The Canucks are 10 games into the new season. Yes, there’s been some good and most certainly there has been some bad. Yet through it all, the team has just two outright losses and is humming along at a 107-point pace. Not bad, all things considered. The Canucks are about to get Dakota Joshua back and they’ve got a pretty soft schedule over the next four weeks. So let’s all just exhale for a moment, put the angst aside and share something we can all celebrate &#8212; the latest edition of the CanucksArmy Monday mailbag:
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Alvin traded for Zadorov on Nov 30th of last year. Will Alvin make a big move to improve their backend before or after that date this year?
&mdash; Thomas (@heynow1033) <a href="https://twitter.com/heynow1033/status/1852966468024934789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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I’m going to say after for a couple of reasons. This management group seems like it is all in on accruing as much cap space as possible this season, so I think that’s the first clue. I also think this front office wants to give Erik Brännström more of a runway to see what impact he can have on the defensive depth of the hockey club. They probably also hope Thatcher Demko can get back up to speed and maybe they hold off on a significant trade to see what the team looks like with its ace puck stopper between the pipes. There are several moving parts to this equation, but I think it adds up to a later deal than they pulled off last season.
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What’s impressed me most about this management team is their scouting. In time I think Debrusk will be what most thought but the under the radar Suter, Blueger, Sherwood Spronger and Heinen types have been great. Who or what in particular would you accredit better scouting to?
&mdash; Jesse Jarvis (@vivsavage) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivsavage/status/1852952497461264534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The professional scouts deserve a shout. It’s pretty clear Patrik Allvin, himself a former scout, has an idea of the kinds of players he wants for a Rick Tocchet-coached hockey club. I think management has given its pro scouts certain attributes to look for and clearly the scouts have done a nice job of finding players to step in and make an impact. 
Obviously, the buck stops with management when it comes to making final decisions on players, but those decisions are made with significant input from the scouts out in the field. It seems like that’s been an area of massive improvement for this front office and the proof is in the players that have been added to support the core.
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When could the team offer Lankinen a contract and what might he sign for? He&#39;ll probably falter at some point, but I&#39;d feel better if they had him for 2 more years at a rate they could bury it the minors if needed.
&mdash; Shteepo (@theRoleOfFate) <a href="https://twitter.com/theRoleOfFate/status/1853103114062041386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Per the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players on one-year deals are not eligible to sign extensions until January 1st. So it’s too soon to talk contract with Kevin Lankinen. As good as Lankinen has been, he probably would like some clarity on Thatcher Demko’s future here before agreeing to any long term extension. As for a rate they could bury in the minors, that’s not going to happen. Lankinen will be looking for a significant raise on the $875K he’s playing for this season. And the way he’s performed so far, he’ll get that raise whether it’s from the Canucks or as an unrestricted free agent. There’s no way he’s going to get squeezed again like he did last summer.
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Compare 1st 10 gms this yr to last
&mdash; Perry DeNure (@CoachPerry59) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachPerry59/status/1852951699784102109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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This isn’t really a question, but I want to tackle it anyhow. Last season through 10 games, the Canucks were 7-2-1 with 46 goals scored and just 22 allowed. They had two wins over both Edmonton and Nashville and also posted victories over Florida, St. Louis and the big 10-1 win over San Jose. This time around, they are 5-2-3 with 30 goals scored and 32 surrendered. They have four regulation wins against Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Jose and an OT victory against Florida.
The power play last season was 12 for 35 (34.3%) where this season the power play is 5 for 31 (16.1%).
And &#8212; if you want your mind blown &#8212; individually, the biggest difference year over year without question is Elias Pettersson’s performance. Last season he had five goals and 19 points through his first 10 games and trailed only Jack Hughes in overall league scoring at this stage. This season he has one goal and four points.
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How did the Preds not match Sherwoods contract. What a gem management found this summer and pumped it’s for 2 years
&mdash; Hussain Ahmed (@CSWCHuss) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSWCHuss/status/1852955231354835063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Based on what we’ve seen through 10 games, this one is a bit of a head-scratcher. Sherwood has a pair of goals and three assists, has found chemistry with Teddy Blueger and Danton Heinen to form the Canucks most consistent line, has been a staple of a solid penalty kill and has been a heat-seeking missile leading the NHL in hits by a considerable margin with 69 far this season. I suppose the easy answer is that Nashville felt he was replaceable and wanted to spend every available dollar to attract Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as free agents. This has quickly turned into a case of not knowing what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. And the Canucks are delighted that Sherwood is with them and not against them as he was in last spring’s playoffs.
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If the Canucks could have an off-season do-over, do they grit their teeth and pay up to get the Zadorov deal over the finish line? And would that have been sufficient to shore up the back end to the level required?
&mdash; DougJasinski (@DougJasinski) <a href="https://twitter.com/DougJasinski/status/1853119468161134847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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On the topic of players leaving in free agency, it hasn’t exactly been a soft landing for Nikita Zadorov (or Elias Lindholm for that matter) in Boston. The Bruins are .500 at 6-6-1 through 13 games and fans there are restless. Zadorov has four assists and is averaging 18:48 in a second pairing role with Charlie McAvoy. His underlying numbers are okay, but not spectacular. Zadorov caught lightning in a bottle in the playoffs and cashed in because of it. And good for him. 
He’s built for post-season hockey and it showed. He definitely brought swagger to the Canucks blueline last spring and built a massive fan following because of it. But I’m not sure that Zadorov alone would have cured all that ails the Canucks blueline right now. First off, he’s a left side guy and the Canucks already had plenty allocated to that position with Quinn Hughes and Carson Soucy. Zadorov would have helped, for sure, but it would have been easier to justify if he was right-handed. So I’m going to say no that even if they had the ability to turn back time, they wouldn’t have approached things any differently.
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Jeff Paterson's weekly Vancouver Canucks mailbag.

