Mr. Canucklehead
Kitimat Canuck
Hard to believe the season is halfway over already. I’ve definitely been pleasantly surprised by the overall entertainment value of this year to date - I thought this team would be tougher to score against than in previous years, thanks to the additions of guys like Beagle and Roussel, but I didn’t see the high octane offense coming in.
So - who’s done well? Who’s flopped? And who’s in between?
My two cents...
Elias Pettersson - A+
Any attempts I had to temper my expectations for Pettersson were completely abandoned after his first game against Calgary. Just an astounding player.
Bo Horvat - A+
Definitely less flashy than my other A+, but Horvat might well be the team’s MVP to this point. Put in colossal work while both Beagle and Sutter were out, and has been everything the team has needed whenever they’ve needed it. Put the “C” on him already.
Alex Edler - A
When healthy, Edler has been our best defender (IMO) this year. He’s logged huge shutdown minutes and is having a fine offense season, too.
Brock Boeser - A-
His overall game has room to improve, but Brock is here to contribute offense - and he’s deliver on that in spades. Once those other components are lined up, look out. That he’s firing at a point a game clip despite not being himself and playing through injuries is impressive.
Jacob Markstrom - B+
If this was based purely on December, he’d be the highest ranked guy here. He’s been tremendous of late - nice to see him having such a good season.
Chris Tanev - B+
Had a rough patch after injuries this year, but is back to his usual excellent self of late. He and Edler do yeoman’s work on the blueline.
Ben Hutton - B
After a disastrous year last year, it seems Hutton has finally reasserted his place as a fixture on the roster. That he’s done this largely playing with some boat anchors for partners is even more impressive.
Antoine Roussel - B
It’s like we’ve got prime Jannik Hansen back on this team, but even more annoying. One of the hardest working guys night in and night out. I’ve been very happy with him.
Jay Beagle - B
Debated going “incomplete”, but I think he’s played enough. Huge on the PK, provides enormous relief for Horvat. Blocks shots, grinds in the boards, the works. Been a very effective contributor when healthy.
Jake Virtanen - B-
When he’s been on this year, he’s been terrific. Much improved consistency and finally using the shot that helped him score so much in junior. Developing his overall hockey IQ, too. Still has shifts (and the rare whole game) where he drifts. But huge improvements here. The Shotgun Jake movement is an added highlight this year, too.
Nikolay Goldobin - C+
Goldobin has improved his overall game immensely. He backchecks hard, he grinds on the boards, and he goes to dirty areas more than he ever has. He’s a guy you won’t really notice until he’s making a gorgeous saucer pass that ends up being a goal. Could still be more consistent offensively, but overall, he’s established himself as a regular on the team.
Troy Stecher - C+
Outside of Alex Biega, there may not be another player on the team who hustles harder. Stecher is underused (in my opinion) and sits further down the team’s totem pole than I would like, but he fills whatever role is asked of him and is usually solid doing it.
Tyler Motte - C+
For a guy no one was pencilling onto their opening night rosters, he has done very well. His speed gives other teams fits. He has games where he fades, but the plusses have far outweighed the negatives.
Anders Nilsson - C+
Much improved over last season. Has given the team a chance to win against some tough opponents.
Alex Biega - C+
Needs to be in the lineup every night over others who are there. Works his ass off, can actually play defense, and brings more grit than most of the blueline does.
Loui Eriksson - C
Ignoring his contract. As a penalty killer and shutdown forward paired with Horvat, he has been decent in that role. Always hope for a bit more, but at least he isn’t hurting the team out there.
Adam Gaudette - C
Confident he will be a regular NHL player in some capacity based on his play this year. Whether it’s as a top or bottom six player remains to be seen. But he’s a hard working kid with a great attitude.
Markus Granlund - C-
I may take some heat for this, but oh well. I think he’s been OK in some spots and bad in others. A replacement level player, but certainly not one I get worked up over (like some of the guys coming up now).
Erik Gudbranson - C-
I’ll try to be fair in that I don’t think he’s been as bad as previous seasons. In fact lately, I think he’s actually been solid. I still think he’s overrated, overpaid and he doesn’t play the role of cop on this team nearly enough - although I liked him going at Bennett last night for his attempted knee on Pettersson.
Michael Del Zotto - D+
While not a great defender, he had some OK stretches this year and is yet another player who deserves to be in the lineup over Pouliot.
Derrick Pouliot - F
I am utterly mystified as to how Pouliot stays in the lineup, especially with a quality defender like Biega being readily available. Once in a while will make a solid play, but then confounds you by making thirty six consecutive bad plays.
Tim Schaller - F
Just a brutal acquisition. Got far more opportunity than I felt he deserved (I did a double take when I saw he’s appeared in 29 games this year. I legitimately don’t remember that). Just invisible.
