It's interesting how this thread on Lindholm has some interesting discussion on the one hand, and on the other hand we have some of the lowest information, most emotionally driven, hot take vomiting posters from like 11 different teams spitting out the same meme about 'le epic PDO XD'.
Like I literally recognize several user names from other threads over the years where they have shown their whole ass. But the internet is a big place and the loudest people aren't often the most thoughtful, but they're often the most prominent.
On Lindholm:
There's a reason the Canucks acted a month before the trade deadline. It takes time to gel when you're adding a top 6 center to your team. He, theoretically, has his hand in every phase of the game. He's amazing on the draw so he takes a lot of D zone draws, he PKs, he plays on the PP. He plays when you're down by a goal, he plays when you're up by a goal etc etc.
If you've ever played hockey you know it's an instinct driven game, if you're thinking out there you're already behind the play. Well, learning a new system, with new teammates, in a new city, with new coaches, and a new apartment, and new routines, etc etc is going to put anyone into their head unless you happen to get lucky and start off on a tear that builds its own momentum.
So we're using that month. We have had a wonderful start, and we're using that to our advantage by working out some lineup kinks and struggling a bit when it doesn't especially matter.
We've also had a really challenging schedule in terms of lack of rest, lots of time on the road, very little practice time, etc. So he joined the team when we were slumping, but also during a scheduled slump.
Now, all of that said, he's looked competent and useful, but he hasn't played like a guy you want to deal a first and Brzustewicz for. But he has time to figure that out and so does the team.
It's hilarious that we have one bad 7 game stretch and the silliest among us can't wait to dunk on the PDO meme that even they had to back off of when we were sitting at like 35 games over .500.
As noted also, Soucy is key to our structure. He's incredibly stout and is just a stopper both on transition and on the cycle.
Joshua is a big loss too because that line with Blueger and Garland has been absolutely incredible all year. When other lines would struggle, they would keep plugging along which meant a lot because it meant we never gave up the momentum of 4 bad shifts in a row because that constellation literally never played in their own zone.
So without those two, we aren't immune to slumping - and we are.
Tocchet's a great coach, we have amazing stars at the top of our lineup, good depth, and an amazing goalie. We'll get it back.
With that said, this is the start of our window not the end. We're very unlikely to win the cup this year (much as I hope we will) and it will be a fairly successful year if we blowout the bottom seed in the first and lose a close one in the 2nd round. Teams need to lose before they learn how to win like 95% of the time.
So watch this with more of a longview and enjoy the ride Canucks' fans.
And fans of other teams who love hockey and enjoy watching hockey artistry, for the first time in quite awhile the Canucks are relevant to you for more than just unique brilliance by individuals here and there.
And for those who foam at the mouth to drop their cool PDO jokes, I don't have to worry about you because this post was likely far too long for your limited attention span.