by UWSaint on Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:29 am
Well, if this is about how the team has played, a few observations.
The Canucks have been exceptional in the neutral zone defensively. Probably the best in the league. Other teams must adjust to the Canucks, not the other way around. While AV gets little credit on these boards, coaching is more than line changes, time outs, post-game interviews, and special teams. The first inquiry as to a coach's effectiveness is whether the team plays together, as a unit. This team does.
Being solid in the neutral zone does not require being ultra safe in the offensive zone. The Canucks defensemen are given pretty wide latitude in pinching and cycling (as has been the team's MO since the Crawfoord days). But unlike the Crawford days, they are generally covered by forwards who understand the rotational nature of the offense. These responsibilities are shared throughout the lineup. While AV gets little credit on these boards, coaching is more than line changes, time outs, post-game interviews, and special teams. The first inquiry as to a coach's effectiveness is whether the team plays together, as a unit. In managing offensive chances with defensive responsibility, this team does.
The most underrated forward-type in the league is the forward that doesn't hit, but keeps his legs moving, eliminates the opposition's time and space, and makes the opposition work for chances. Hansen, Higgins, Raymond, and Burrows all do this. Schroeder may get there, too, but today he errs (smartly) on the side of conservative positioning. These guys aren't stars and aren't flawless by any means, but they carry this underappreciated -- and very effective towards the ends of winning games -- asset.
The things that haven't been working either should work or will be helped considerably by Kesler. The PP and shorthanded play fall into the latter category. These have been bad, but given that Kesler is the best SH forward on the team and one of the best forwards on the PP, it will be better merely with personnel. Still, this is not the "movement" PP that we saw in 2010-2011 and the first half of last year and coaching plays a role.
The Sedins have been just okay, though their raw speed and strength looks better than ever. They'll be fine. I think. Expect a point a game from each.
The defensive corps is way better with (1) perfect health and (2) an emerging Chris Tanev. The Canucks won't be healthy all year, and going from Ballard to Alberts/Barker will liklely be a serious downgrade. Tanev, though, is the real deal. He is stronger on the puck and physically able to do what his calm brain tells him. I have been most impressed with his touch on outlet passes and moves to secure possession in the defensive zone on dump ins (e.g., tips off the boards to himself to avoid a check and buy time). Tanev "throws a catchable ball" -- he doesn't send guys live grenades for passes and rarely put a receiving player in a vulnerable position. These little things can take years to develop if they ever develop at all, and Tanev is well beyond where he was last year.
The Canucks bottom 4 on D, whoever they are, is better than the top 4 on most teams.
Alexander Edler is not Ed Jovanovski. While he has made more mistakes than a first pairing guy should, his mistakes are not chicken-with-head-cut-off-variety (the kind of panic-leads-to-poor-positioning that Ballard and sometimes Bieksa have in the past displayed (but less so this year)) and are not the result of recklessness on offense (his offense is exceptional, but not the reult of high-risk plays). They are usually due to an inability to settle the puck, leading to a weak pass or the failure to hold the puck in. Bottom line, I don't know that these flaws will ever leave Edler, but they are identifiable and workable.
Outside of a terrible opening night, goaltending for the Canucks has been great. We will have less stellar games on the horizon -- it is the nature of these things -- so the offense will have to pick things up if the Canucks are going to keep winning.
Summary: This team is exceptional defensively -- forwards, defenders, and goaltenders. Some of this is the result of individual talent; some the result of a team concept. The offense has room to grow, particularly on the power play. To have this record with unremarkable special teams and two of the Top 6 forwards out is pretty remarkable.
Hono_rary Canadian
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. HW, did you forget we are still Canucks fans. lol.