INC - Josh Leivo, Sven Baertschi, Brandon Sutter. Each of these guys has been pretty solid in limited action, IMO.
So - who’s done well? Who’s flopped? And who’s in between?
My two cents...
Elias Pettersson - A+
Any attempts I had to temper my expectations for Pettersson were completely abandoned after his first game against Calgary. Just an astounding player.
Bo Horvat - A+
Definitely less flashy than my other A+, but Horvat might well be the team’s MVP to this point. Put in colossal work while both Beagle and Sutter were out, and has been everything the team has needed whenever they’ve needed it. Put the “C” on him already.
Alex Edler - A
When healthy, Edler has been our best defender (IMO) this year. He’s logged huge shutdown minutes and is having a fine offense season, too.
Brock Boeser - A-
His overall game has room to improve, but Brock is here to contribute offense - and he’s deliver on that in spades. Once those other components are lined up, look out. That he’s firing at a point a game clip despite not being himself and playing through injuries is impressive.
Jacob Markstrom - B+
If this was based purely on December, he’d be the highest ranked guy here. He’s been tremendous of late - nice to see him having such a good season.
Chris Tanev - B+
Had a rough patch after injuries this year, but is back to his usual excellent self of late. He and Edler do yeoman’s work on the blueline.
Ben Hutton - B
After a disastrous year last year, it seems Hutton has finally reasserted his place as a fixture on the roster. That he’s done this largely playing with some boat anchors for partners is even more impressive.
Antoine Roussel - B
It’s like we’ve got prime Jannik Hansen back on this team, but even more annoying. One of the hardest working guys night in and night out. I’ve been very happy with him.
Jay Beagle - B
Debated going “incomplete”, but I think he’s played enough. Huge on the PK, provides enormous relief for Horvat. Blocks shots, grinds in the boards, the works. Been a very effective contributor when healthy.
Jake Virtanen - B-
When he’s been on this year, he’s been terrific. Much improved consistency and finally using the shot that helped him score so much in junior. Developing his overall hockey IQ, too. Still has shifts (and the rare whole game) where he drifts. But huge improvements here. The Shotgun Jake movement is an added highlight this year, too.
Nikolay Goldobin - C+
Goldobin has improved his overall game immensely. He backchecks hard, he grinds on the boards, and he goes to dirty areas more than he ever has. He’s a guy you won’t really notice until he’s making a gorgeous saucer pass that ends up being a goal. Could still be more consistent offensively, but overall, he’s established himself as a regular on the team.
Troy Stecher - C+
Outside of Alex Biega, there may not be another player on the team who hustles harder. Stecher is underused (in my opinion) and sits further down the team’s totem pole than I would like, but he fills whatever role is asked of him and is usually solid doing it.
Tyler Motte - C+
For a guy no one was pencilling onto their opening night rosters, he has done very well. His speed gives other teams fits. He has games where he fades, but the plusses have far outweighed the negatives.
Anders Nilsson - C+
Much improved over last season. Has given the team a chance to win against some tough opponents.
Alex Biega - C+
Needs to be in the lineup every night over others who are there. Works his ass off, can actually play defense, and brings more grit than most of the blueline does.
Loui Eriksson - C
Ignoring his contract. As a penalty killer and shutdown forward paired with Horvat, he has been decent in that role. Always hope for a bit more, but at least he isn’t hurting the team out there.
Adam Gaudette - C
Confident he will be a regular NHL player in some capacity based on his play this year. Whether it’s as a top or bottom six player remains to be seen. But he’s a hard working kid with a great attitude.
Markus Granlund - C-
I may take some heat for this, but oh well. I think he’s been OK in some spots and bad in others. A replacement level player, but certainly not one I get worked up over (like some of the guys coming up now).
Erik Gudbranson - C-
I’ll try to be fair in that I don’t think he’s been as bad as previous seasons. In fact lately, I think he’s actually been solid. I still think he’s overrated, overpaid and he doesn’t play the role of cop on this team nearly enough - although I liked him going at Bennett last night for his attempted knee on Pettersson.
Michael Del Zotto - D+
While not a great defender, he had some OK stretches this year and is yet another player who deserves to be in the lineup over Pouliot.
Derrick Pouliot - F
I am utterly mystified as to how Pouliot stays in the lineup, especially with a quality defender like Biega being readily available. Once in a while will make a solid play, but then confounds you by making thirty six consecutive bad plays.
Tim Schaller - F
Just a brutal acquisition. Got far more opportunity than I felt he deserved (I did a double take when I saw he’s appeared in 29 games this year. I legitimately don’t remember that). Just invisible.
INC - Josh Leivo, Sven Baertschi, Brandon Sutter. Each of these guys has been pretty solid in limited action, IMO.
