WWYDW: Jordan Subban

The Canucks remain in the playoff picture, stuck somewhere on the spectrum between full-on rebuild and actual contention. It’s a fine line to walk, but the team is managing to do it. Whether or not they can continue to do so remains to be seen.

That’s why the Canucks’ current situation on defence is so intriguing. Alex Edler was noticeably absent from Canucks practice yesterday, and with Erik Gudbranson and Philip Larsen both out long-term, that leaves the Canucks without many options moving forward aside from the obvious one they currently have sitting in the press box: Jordan Subban. 

Do you think Subban should get a shot while he’s up with the big club? Why or why not? If you want him to play, who would you take out of the lineup?

Fundamental revamp. Move the Sedins to the 2nd unit and put the young guns on the first unit (the Sedins would benefit from playing against a second PK unit too). Skilled guys like Baertschi, Granlund, grit like Horvat and Gaunce, QB’s like Stecher and Hutton. Emphasize puck movement that results in a shot as soon as possible by whoever has the puck when a clear shot becomes available. Fancy backdoor plays should be opportunistic, not the core strategy. Everyone is a triggerman. Get back to fundamentals like puck-on-net and then crash-and-bang. Make a guy in front of the net mandatory as a screen, using someone like Gaunce, Horvat or maybe even Eriksson. Hire a PP coach that understands how to break down the defensive box using puck movement and how to exploit its breakdowns. Shoot the damn puck.

If you look at epic Sedinery on Youtube like “The Shift” or “The Shift 2.0” and you see fast puck movement, fighting for position and possession and lots of shooting that you don’t see anymore. 

How about throwing a 6’7 265 lbs. monster to screen the goalie and force a defender to remove him from the crease?

The best power plays have movement all over the ice. The Canucks PP is static, unless you count the slow movement of Daniel up the right boards and Henrik to the middle. They then return to the same spot. The only other movement is the back door pass to Baer dropping down from the point which creates a very difficult pass to make.

With the lack of shot generation, it would be hard to imagine how any changes could make it worse. Try Baer on the right side and any right shot on the left side for some one timers. Put Tryamkin in front of the net. It may not work but they have to try something.

It’s funny that they are the 10th worst PP by percentage over the past while, and yet three other teams this year are worse.

The Canucks powerplay took a massive step forward in 2010-2011 when Newell Brown moved Kesler from the second unit to the first. From 2009-2012 Ryan Kesler was the Canucks most efficient powerplay scorer and the Canucks leading shooter on the power player. The impact of Kesler’s “impatience” was the perfect complement to the Sedins “pass-first” mentality. The Sedins were always looking to make that one extra pass to open a larger shooting lane or to set up that perfect shot and Kesler was always eager to shoot. Moving Kesler to the first unit also gave the Canucks two shooting options up front with Kesler in the high slot or in-front of the net and Daniel Sedin from beside the net or in the “Ovi Zone.” The Canucks could quickly and efficiently rotate between an umbrella formation, standard spread formation, and a 1-3-1 formation depending on the puck location. The constant rotation between formations confused opposing penalty kill units and the Canucks were able to generate shots at an elite rate and convert shots into goals at a league best 16.46%.

Everything that made that powerplay great is missing from this power play. shot volume, formation, personnel, and skill are all an issue and I have no clue where to begin to fix it.

If I could try something new I would split the Sedins up and completely abandon the 1-3-1. I would keep Henrik where he is, I would put Hutton on the right point behind him, I would put Eriksson in front of the net, Baertschi and Stecher on the left side. With that line combination there would be two set-up men in Hutton and Sedin and three of the Canucks highest volume shooters Stecher, Eriksson, and Baertschi. That combination could seamlessly transition between an overload and 2-1-2 formation. Henrik can glide between goal line and half wall, Eriksson would play mostly around the front of the net and in the high slot, Baertschi behind and beside the net opposite Hank, Stetcher and Hutton at the points. Henrik and Eriksson could draw in players into the front/side of the net leaving Hutton open for easy passing or shotting through traffice from one point, Stecher and Baertschi would have plenty of room to roam the other side looking for ice to get open for one-timers or rebounds.

The other unit I would use Horvat, Sutter, Hansen, D.Sedin, and Edler. I would put a priority on an umbrella formation with Sutter and Horvat in front/side of the net, D Sedin and Hansen on the wings, and Elder right in the middle of the ice. This combination could easy shift from umbrella to 2-1-2 to overload. The umbrella is risky with only one defenseman, but Hansen still has enough wheels to cover.

Two completely different set-ups with two completely different looks. They can’t be any worse than they are now.

Don’t change a thing on the PP.. I’m super curious to see how WD’s “the powerplay is good, it just doesn’t score” prognosis plays out!