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Like a marathon horse race, that's how I view a hockey season. So with that I present for you, my call.
Last season I started a segment which I thought I would continue this year. So here we are at the 10-game mark and it’s time to reflect on the surprises, disappointments, needs, beefs, and bouquets of the Vancouver Canucks.
Surprises
The Canucks getting off to such a bad start after that promising preseason. Never would have imagined, after observing training camp and the undefeated preseason, that this team would struggle to get to .500.
But is it really? Take a look at last season (five wins and five losses) and the previous season to that, (four wins and six losses) after the first 10 games.
It all ties in with Roberto Luongo’s historically slow starts, since joining the Canucks.
The steady play of Shane O’Brien. Nothing fancy, takes his man out and good first passes out of the zone, has moved him up to the number five spot, for now, on the defense.
Injuries, so early in the season, has seen Daniel Sedin (first extended time since joining the Nucks), Sami Salo (no big surprise), Pavol Demitra (actually from last season), out indefinitely, Matthew Schneider, (recovering from off season shoulder surgery) expected to play today, and Rick Rypien, out with a groin injury.
Stop already the training staff is running out of room.
Biggest and most pleasant surprises to date – Mikael Samuelsson’s five goals and four assists . Didn’t know much about this player before he came to Vancouver, but he has proven that he can score and 30 goals are not out of reason.
Christian Ehrhoff’s two goals and six assists. Continuing at this rate, he could surpass the career high 42 points he finished with last year, while with the San Jose Sharks.
Michael Grabner been able to score at the NHL level and not only that, go to the dirty areas instead of being a perimeter player. One goal, three assists in five games.
This is his opportunity to stick with the club, no matter what happens to Demitra, if he keeps playing like that!.
Disappointments
Mason Raymond, until last night had only one goal and enough chances to have a half a dozen. This is the year he has to put up 20 or end up out of the organization.
Kyle Wellwood NO GOALS and one assist. What has happened to Wellwood? I mean this guy has the talent to put up more points than this.
If this continues to the 15 game mark, look for him to be benched or worse yet, placed again on waivers.
Poor play of Alex Edler, leading the team with a -6 rating. Here’s the guy that was suppose to take up the minutes from the departed Mattias Ohlund. So much promise with the big frame and shot, yet he continues to play with that stick check mentality, instead of using that 6’3, 215 lb. body to finish his checks.
He is being beaten far too regularly on the rushes and from players coming out of the corners.
The penalty kill is ranked at 18th , two spots worse than it finished last year. This really has to improve with the long road trips that will happen this season.
The 10th spot in the Western Conference and the distance the Calgary Flames are putting between them.
Kevin Bieska’s play, it’s no wonder he has fallen to the number six spot on defense. Was it not last year when Bieska was a top four defenseman, playing with Willie Mitchell?
Did you notice that experiment lasted all of one and half periods after Sami Salo’s injury? Bieska’s $3.75 million cap hit is way too much to pay for a number six defenseman.
Biggest disappointment: Alex Edler, followed by Raymond and Wellwood.
Needs
More scoring, as the Nucks are 16th in the NHL with 2.80 goals for. The third and fourth lines need to start contributing, because during the periods when the first line goes cold, it will not be pretty.
This team needs to establish scoring that comes from more than one line.
As I wrote in my previous article, maybe GM Mike Gillis needs to look outside for some offensive help.
Beefs
last in the Western Conference hits department. Wrote about that already a couple of articles ago.
Bouquets
The power play, fourth in the NHL at 27.7 percent. Quick puck movement is really noticeable this year and the Nucks are looking like the Detroit Red Wings of last season (finished first).
This will take them a long way if they can get the penalty kill up into the top 10.
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