The Canucks are 10 games into the new season. Yes, there’s been some good and most certainly there has been some bad. Yet through it all, the team has just two outright losses and is humming along at a 107-point pace. Not bad, all things considered. The Canucks are about to get Dakota Joshua back and they’ve got a pretty soft schedule over the next four weeks. So let’s all just exhale for a moment, put the angst aside and share something we can all celebrate -- the latest edition of the CanucksArmy Monday mailbag:
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&nbsp;

https://twitter.com/heynow1033/status/1852966468024934789

I’m going to say after for a couple of reasons. This management group seems like it is all in on accruing as much cap space as possible this season, so I think that’s the first clue. I also think this front office wants to give Erik Brännström more of a runway to see what impact he can have on the defensive depth of the hockey club. They probably also hope Thatcher Demko can get back up to speed and maybe they hold off on a significant trade to see what the team looks like with its ace puck stopper between the pipes. There are several moving parts to this equation, but I think it adds up to a later deal than they pulled off last season.

https://twitter.com/vivsavage/status/1852952497461264534

The professional scouts deserve a shout. It’s pretty clear Patrik Allvin, himself a former scout, has an idea of the kinds of players he wants for a Rick Tocchet-coached hockey club. I think management has given its pro scouts certain attributes to look for and clearly the scouts have done a nice job of finding players to step in and make an impact. 

Obviously, the buck stops with management when it comes to making final decisions on players, but those decisions are made with significant input from the scouts out in the field. It seems like that’s been an area of massive improvement for this front office and the proof is in the players that have been added to support the core.

https://twitter.com/theRoleOfFate/status/1853103114062041386

Per the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players on one-year deals are not eligible to sign extensions until January 1st. So it’s too soon to talk contract with Kevin Lankinen. As good as Lankinen has been, he probably would like some clarity on Thatcher Demko’s future here before agreeing to any long term extension. As for a rate they could bury in the minors, that’s not going to happen. Lankinen will be looking for a significant raise on the $875K he’s playing for this season. And the way he’s performed so far, he’ll get that raise whether it’s from the Canucks or as an unrestricted free agent. There’s no way he’s going to get squeezed again like he did last summer.

https://twitter.com/CoachPerry59/status/1852951699784102109

This isn’t really a question, but I want to tackle it anyhow. Last season through 10 games, the Canucks were 7-2-1 with 46 goals scored and just 22 allowed. They had two wins over both Edmonton and Nashville and also posted victories over Florida, St. Louis and the big 10-1 win over San Jose. This time around, they are 5-2-3 with 30 goals scored and 32 surrendered. They have four regulation wins against Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Jose and an OT victory against Florida.

The power play last season was 12 for 35 (34.3%) where this season the power play is 5 for 31 (16.1%).

And -- if you want your mind blown -- individually, the biggest difference year over year without question is Elias Pettersson’s performance. Last season he had five goals and 19 points through his first 10 games and trailed only Jack Hughes in overall league scoring at this stage. This season he has one goal and four points.

https://twitter.com/CSWCHuss/status/1852955231354835063

Based on what we’ve seen through 10 games, this one is a bit of a head-scratcher. Sherwood has a pair of goals and three assists, has found chemistry with Teddy Blueger and Danton Heinen to form the Canucks most consistent line, has been a staple of a solid penalty kill and has been a heat-seeking missile leading the NHL in hits by a considerable margin with 69 far this season. I suppose the easy answer is that Nashville felt he was replaceable and wanted to spend every available dollar to attract Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as free agents. This has quickly turned into a case of not knowing what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. And the Canucks are delighted that Sherwood is with them and not against them as he was in last spring’s playoffs.

https://twitter.com/DougJasinski/status/1853119468161134847

On the topic of players leaving in free agency, it hasn’t exactly been a soft landing for Nikita Zadorov (or Elias Lindholm for that matter) in Boston. The Bruins are .500 at 6-6-1 through 13 games and fans there are restless. Zadorov has four assists and is averaging 18:48 in a second pairing role with Charlie McAvoy. His underlying numbers are okay, but not spectacular. Zadorov caught lightning in a bottle in the playoffs and cashed in because of it. And good for him. 

He’s built for post-season hockey and it showed. He definitely brought swagger to the Canucks blueline last spring and built a massive fan following because of it. But I’m not sure that Zadorov alone would have cured all that ails the Canucks blueline right now. First off, he’s a left side guy and the Canucks already had plenty allocated to that position with Quinn Hughes and Carson Soucy. Zadorov would have helped, for sure, but it would have been easier to justify if he was right-handed. So I’m going to say no that even if they had the ability to turn back time, they wouldn’t have approached things any differently.

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JPat’s Canucks Mailbag: Trade talk and evaluations at the 10 game mark

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