Are The Canucks Losing Ground? - This Week in CanucksLand
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Now let’s get into this week in CanucksLand.
They started off their week facing the Utah Hockey Club in a good game for the Canucks. They were getting the chances and looked good but they couldn’t finish any of the chances and they would fall 2-1 to Utah. The next game was against the LA Kings. They played a great first two periods getting goals from Hoglander and Garland and looked like they would do the near impossible and come out of LA with a regulation win. That didn’t end up happening though as the Kings would come back with two goals from Kempe and Foegele and would send the game into overtime. In a great overtime that saw the Canucks kill a 4-3 penalty and pick up the win with Garland's second of the game. They snuck out of the game with a win but it would show the theme of the Canucks week being blowing leads. Which takes us into the next game against the Anaheim Ducks in the second of a back to back. The Canucks would again come out hot with Tyler Myers getting a goal and an assist on a goal from Pius Suter. The first period was great and after that it wasn’t great as the Ducks would come back with five unanswered. With the first coming from Jake Vatrano of a nice shot and same could be said about the next two with Cutter Gauthier and Ryan Strome blasting shots from afar past Silovs to take a 3-2 lead into the second. The third was no better with LaCombe and Terry adding to the lead Terry’s being an empty netter and the Canucks would fall 5-2 to the Ducks in embarrassing fashion. The next game would be against Seattle to finish the road trip and the game would start well for Seattle picking up the first on a great shot from Burakovsky. The Canucks would get the next two with Suter getting his second in as many games and Chytil picking up his second as a Canuck taking a 2-1 lead into the second. After the Kraken tied it with a tipped shot by Bjorkstrand to tie the game Dakota Joshua would make a great move on Daccord to retake the lead for the Canucks. But that's where it would all fall apart with the Kraken getting four unanswered to win the game starting with Beniers and Tolvanen with tipped shots going past Lankinen to take a 4-3 lead into the third. They would add with a Montour shot that would beat Lankinen clean and the last one coming from Tolvanen on an empty netter and the Canucs would fall 6-3. They would go 1-3-0 this week blowing 4 leads and barely surviving one game with it with a OT win. Not a good week at all and it’s hard to be positive after a week like that, but the Canucks do look good in the first half/period so if they lay like that the whole game they would be well off it’s just they let the game slip away from them and just take their foot off the gas. It’s like Canada’s first three games of the Tournament except that they still won two of their games. The Canucks just need to keep the tempo high and they will win games.
The next topic is a fun one, I’m going to make my own draft board with having the top 10 draft eligible prospects.
Starting off with number 10:
10: Logan Hensler GP 29 G 2 A 10 P 12 The second highest defenceman on this board I think Hensler is a great option for teams as his mobility and two way play make him a great option for teams. But his offence has taken a step this season and could leave something to be desired.
9:Jackson Smith GP 59 G 3 A 39 P 42 The second highest defenceman on this board Jackson Smith is a great skater and is also great defensively but his shot selection and offensive consistency take away from what can be a great two way defenceman.
8: Roger Mcqueen GP 8 G 8 A 3 P 11 A very controversial prospect as going into the season Mqueen was seen as a top 5 pick in the draft although his play in his first 8 games were great the injury concern makes him fall to 8 on my board. His strength and offensive skill set especially in front of the net make him an elite player offensively and his defensive play being good helps add to that. His recent injury leaves concern for his future as it could affect his play and longevity.
7: Victor Eklund GP 40 G 16 A 13 P 29 Another player from the Allsvenskan Eklund looks to join his brother as a top NHL prospect and is having an amazing year alongside Frondell putting up more points. He was on pace to break Elias Pettersson’s total points for a draft eligible player in the Allsvenskan as well. His combination of elite skating and quick release shot make him a great target for teams in the late half of the top ten.
6: Caleb Desnoyers GP 51 G 33 A 44 P 77 Another player show could’ve helped team Canada in the World Juniors, this season in the QMJHL he’s tied for fourth in scoring and is leading his team to first in the league. His playmaking ability and ability to make plays away from the puck is elite and his physicality is up there at the top of the draft class.
5: Anton Frondell GP 27 G 10 A 12 P 22 in his second year in the Allsvenskan Frondell is putting up a great year being in the top 100 in terms of most points in a season at only 17 years old being the youngest on the list. He’s just an offensive zone dynamo like Martone. He's great in all areas of the attacking zone and is playing against men in his league which is impressive. He might adapt easier to the physicality side of the NHL a little better but i think that he has just a little less upside then Martone
4: Porter Martone GP 49 G 30 A 59 P 89 Although with only one point in the World Juniors I believe he was Canada’s best forward at the Tournament. His great play has continued over to the OHL where he’s having a career year. His high upside offensive play and size and strength make him a complete package power forward who can win battles and score goals. But his defensive play leaves something to be desired and with the proper development he can be a great first line player.
3: Michael Misa GP 65 G 65 A 72 P 137 Now I Know he looks back to form, maybe even better and some people have him above Hagens. I think that Misa might land third overall with this elite speed and hockey IQ just makes him a great pick up for any team. Team Canada should regret not bringing him to the World Juniors as he’s shaping up to be a great NHL player in the Future
2: James Hagens GP 33 G 9 A 24 P 33 Although I see some list with Hagens as low as third I still believe that he should be the second overall pick in this draft just watching him at the World Juniors and what he did with his BC teammates impressed me. Though he’s not the top scorer in the NCAA and even his own team he’s still at a top pick level and in my opinion is the closest to rival Schaefer for the first overall spot.
1: Matthew Schaeffer GP 17 G 7 A 15 P 22 Definitely has cemented himself as the Number 1 pick this season, with not only a great two World Juniors games and though through a small sample size was on pace for an amazing year with the Erie Otters until he broke his collarbone at the World Juniors. Even with that injury the field has not Closed the gap on this amazing defenceman prospect that has very good skating ability and solid defensive attributes. He will solidify the blueline for the Lottery winning team.
In conclusion, a disappointing week for the Canucks sees them somehow still in a playoff spot, but the race closes as they gave crucial points to teams that are in the race to overtake them. Next week the Canucks face off against the Ducks and the Wild at home looking to extend their lead on the teams behind them. That is all this week thanks for reading, check out my other socials and I'll see you next week in CanucksLand.