The Official 2023/2024 Canucks & NHL Thread

[spoon.ek9]

on the positive side, we finally have:

1. competent management
2. much improved player development in Abby
3. winning culture combined with solid core players

all of the above will motivate players to either join the team or sign team friendly contracts. if we were in this UFA/RFA position anywhere in the last 1-9 years ago, we'd truly be fucked.

[bobbinka]

https://thebeaverton.com/2024/04/nhl...-for-playoffs/

NHL player declared legally dead before trade deadline expects to be ready for Playoffs

Golden Knights player Connor Holmdenberg has announced he will be ready to play in Game 1 of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, despite the fact that he (and his 6.7 million dollar cap hit) was declared deceased by the team right before the NHL’s annual trade deadline back in March.

“Obviously when we reported to the league that Connor would need to be placed on LTIR due to his having passed away we did not expect him to be back in time for the playoffs,” said Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon. “But, thanks to Connor’s hard work and the expertise of our medical staff, we’re pleased to report that he will be alive again in time to help us chase another championship.”

“He definitely will still be dead during our last regular season game when the Salary Cap still exists though. That’s important to remember.”

Vegas was able to use Holmdenberg’s death to lessen their Salary Cap, freeing up enough room for a top 6 winger and a shut down D to be acquired via trade, both of whom are expected to suffer their own grievous, fatal but temporary injuries before next year’s deadline.

“I’m just happy that I can come back and try to help my team,” said Holmdenberg after practice, where he hoped to shake off the rust and rigor mortis.

Asked whether Holmdenberg’s sudden resurrection was fair to other teams in the league McCrimmon was defiant.

“Look, it’s a competitive league. And we’d be crazy not to use techniques from the 1990 movie Flatliners to convince the head office a player was dead in order to artificially lower our Cap and boost our chances of winning the Cup.”

“Also we’re not returning the 10 million dollar life insurance payout we got either.”

[teggy604]

Would it be a good idea to put Hughes and Hyronek in pp1? Hughes can "act" as a fwd and Hyronek can handle the back end.

[mb_]

This is so painful to watch

Originally Posted by mb_

I don't think DeSmith is playing terribly (I didn't watch the game last night so idk how he really played) but they should ride Silovs until Demko comes back. He's played very well so far. Maybe that'll spark some life for the rest of the team lol.

I still think they should do this lol

[whitev70r]

LA shorthanded goal ... Kempe on Hughes ??!!

2 SHG in one game .. rare.

[mb_]

Hughes looked gassed on that SHG cause PP1 was kept out for the entire power play

Wouldn't have really changed the score but Moore only getting 2 mins instead of 5 for boarding Hughes is pretty bs

[Razor Ramon HG]

DeSmith was so shit this game

[whitev70r]

Demko better be himself when he returns or things will go south real fast.

Oilers got 2 pts tonight.

Next Sat Apr 13 ... Canucks at Oilers ... that might determine who will be 1st in the Pacific!

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by whitev70r

Demko better be himself when he returns or things will go south real fast.

Oilers got 2 pts tonight.

Next Sat Apr 13 ... Canucks at Oilers ... that might determine who will be 1st in the Pacific!

Some people may not want to look back at the posts in this thread early in the season

[bobbinka]

loool, oilers can potentially win the division AND we'd have to face LA in round 1

[AzNightmare]

Honestly give Canucks 5 games before they're eliminated, regardless who they play.
Padded the stats in before the All-Star Weekend.
Now they're incapable of beating any playoff team.

[AzNightmare]

Originally Posted by whitev70r

Demko better be himself when he returns or things will go south real fast.

Oilers got 2 pts tonight.

Next Sat Apr 13 ... Canucks at Oilers ... that might determine who will be 1st in the Pacific!

Like we don't know who's going to win that one.

[68style]

Originally Posted by AzNightmare

Honestly give Canucks 5 games before they're eliminated, regardless who they play.
Padded the stats in before the All-Star Weekend.
Now they're incapable of beating any playoff team.

