WWYDW: Putting the Power in Power Play

The Canucks changed up their power play last night, and boy, did it work! The Canucks went two-for-three on the night. This, after a pair of games, both losses, in which they went 0-for-10.

In last night’s 3-2 win over the Kings, the Canucks first unit consisted of the Sedin twins, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and Alexander Edler, and they looked great. It was a loaded up supergroup. The second unit, with Sven Baertschi, Thomas Vanek, Sam Gagner, Loui Eriksson and Derrick Pouliot, looked pretty good, too. And they had the game-winning goal, no less!

We are nothing if not perfectionists, though, and there’s nothing more fun than playing the game of roster construction. So I want to know, what’s your ideal power play unit look like based on the Canucks roster, and why?

Last week I asked: When Granlund is back, what do you think is the ideal configuration for the Canucks four forward lines going forward? You can submit a full forward corps or just tell me who you think should have a spell in the press box.

Eriksson and Granlund will both be back in the lineup. Someone will have to be sent to Utica, and the only one with options is Virtanen. I think his play has been good with the Sedin’s, but most nights he is only getting 7-8 minutes. Burmistov is a center so I don’t see him going any where just now.

Keep Baertschi/Horvat/Boeser together and tweak the other 3 lines:

1) Put Burmistrov in the press box and have Gaunce center Gagner and Vanek. Burmistrov is UFA depth whereas Gaunce needs meaningful minutes to show he has upside and that he should stay with the next core.

2) Switch Granlund and Virtanen. Virtanen is a north-south, wrist-shot-off-the-rush player like Sutter so that pairing makes sense whereas Granlund can play the cycle game with the Sedins while still providing defensive coverage.

Explore trade options for one of Burmistrov or Vanek. The value for Vanek will not likely be any higher than it is now (maybe as high as a 3rd rounder?). Burmistrov brings the speed that a few teams need right now, and is found money if you can get an asset back for him (maybe a 5th rounder?). Even taking slightly lower value on a trade is worth it if it allows you to hang on to Gaunce.

If there is no interest from other teams, then Gaunce and Burmistrov rotate in an out of the lineup. If someone needs to be sent down, for me that would be Burmistrov. I like him well enough, but Granlund, Gaunce and Gagner can all play centre. Virtanen has earned his roster spot, and should stay. I would have Granlund at centre with Vanek and Gagner, and put Gaunce/Burmistrov with Dorsett and Sutter (and play them less).

Leave Granlund where he is on the Sutter line. That line has been vital to our success most games even if it doesn’t score. Gaunce goes in for Burmistrov to add defensive acumen to that line as well as being a great set up guy and puck retrieval for Gagner and Vanek. He also adds some toughness and size to it and is a good option on PK too. If no chemistry develops after a period, swap Burmistrov back in and retool from there.

The line combinations are working reasonably well. The team is competitive most every night. Stick with the line-up until that stops being true.

Granlund goes back on the wing with Sutter and Dorsett. Rotate Burmistrov and Gaunce until one can be traded. We don’t need both. With Gaudette looking ready for next year, MacEwan at least being interesting and Petersson 2 years away neither Gaunce or Burmistrov are here long term. I see Gaunce, at his best, as an above average 4th line centre. Not something fans should become very attached to.