Pairing up a player like Hughes with a defensive juggernaut like Shea Weber makes my mouth water. Now, he wouldn’t be my selection as he’s nearly 36-years-old, but the pure size and power of the Montreal Canadiens captain is almost unmatched.

There are definitely a lot of different directions you could take this one, but a duo of Cale Makar and Hughes sounds like something to die for. Could you imagine the offensive firepower? That’s gotta be my answer here!

The Nikita Tryamkin talk can finally come to an end. After much speculation that the hulking blueliner would return to the Vancouver Canucks for a second go-around in the NHL, he decided to re-up in Russia for two more seasons, ultimately moving him into unrestricted free agent territory by 2023.

I guess people will never know if he’s the top-four defenceman that his agent, Todd Diamond, suggested he is. Although his pure size and physicality has always been a bit intriguing as the Canucks could use some help in that area, his first attempt at being an NHL hockey player didn’t end well and it wasn’t worth offering term. He got the extra year he was looking for by staying put in Russia.

Rumour has it that Tryamkin was on the desired trade list of at least one other NHL team at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline, but Jim Benning decided to hold onto his trade chips in hopes that the defenceman would return.

Final thoughts…

That just about does it for part two of this week’s mailbag! We appreciate the questions! Please keep them coming for next week.