Canucks Pregame: Which player will come out of the lineup for Teddy Blueger?
8 months ago
You know what the best part is about a winning streak ending? You get to start a new one!
After the Maple Leafs brought the Canucks’ five-game win streak to an end on Saturday night, the Canucks are right back at it today for a meeting with the Canadiens in Montreal. The Habs are fresh off a 3-2 overtime win last night over the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins, and are off to a surprisingly strong 7-5-2 start this season.
Even though the Canadiens are supposed to be in the middle of a rebuild, coach Martin St. Louis has his team punching far above their weight class. Cole Caufield is leading the offensive charge at a point-per-game pace, while captain Nick Suzuki and the surprising revival of Sean Monahan have a team-leading six goals apiece. And let’s not forget former Canuck Tanner Pearson, who has six points with his new team after fears the hand injury he suffered last year would be career-threatening.
Meanwhile, despite their own 10-3-1 record thus far, the Canucks have looked vulnerable in their last two games against Toronto and Ottawa and could use a small roster shuffle to get things back on track. Enter a now-healthy Teddy Blueger, who’s missed the first 14 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury.
But for Blueger to make his official Canucks debut, someone else has to come out of the lineup. So which one of the 12 Canucks forwards will the coaching staff elect to take off the lineup card to make room for Blueger? Let’s take a look at all their options and see who makes the most sense.
Note: Tocchet said on Saturday that Blueger could be an option tonight, and there’s no guarantee he plays tonight.
Anthony Beauvillier
Beauvillier’s stock has dropped drastically since the beginning of the year, having struggled to make an impact in limited bottom six minutes. It’s doubtful that he’d be Rick Tocchet’s first scratch option, but he’s certainly not the last one.
Beauvillier’s stock has dropped drastically since the beginning of the year, having struggled to make an impact in limited bottom six minutes. It’s doubtful that he’d be Rick Tocchet’s first scratch option, but he’s certainly not the last one.
Brock Boeser
The guy with 11 goals in 14 games? No chance.
The guy with 11 goals in 14 games? No chance.
Phil Di Giuseppe
Di Giuseppe’s found a home on Boeser and J.T. Miller’s line. His scoring has cooled off quite a bit since the beginning of the year, but not enough to warrant a scratch.
Di Giuseppe’s found a home on Boeser and J.T. Miller’s line. His scoring has cooled off quite a bit since the beginning of the year, but not enough to warrant a scratch.
Conor Garland
On one hand, Garland is tied for the least number of points by a regular forward with three. But on the other hand, the Canucks aren’t likely to scratch a player whose trade value they want going up.
On one hand, Garland is tied for the least number of points by a regular forward with three. But on the other hand, the Canucks aren’t likely to scratch a player whose trade value they want going up.
Nils Höglander
If it were up to me, Nils Höglander would be an unquestioned regular in the Canucks’ lineup and averaging way more than ten minutes a night. But until more room on the wing opens up for him, he’s likely going to be one of Tocchet’s first two choices for the press box.
If it were up to me, Nils Höglander would be an unquestioned regular in the Canucks’ lineup and averaging way more than ten minutes a night. But until more room on the wing opens up for him, he’s likely going to be one of Tocchet’s first two choices for the press box.
Dakota Joshua
There’s no player who’s faced more criticism for his play from Rick Tocchet than Dakota Joshua. It’ll likely come down to just how physical the Canucks feel they need to be against the Canadiens; if they feel they can get away with a leaner lineup, Joshua will be the odd man out.
There’s no player who’s faced more criticism for his play from Rick Tocchet than Dakota Joshua. It’ll likely come down to just how physical the Canucks feel they need to be against the Canadiens; if they feel they can get away with a leaner lineup, Joshua will be the odd man out.
Andrei Kuzmenko
Kuzmenko is a set linemate for the NHL’s leading point-getter. He’s not a scratch option.
Kuzmenko is a set linemate for the NHL’s leading point-getter. He’s not a scratch option.
Sam Lafferty
Lafferty has been a great addition to the team’s fourth line since arriving in Vancouver last month, and the speed he brings to the bottom six is, as of right now, irreplaceable.
Lafferty has been a great addition to the team’s fourth line since arriving in Vancouver last month, and the speed he brings to the bottom six is, as of right now, irreplaceable.
Ilya Mikheyev
Mikheyev has been scoring at a good clip since returning from his ACL injury and is playing top-line minutes with Pettersson and Kuzmenko. He’s not going anywhere.
Mikheyev has been scoring at a good clip since returning from his ACL injury and is playing top-line minutes with Pettersson and Kuzmenko. He’s not going anywhere.
J.T. Miller
Uh, no.
Uh, no.
Elias Pettersson
First thought: LOL. Second thought: Even though he’s leading the league in scoring, Pettersson’s looked like he’s been playing at less than 100% over the last few games. Maybe they give him a night off in the second half of a back-to-back?
First thought: LOL. Second thought: Even though he’s leading the league in scoring, Pettersson’s looked like he’s been playing at less than 100% over the last few games. Maybe they give him a night off in the second half of a back-to-back?
Pius Suter
Suter brings a lot of energy at both ends of the ice, and now the points are starting to follow for him in a third line role. Best to let it ride, though he might end up moving to the wing to make room for Blueger.
Suter brings a lot of energy at both ends of the ice, and now the points are starting to follow for him in a third line role. Best to let it ride, though he might end up moving to the wing to make room for Blueger.
Who do you think will (or should) come out of the Canucks’ lineup for Teddy Blueger? Puck drop from Montreal is set for 4 P.M. Pacific.
Recent articles from Lachlan Irvine
