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Talking Doughty’s injury, Swayman contract situation, and more ft. Matt Larkin: Canucks Conversation
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Photo credit: © Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images
Clarke Corsan
Sep 27, 2024, 20:49 EDTUpdated: Sep 27, 2024, 20:48 EDT
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On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin to discuss the latest news from around the NHL.
The conversation began with an update on Kings defenceman Drew Doughty, who suffered a fractured ankle during a preseason game against the Golden Knights. Doughty is scheduled to undergo surgery and is expected to be out on a month-to-month basis.
“Doughty is still a key player for the team, especially considering the changes Rob Blake made in the offseason,” Matt explained. “I wasn’t impressed with the Kings’ offseason moves, like bringing in Joel Edmundson. The team got slower, and I think they’ll regress in net. I’m not optimistic about the Kings making the playoffs this year. However, this injury opens the door for Brandt Clarke, one of the top prospects in the game. Clarke is a right-handed defenseman with incredible puck-moving skills. He dominated the OHL and AHL with ease, and the Kings need him now more than ever.”
Matt then shifted to discuss Vegas’ quiet offseason and previewed the upcoming year for the Golden Knights.
“It was a strange offseason for Vegas,” he said. “They’re usually the evil empire, chasing every shiny new object and upgrading like crazy. But this year, they were quiet, mainly due to their cap situation — they simply couldn’t do much. They do have an ‘upgrade from within’ situation with Tomas Hertl, who was returning from a major injury. He came back for the playoffs but never found his rhythm. If you’re a Knights fan, you’re hoping to see the real Hertl this season. If not, it could be a challenging year for Vegas. Adin Hill is set to be the starting goaltender, but he’s never started more than 35 games in a season. While he’s talented, his durability is untested. I’m not sure what to expect. Vegas usually finds a way, and they’re always willing to trade away first-round picks and prospects, so you can never count them out.”
The conversation then turned to the Canucks, where Matt shared his thoughts on Daniel Sprong. He was a big advocate for Sprong during the offseason, urging several teams to sign him.
“In the last two years, he’s scored 39 goals while averaging only 11:44 of ice time per game,” Matt noted. “If you look at goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, he’s ranked in the top 10 in the NHL over the past two seasons, right between Carter Verhaeghe and Zach Hyman. We know he can score relative to the time he’s given. I don’t think he’s been given enough of an opportunity to play even 15 minutes a game. If he’s scoring that much with just 11 minutes, imagine what he could do with 15. He’s not a defensive liability, and I’m curious to see what he can achieve with more ice time. I think he has 20–25 goals in him this season.”
As for the rest of the Canucks, Matt expressed concerns about their goaltending situation.
“My shoulders slump with each Thatcher Demko update because the situation remains so unclear,” he said. “We’re all becoming experts in human anatomy, learning about the popliteus muscle in his knee. There’s speculation that he may have to manage this injury indefinitely, and there’s still no clear timetable for his return. Now, we’re looking at Arturs Silovs, who gave the team a boost in the playoffs, but he was still their third-string goalie. They’ve brought in Kevin Lankinen, who has more experience, so maybe he takes over the starting role temporarily. But for me, that’s the biggest question mark. The good news is the Pacific Division still looks pretty weak. With many teams in rebuild mode, Vancouver should make the playoffs easily. However, their ceiling remains uncertain due to the goaltending issues.”
Finally, Matt provided an update on the Jeremy Swayman situation in Boston. Swayman remains a restricted free agent as he and the Bruins’ management work to finalize a deal.
“I’m not usually alarmed by RFA situations, but when Don Sweeney said they hoped to have it done by December, I realized it might be serious,” Matt said. “Now, with the season starting in less than two weeks, we know Jeremy Swayman won’t be on the ice for opening night. Even if he’s staying in shape, it’s not the same as being with the team and getting game reps, so this is a legitimate concern for Boston. I think they’ll manage for now, but they’re in win-now mode. Brad Marchand is 36 years old, and they just paid players like Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm. Now is not the time to play hardball with Swayman. Sweeney needs to accept that Swayman has leverage and pay the man.”
You can watch the full replay of the show below:
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