Vancouver vs.:

Top 5: 5-2-2
6-10: 7-4-1
11-15: 7-6-1
16-27: 16-8-3

Bottom 5: 12-1-1
Top 15: 19-12-4

[AzNightmare]

Originally Posted by 68style

Vancouver vs.:

Top 5: 5-2-2
6-10: 7-4-1
11-15: 7-6-1
16-27: 16-8-3

Bottom 5: 12-1-1
Top 15: 19-12-4

It would have been nice if playoffs started a few months back, but what's relevant is how they're playing now. When push comes to shove as teams get more desperate, Canucks aren't hanging with the top right now.



Edit:
I did a quick tally.

Since ASG, they're 5-8 against Playoff teams. (I didn't bother breaking it down to OT/SO)
Feb: 2-4
Mar: 3-2
Apr: 0-2 so far

In total, they're 14-14, playing .500 hockey.

FWIW, they shutout Winnipeg in Demko's last game.
But have looked terrible against playoff teams since.

Demko will be a huge boost assuming he comes back in time and can come out the gates playing as solid as he did... Seems like the only reason to believe the team can "flip a switch" and make a 180° turnaround in the playoffs.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by 68style

Vancouver vs.:

Top 5: 5-2-2
6-10: 7-4-1
11-15: 7-6-1
16-27: 16-8-3

Bottom 5: 12-1-1
Top 15: 19-12-4

Can you get similar numbers for other top teams in the West?

[68style]

Yup they're all in this article... Edmonton has not been very good against good teams:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...top-opponents/

[spoon.ek9]

Like I (and many others) have said, Canucks have already exceeded all expectations this season. We were considered a fringe playoff team at best coming into the season. Things have gone very well for us but the way we've played lately, I would not be surprised if we are a first round exit. Again, obviously I'd like to see them go far but regardless, I'm keeping my playoff expectations low despite management going all in with acquiring Lindholm and despite our upcoming RFA/UFA headaches.

As always, I'll always cheer for and support this team. I have simply learned from our collective trauma to expect the worst while hoping for the best.

[68style]

We've slipped all the way to 5th overall now!

I'm surprised at the Rangers being on top of the league... I've watched a few of their games this year and didn't feel particularly impressed. Their powerplay has so many good players on it, but Fox is a surprisingly bad quarterback, watching Hughes and then watching him really makes you appreciate how good Hughes is.

[unit]

i cant believe edmonton turned it around so hard. they started the season as one of the worst teams about 10 games in, now they're one of the best?

[68style]

The goal differential stat is super interesting for the overall league... like all the top teams are sitting at about +50 goal differential... and then about halfway through somehow the Capitals are at -23 but they're still in the top half of the league... but it's near the bottom where the car really drives off a cliff! Get a couple of teams suddenly at -50 and then the 3 last place teams, Anaheim, Chicago and San Jose are over -90 or worse hahaha!! How they heck is there such a discrepancy like that. S an Jose is -136, that's gotta be some kind of record lol

https://www.nhl.com/standings/2024-04-08/league

edit: I looked into it, it's actually nowhere near the worst ever... that record belongs to the 70's Capitals at -236... but it is the worst one since the the 99-2000 Atlanta Thrashers and last year's Ducks team.

[whitev70r]

Originally Posted by unit

i cant believe edmonton turned it around so hard. they started the season as one of the worst teams about 10 games in, now they're one of the best?

This ... might be story of the season but what exactly did they do differently after the new rookie coach came in? Was it their D, their Goalies? It appeared that the players loved playing for Woodcroft so it's not that they quit on him.

[Hondaracer]

Let’s get a fucking win tonight

[unit]

edmonton and san jose had the worst starts probably in their franchise histories. edmonton turned it around, san jose did not lol

[EvoFire]

San Jose got blown out 10 goals two nights in a row at the beginning of the season, one of the teams that blew them up was the Canucks.

People talk about how great the Canucks goal diff was, but I always subtracted 10 from it because honestly I wouldn't count the 10 goal blowup into it.

[pastarocket]

FYI. Hertl is expected to play against our team tonight.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/to...t-monday-night