Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that’s argumentative by its very nature.

Speaking of arguments, there used to be one to be had about who was truly the best player on the Vancouver Canucks.

But with all due respect to JT Miller, that debate has really been put to rest by now. The best player on the Vancouver Canucks is Quinn Hughes, with a bullet. And we do mean ‘with a bullet,’ because where he once was criticized for having a muffin of a shot, Hughes is now capable of hammering in goals from the blueline.

That’s kind of the book on this guy. He just keeps getting better. So how good is he? That’s sort of what we’re here to ask about today.

Hughes is the best player on the team right now, and there’s little argument to the contrary. Same goes for his standing as the greatest blueliner to ever skate for this franchise. (That one might be even more concrete at this point.)

So, to find even a little bit of room for debate, we’ve got to go to an even higher honour, and start talking about Hughes’ place in the annals of all-time Canucks.

The Canucks have had some truly amazing players skate for them in their near-55 years of franchise history. Pavel Bure. Markus Naslund. Roberto Luongo. Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

But if Hughes isn’t already recognized as the best of the bunch, it’s easy to imagine that he might one day be.

(EDIT: No lie, we came up with this question before Hughes became the third-fastest blueliner in NHL history to reach 300 assists. So, for your consideration, that.)

Of course, all-time Canucks are a personal ranking. And your personal ranking is what we’re after today.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

I would tell them to shoot the puck.

Practice shooting through traffic and screens, and start getting pucks on net.

There is way too much perimeter passing which ends with no shot.

It should be two passes, then a shot. Two passes, then a shot.

It’s pathetic to watch them get a 4-minute power play and muster only a single shot.

1) Shoot the puck.

2) Traffic, traffic, more traffic.

3) See #1.

Lekkerimäki. Need some jump.

Keep it simple. Just get pucks to the net and bodies in front of the net, and stop those silly drop passes when trying to gain the zone.

Hughes is a great player and I am not being critical, but there is overreliance on him handling the puck and wheeling around the zone and it seems to leave others standing around watching him sometimes overplaying the puck.

Quinn should minimize his movements in the zone so he is only moving enough to change his shooting angle to get the puck through, as opposed to trying to get the perfect passing lane to open.

As for others, if they are not in front of the net screening the goalie or deflecting shots, then they need to do the same, move only to improve the shooting angle and don’t be afraid to let it rip…but do not miss wide.

More shots, less fancy stuff… that is all.

Move the puck to the open man to shoot the one-timer that won’t get blocked. While doing that, two other players move in to screen the goalie and put away a potential rebound. The passer and one open man get body position for a loose puck. Well, that all sounds in theory like the ‘ABC’ of PP scoring.

Now here’s the Canuck problem: lack of zone entry keep possession. Lack of movement to have a man open.

Solution: Simple. Execute.

Also find a real PP coach to formulate a plan that can be executed with a collection of players capable of following the above.

You can throw names like move Sprong to PP1. Put Petey on PP2. Have so and so in net-front. Whatever chair of a player you move, nothing works if it’s not conducted and executed with precision.

I’ve long wondered why teams don’t use Gretzky’s office, particularly on the powerplay.

Pettersson with the puck behind the net – like 99 back in the day, drawing the defense’s attention –  allows the remaining four skaters to find/attack open areas of ice. Lots of switches and player movement from the offense; with their heads on a constant swivel, the defense is bound to lose track.

Also, the skater in the 99 spot can attack with a wraparound the moment he senses the goalie leaning.

And quit it with the freaking drop pass, opposing teams have 15 years of that on tape.

It’s tough since the PP has been successful in the past, but since the playoffs?

The biggest cause of frustration to me is the zone entry. Too many times with a drop-pass, the rest of the players are standing at the blueline and waiting. That really doesn’t give anyone else for the PK to focus on.

I like how Garland controls the puck, but his shot isn’t something the PK respects.

Seems the PP and even-strength can benefit from a more cohesive unit. In the D-zone, forwards are breaking out, leaving the D without support. The PP relies on one player to carry the puck and the rest to stand and wait.

