After the primary week of Vancouver Canucks 2023-24 hockey, how are followers feeling now?
Article content material
We’re only a week into the season.
Commercial 2
Article content material
We nonetheless have a lot to study — or maybe merely verify — concerning the 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks.
Article content material
However there are some regarding indicators. The offence has been inconsistent. Key errors are undoing their efforts. The Canucks have been absent within the second interval three video games in a row.
They aren’t developments, however they might develop into warning indicators.
It’s the tip of the week, so let’s take the heart beat of the followers as soon as extra.
How are they feeling? What are they eager about?
On the one hand disenchanted that the soar and energy from sport one is already gone, though that was going to be actually onerous to maintain. However, we knew this was going to be a tricky highway journey, and I believe they nonetheless look higher than final 12 months. (Common Traveller by way of BlueSky)
Canucks Report
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
It’s true, they’ve taken one win on this highway journey. They weren’t significantly good, however a win is a win.
That stated, the very fact they have been badly outplayed in that Oilers win final Saturday, have been terrible in Philadelphia, after which solely half-decent in Tampa on Thursday provides pause.
The early elements of the season usually play like prolonged pre-season, however you’ll be able to’t afford to provide away performances.
Simply ask the final two seasons of Canucks.
It’s solely two years in the past that Travis Inexperienced was nonetheless the top coach of this workforce. However a horrible begin to that season ended his tenure.
Two years in the past Friday, we have been speaking a few poor efficiency in Buffalo. The Canucks’ finest gamers had not been their finest gamers.
Justin Dowling was one in all only a few Canucks to indicate up on that evening.
Commercial 4
Article content material
This week, the Canucks’ finest gamers have been their finest, however they nonetheless will be higher.
And that’s what you need to focus within the subsequent couple weeks: are they nonetheless treading water, or are they taking their shifts over?
Is that this the final time, this season, the Canucks are at .500? (leftisbest by way of BlueSky)
I believe the reply isn’t any, however I don’t have an enormous case to again up this declare as a result of we don’t have a transparent image of what this workforce is but.
Elias Pettersson could be banged up, however he’s nonetheless main the league in factors. You realize he desires to hit 100 factors once more — it’s onerous to think about a workforce being led by such a pushed No. 1 centre lacking the playoffs, however this occurs on a regular basis.
And J.T. Miller’s line has been strong. Miller has had some defensive miscues, however general they’ve been fantastic, enjoying pretty even, two-way hockey.
Commercial 5
Article content material
Advisable from Editorial
-
Canucks: The numbers do not inform the complete story but, however think about these ones
-
Lightning 4, Canucks 3: Vancouver’s good highway sport sunk by brutal second interval
-
Canucks: Stan Smyl modifications roles, with no regrets
The issue is, as alluded to above, the Canucks’ bottom-six forwards aren’t as much as a lot. Pius Suter was introduced in to assist make the third line more practical and, whereas he’s proven some flashes of steadiness, there’s not been sufficient offence coming.
The removing of Akito Hirose and Noah Juulsen, changed by Carson Soucy and Mark Friedman, is an undercard query to look at. May Friedman be a greater match for Quinn Hughes than Filip Hronek, and in that universe, might Soucy be Hronek’s new associate and will that pairing work?
Commercial 6
Article content material
And if that partnership works, then you definately’ve received Ian Cole and Tyler Myers in your third pair, a spot you’d assume they’d be capable to handle.
Myers is enjoying an excessive amount of. Even when he was youthful he wasn’t as much as the calls for of top-four defending.
If Myers have been to play much less, to face the opposition’s lesser forwards, he’d be fantastic. And Cole is a great sufficient defender that you possibly can see him thriving in that state of affairs.
Are the Canucks attending to the online sufficient? (Michael L., by way of Twitter)
The easy reply isn’t any.
They’re within the backside half of the league by way of high-danger probabilities for. And general they aren’t taking pictures sufficient — they’ve the second-lowest price of photographs directed at opposing nets in the entire NHL.
They’ve had some actual luck pushed particularly by their 8-1 opening evening win, so their offensive sport wants any general vitality enhance.
Commercial 7
Article content material
Bookmark our web site and help our journalism: Don’t miss the information that you must know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and join our newsletters right here.
You can even help our journalism by changing into a digital subscriber: For simply $14 a month, you will get limitless, ad-lite entry to The Vancouver Solar, The Province, Nationwide Publish and 13 different Canadian information websites. Help us by subscribing at this time: The Vancouver Solar | The Province.
Article content material
Feedback
Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a vigorous however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Feedback could take as much as an hour for moderation earlier than showing on the location. We ask you to maintain your feedback related and respectful. Now we have enabled e mail notifications—you’ll now obtain an e mail should you obtain a reply to your remark, there’s an replace to a remark thread you comply with or if a consumer you comply with feedback. Go to our Group Tips for extra info and particulars on methods to alter your e mail settings.