The Vancouver Canucks are getting old. They are certainly not alone in the National Hockey League but many of their rivals in the Pacific Division and Western Conference are not as old and slow.
Vancouver ended the season at 31-38-13 and faded as the season wore on.
The Canucks power play record for the season resided at 27th 15.8% success rate while the penalty kill was 81.1% success good for 17th in the league.
The club’s comeback ability after trailing in the first or second period was telling. The Canucks ranked 28th suggesting loss of legs after 40 minutes of play. Even in a league where leads are hardly threatened and teams roll over the Canucks sported a .143 and .088 records for rallying from first and second period deficits respectively.
In an odd transaction this off season, the Canucks shipped 19-year old Jared McCann and a pick to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Erik Gudbranson, 24.
“We talked to a lot of teams the last two or three weeks and this wasn’t something we expected to happen — it happened quite fast and we’ve be dealing with them (Panthers) the last two days,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. “It kind of came together rather quickly. We knew the price to acquire a top-four defenceman was going to be high and giving up McCann was a tough decision. But I just felt like we needed to add a top-four-guy to our group because the market is just so tough.”
The move means a lot for the Canucks this off season and for the upcoming free agency season as well as the draft. Reports are that the Canucks will not resign UFA Dan Hamhuis.
If Benning sees his blueline supported with the trade, then he may look out to the forward lines to gain some youth and talent in the Entry Draft.
Pro Hockey News sees the Canucks pursuing left winger Matthew Tkachuk from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.
With the Edmonton Oilers passing on Tkachuk in the PHN Mock NHL Entry Draft at the 4th spot, we are happy to snap up Tkachuk in the 5th spot.
Beyond the family pedigree, Tkachuk is a hustler by all reports and a good two-way player.
In addition, his playing style has him down low in the slot and he has no fear apparently in the corners or along the boards; all qualities needed by the Canucks.
Tkachuk is listed around six feet and 195 pounds and skated in 57 games with the Knights this season.
He scored 30 goals on the season and picked up 107 points. He also managed 80 penalty minutes and was a +45.
In the playoffs this season he picked up 20 goals and 40 points in 18 games.
Prior to his stint with the Knights, he played with the USHL’s U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) where he played a season with the U17 and then the U18 and excelled with the U18 with 96 points in 65 games as well as 119 PIMs.
That level of talent would be a great fir for the Canucks and PHN expects the Canucks to make the following announcement.
“With the 5th selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Vancouver Canucks are proud to select, Mathew Tkachuk of the London Knights.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.