Canucks mailbag: It's crunch time

Concerning the Canucks’ schedule, their commerce hopes and who they could name up from the AHL subsequent.

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A month or so into the 2022-23 NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks stay heading in the right direction for the playoffs.

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They’re about to hit the 20-game mark, when the numbers which have constructed up up to now begin to be predictive of what’s to return.

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In different phrases, the Canucks are stable sufficient defensively and their offence goes to maintain popping.

As we do to finish each week, we flip this area over to the ideas of the followers.

They’ve proven sufficient precise good play that I’m cautiously optimistic. Subsequent 4 video games are shut collectively, however two of them are vs. the Sharks — Quinn O. by way of BlueSky

This can be a very sturdy level. They’ve positively had a good bit of luck, however beneath is a powerful basis.

And simply as crucially, many of the must-have video games have been well-seized by Vancouver.

They play plenty of video games in November — 15 in all — however over the following two weeks, they face San Jose twice and the struggling Kraken twice.

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That can assist them navigate this difficult stretch, which incorporates video games towards Colorado — in Denver, no much less — and Vegas.

The schedule is a take a look at. Gamers want time to recuperate — and if you’re enjoying each different day, it’s troublesome to correctly get well from one sport in time for the following sport.

They host Seattle Saturday at Rogers Enviornment, however then they’ve 4 extra video games over the following week. Two are towards San Jose, sure, however they’re the e-book ends to the week. Monday the Canucks host the Sharks, however then they’re have a 3 video games in 4 days stretch on the street, with video games towards Colorado, Seattle and once more in San Jose.

It’s the schedule that’s the opponent as a lot as something.

With Carson Soucy out for six to eight weeks, do you assume the Canucks are persevering with to search for extra defensive depth or begin dipping into their AHL pool? Soucy performs a important function on the PK in addition to his latest offensive contributions. — Michael M. by way of e-mail

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It’s fairly sure the Canucks need to add defencemen.

They’ve had curiosity in Nikita Zadorov since earlier than final summer time’s draft. The large Russian’s agent is Dan Milstein, who the Canucks know properly as a result of he represents Andrei Kuzmenko and Ilya Mikheyev.

Zadorov is a free agent subsequent summer time and has requested for a commerce from Calgary.

Chris Tanev, after all, beloved enjoying in Vancouver and there’s good purpose to assume he’d like to return again, particularly with how properly the crew is enjoying proper now.

The factor is; the Flames aren’t eager to commerce instantly with Vancouver — so might the Canucks discover an Japanese Convention middleman to seize one after which flip them again west to Vancouver?

Additionally, the Canucks certainly need to discover one other winger or two. Conor Garland’s title has been on the market on the commerce marketplace for greater than a 12 months, however clearly nobody has sprung for him but. He’s a powerful participant however would moderately not play in a Canadian market.

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Enjoying-wise, he’s a tricky participant to let go, however you need glad gamers.

Anthony Beauvillier is a nice sufficient participant, however he’s not a sport breaker and you could find a youthful, cheaper substitute. His essential worth proper now could be the cap area he takes up, so at worst would the Canucks merely flip him to a crew like San Jose, who want gamers however don’t need to make commitments? His contract is up this summer time.

If the Canucks have been in a position to flip him away, they might use his cap area on a participant who might show to be simpler elsewhere within the lineup.

The Canucks are actually ready the place they need to be wanting so as to add gamers who can fill roles higher than the present gamers readily available and push these gamers down the lineup.

Phil Di Giuseppe is an efficient instance; he’s been match on the second line, however he’d be much more helpful on the third and even 4 line as a result of he’d make these traces higher. So are you able to discover a ahead to fill his spot alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser?

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Was it unusual that Studnicka didn’t get the decision when Kuzmenko bought damage? — Patrick by way of Twitter

Not particularly. They know what Studnicka brings. They should discover out if any of the opposite choices in Abbotsford can deliver something completely different.

This was an opportunity to check out one among their winger prospects, and Karlsson has impressed the Canucks’ brass.

Given how properly he carried out, it’s probably he’ll be again.

Additionally on the record of gamers they need to know extra about: Arshdeep Bains, Tristen Nielsen and naturally, Vasily Podkolzin, who they do hope can discover a consistency degree that will make him a drive on the wing within the NHL, irrespective of the function.

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