CANUCKS Christmas Break Update
Team Record: 16-18-3, 35 points, 7th in Pacific
Team Rankings:
GF/G: 19th (2.86)
GA/G: 23rd (3.11)
SF/G: 17th (31.38)
SA/G: 20th (32.68)
PP%: T-18th (19.8%)
PK%: 17th (78.6%)
The Good:
Chris Tanev is gold. Leading the league in blocked shots and maintaining an even plus minus on this losing team while facing the toughest matchups every night. In his first season wearing an "A" Tanev has led by example and been a rock on the youngest blueline Vancouver has fielded in a while. Speaking of which, 23 year old Derrick Pouliot is coming into his own as a powerplay quarterback and top four defenseman. His two way play has been very good for a defenseman whose reputation is primarily offensive and his +4 is tied for second best on the team. Sergachev has not lived up to the preseason he had but was never going to. What he has done is hold down an NHL top four role as a nineteen year old while putting up 14 points and overall looking like one of their best blueliners most nights. 20 year old Charlie McAvoy has been stalwart in his own end and succesfully played a top four and penalty killing role. Tyler Bertuzzi is having a breakout season that is making him look worth the hefty price the club paid for him last year at the deadline. He has 22 goals and 41 points through 37 games after earning a first line role in pre-season. He seems to have also rejuvenated captain Henrik Sedin who is on pace for his best statistical season in four years. Henrik has 26 assists and 31 points in 37 games. Rookie Nico Hischier leads all NHL rookies in scoring with 21 points and is gradually earning a larger role for himself. After toiling most of the year on the fourth line he is getting a look on the first line now. Teemu Hartikainen has laid claim on the third line right wing spot and settled in next to Tanev and Cassels quite nicely. He has 8 points in 24 games and is plus 4, an underrated signing at this point.
The Bad:
Well, he's bouncing back quite nicely recently but Jacob Markstrom's sub par start largely contributed to their early season woes. It may not be fair to have him in this category since he's now third in the league in save percentage but he will have to demonstrate consistency for Vancouver to climb back up the standings and he hasn't had much of that the last year and a half. Josh Anderson has had a stint in the AHL and in 17 NHL games he only has two goals and three points, quite a disappointment from last year when he looked on the verge of breaking out as a top nine power forward with 11 goals and 22 points. Marc-Edouard Vlasic is on the first year of a 3 year $4.44 Million per year deal and has struggled even in a primarily bottom pairing role with 2 assists and a -7 through nineteen games. He did struggle with injuries and his underlying numbers are better than current results so he may bounce back yet. Bo Horvat is stepping up lately but his numbers were down for much of the year. As a young guy expected to take another step and being given an "A" and the second line center role he hadn't really seized his opportunity. Hopefully his struggles are in the past and the New Year sees his production take off.
The Ugly:
The backup goalie situation. Ugh. DeSmith struggled to start the season so they bring up Stolarz to replace him and Stolarz looks even worse. Getting sub .880 save percentages from your backups is pretty crippling when you're trying to compete for a playoff spot. DeSmith's first start after being called back up was a shutout so maybe better things are in store. Nikita Filatov has fallen off entirely from his 26 goal, 51 point team leading season last year and has finally been demoted to the fourth line after coasting along in the top six based on reputation for most of the year. He is currently on pace for only four goals and 26 points. Daniel Sedin was having a great start to his season with seven points in nine games when a hit from behind left him seriously concussed. He is still out indefinitely and hasn't even been around the rink yet.