Drop the Sopel
Registered User
The top 5 for me-
1. The big 3 up front. You've got a rookie on pace for a 45-45 season, Boeser better than a 35-35 pace and a really strong 2nd line centre in Horvat on pace for 65 points.
2. The Edler/Tanev duo when healthy are a great shutdown pairing. This team continues to be tough to beat when the top of their defense is healthy.
3. Markstrom is giving the Canucks consistent goaltending. You can't win without it.
4. The emergence of Stecher and Hutton has been huge. Hutton is playing big minutes and the best hockey of his career. Stecher has taken a major step forward and on a team with a thin right side, that's been a major difference maker. If they can maintain their current level of play, all of a sudden the future on the backend doesn't look so bleak.
5. The forward depth is underrated, especially down the middle of the ice and into the bottom 6. Pettersson is an excellent 1st line centre, Horvat is an excellent 2nd line centre, Sutter a good 3rd line centre and Beagle a good 4th line centre. Lots of size and defensive acumen at centre. The bottom 6 also has an identity. The 3rd line can skate, is productive, and can shut down other top lines. The 4th line can match up against the other teams best as well and provide some offense. Sutter getting back to form from injury would be big.
There has really only been 2 things holding this team back this season. They were decimated with injury which really set them back, and the defensive depth 5-8 is poor. The hope now is Hughes can step in for Pouliot and Gudbranson gets dealt and replaced with somebody that can move the puck and stop getting ventilated for goals against.
Unfortunately, nothing can be done about the injuries. History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme. Hard not to get that sinking feeling that we will once again be punished coming down the stretch.
1. The big 3 up front. You've got a rookie on pace for a 45-45 season, Boeser better than a 35-35 pace and a really strong 2nd line centre in Horvat on pace for 65 points.
2. The Edler/Tanev duo when healthy are a great shutdown pairing. This team continues to be tough to beat when the top of their defense is healthy.
3. Markstrom is giving the Canucks consistent goaltending. You can't win without it.
4. The emergence of Stecher and Hutton has been huge. Hutton is playing big minutes and the best hockey of his career. Stecher has taken a major step forward and on a team with a thin right side, that's been a major difference maker. If they can maintain their current level of play, all of a sudden the future on the backend doesn't look so bleak.
5. The forward depth is underrated, especially down the middle of the ice and into the bottom 6. Pettersson is an excellent 1st line centre, Horvat is an excellent 2nd line centre, Sutter a good 3rd line centre and Beagle a good 4th line centre. Lots of size and defensive acumen at centre. The bottom 6 also has an identity. The 3rd line can skate, is productive, and can shut down other top lines. The 4th line can match up against the other teams best as well and provide some offense. Sutter getting back to form from injury would be big.
There has really only been 2 things holding this team back this season. They were decimated with injury which really set them back, and the defensive depth 5-8 is poor. The hope now is Hughes can step in for Pouliot and Gudbranson gets dealt and replaced with somebody that can move the puck and stop getting ventilated for goals against.
Unfortunately, nothing can be done about the injuries. History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme. Hard not to get that sinking feeling that we will once again be punished coming down the stretch.