Canucks mailbag: Eight powerful video games to go earlier than Christmas

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There are nonetheless two extra weeks of hockey to be performed earlier than Christmas and there’s no relaxation for the weary Vancouver Canucks.

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They nonetheless have eight video games to play in that stretch, a large quantity of hockey in such a brief stretch of time.

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The Canucks have been averaging a sport each different day for the reason that finish of October. However they’re pulling collectively competent performances nonetheless, like their win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

How properly will they climate this tough stretch but to come back? Let’s flip the query over to the followers…

3-5-1. They’re just about a ‘center of the pack’ crew that’s due for some regression. — Brilliant Burro, through BlueSky

The “regression” query is an attention-grabbing one.

Actually, when the Canucks have been capturing the lights out — at one level final month, their even-strength capturing proportion was a sky-high 15 per cent — we knew that wasn’t going to proceed.

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They’re nonetheless capturing a pace-setting 11 per cent, which goes to come back down some extent or so — that’s simply actuality — however that’s not a ridiculous quantity.

And their goaltenders are enjoying very well now, not otherworldly like earlier than.

A lot of the regression has really occurred. They weren’t going to maintain profitable video games by three or extra targets, like they did early within the season.

Seven of their first 11 wins on the 12 months have been by three or extra targets. Simply one of many 5 video games since has been by three.

Two followers on BlueSky, Nick and James W., each linked the best way ahead to Elias Pettersson. James W. contemplated if Pettersson continues to be coping with a lingering damage, whereas Nick famous that the Canucks have misplaced simply as soon as when Pettersson scores a aim.

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It’s no coincidence that as Pettersson has slumped in latest weeks, the Canucks have slid again to a .500 document.

Injured or not, he was all the time unlikely to maintain up the blistering scoring tempo he set to open the season.

However the Canucks do want him to seek out his sport once more. He does have two targets and 4 factors in his final 5 video games, and there have been flashes of his early-season self of late, however he struggled to make an influence on Thursday versus Minnesota.

With massive opponents within the subsequent three residence video games, it’s a giant check for a centre who desires to ascertain himself as one of many dominant No. 1 centres within the NHL.

And as our followers in query right here identified, he can drive the Canucks’ bus like no different.

I see 4 probably wins, three probably losses, and two toss-ups relying on which crew involves play. CHI, NSH, SJS, MIN ought to be wins. FLA, DAL probably losses, and I really feel like CAR performs properly towards the Canucks. TBL, PHI are tossups because of goaltending for TBL and I really feel like PHI document is inflated. — Jeff A., through BlueSky

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These 9 video games to come back are difficult to interrupt down. The Canucks face Carolina, Tampa and Florida over the subsequent three residence video games.

All are sturdy opponents, it doesn’t matter what their latest run of kind would possibly say.

Then there’s a tough four-game highway journey beginning every week from now in Minnesota with a matinee, adopted lower than 24 hours later by one other matinee in Chicago. The Blackhawks are horrible, however that’s a tough back-to-back from a fatigue standpoint. The journey carries on in Nashville, who’re enjoying higher than you understand, then a ultimate sport in Dallas, all the time a tough place to be.

Then there’s that ultimate residence sport earlier than Christmas towards the San Jose Sharks, who’ve re-discovered play hockey and are now not on tempo to be one of many worst groups in fashionable NHL historical past.

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The Canucks host Philly in a stand-alone sport between Christmas and New Years and it’s a must to assume a rested Vancouver enjoying at residence has the massive benefit.

What would occur if the Canucks put Myers on waivers? The Canucks hopefully is not going to resign Myers, so on the finish of this season he walks and the Canucks don’t get something in return, so why not do it now, and perhaps get a 4th spherical decide for him. — Mel, through e mail

A pair completely different questions right here, really.

Initially, placing a participant on waivers isn’t a commerce, it’s providing a participant to each different crew within the league for a nominal price.

So, certain, the Canucks might put the veteran defenceman on waivers. Nevertheless it’s uncertain one other crew would declare him, given they’d be taking over his whole cap hit.

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And if he cleared waivers, certain, the Canucks might ship him to the minors, however they’d solely save simply over $1 million on his cap hit.

They’ve been in search of a commerce accomplice for Myers for an extended, very long time. Myers has a 12-team no-trade checklist, which means he can quash trades to a very good variety of groups. Most of these groups, presumably, are the league’s weaker squads, in addition to groups distant from Vancouver, the place his household is sort of completely happy.

It’s unlikely any crew goes to commerce for Myers and his full cap hit at this level, although you by no means say by no means, particularly as we get nearer to the commerce deadline.

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@risingaction.bsky.social

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