The first issue is zone entries. Just about every team uses the drop pass in the neutral zone as it allows for a player to have the time and space to make a rush. The Canucks have nobody with enough speed and skill to break the zone, and when they do get in it’s a scramble to get setup because they’re on their heels being pressured.

The second issue is execution once they are setup. Lots of perimeter passing and no movement is easy to defend. There’s no flow to their system, they just look to pass to whoever is open without a plan. JT doesn’t make a big circle and either shoots or back passes to Hughes. The bumper spot is rarely used, and when it is the coverage is too heavy to get a shot. They don’t work the puck down low very much, lanes aren’t open for Hughes to shoot from the point, and Petey’s patented one-timer hasn’t been seen since 2023. Allvin should have hired a special teams coach, because that’s one area of coaching that Tocchet isn’t very good at.

The power play is awful right now because nobody can actually shoot the puck. Last night, they had four full minutes on a minor penalty and managed only one shot. In the game before, against the Canes, they had another four-minute power play, including a 47-second 5-on-3, and generated zero shots. To fix the power play, you need a true shooter, someone who can consistently get quality shots on net. Daniel Sprong brings that elite shooting ability and could be exactly what the Canucks need. He’s got a quick release and a knack for scoring, which could add a much-needed threat. Adding Sprong to the PP1 might open up space, force defenders to respect his shot, and ultimately lead to more scoring opportunities.

One of the reasons he was brought in was for this type of role, so it’s hard to understand why the team hasn’t even tried him there. Simply switching players’ positions on the power play isn’t going to work, they’ve been trying that for almost a year now, and it’s clearly not the solution.

There is no one way to run an effective powerplay.

Looking at the Canucks powerplay from a higher elevation and over time, there is one serious underlying problem; predictability. The Canucks simply don’t vary their zone entries or their attack enough.

The Canucks have above average talent on their PP, however, smart coaches – even those of teams without a lot of talent – are usually able to prepare their clubs to nullify the Canucks PP. The Canucks treat the PP spots – half-wall, bumper, net front etc – like Senate appointments.

Like Senate reform, fixing the PP is a long-term project. It requires a change in mindset and some actual PP specialist coaching. Someone who has the time and skill to adjust the PP, based on opponents.

In the short term,just varying approaches more will help. Several of the suggestions in these comments could be used and alternated.

1)Zone entries need to be much quicker and cleaner. The Canucks waste too much time getting set up.

2)The whole PP unit needs to be in constant motion. Quick, crisp passing to keep the PK moving and generate shooting lanes or seams for a cross-ice pass. As it is, the Canucks PP is pretty easy to defend.

3)If players aren’t retrieving pucks or getting shots on goal, replace them on the PP. Not for a shift, but for a week. Pretty little drop passes at the blue line should result in the same thing. Slow, nonchalant setups, same thing.

4)The mindset needs to be very simple. Move the puck with speed and purpose. SHOOT the puck at every opportunity. Retrieve everything.

Personally, I’d like to see the Canucks run an attrition PP more often. The Canucks currently don’t cycle, they move very little, the puck seldom moves east/west. The PK does not get tired. Skating and passing east/west behind the net can be an effective part. This is different than just looking for the perfect shot. Its purpose is to make the PK move a great deal until fatigue opens opportunities.

Clean up the zone entry, they lose most of the time getting set up. Put Miller in front of the net. I love the guy, but he is guilty more times than not of breaking the cycle with his wayward passes. And mix it up on those drop passes.

What NHLer doesn’t wanna SHOOT the damn puck!!!

They’ve been playing the game their whole lives, and suddenly scoring/shooting is taboo?!?!

Yet, the Canucks deploy an entire line-up that is reluctant to do just that.

How is that even possible????

I think the fix is tough because Tocchet’s system at 5v5 requires almost reflex-like protection of the GOTI, but that is not super helpful when you have the extra man. Players need to feel free to be creative and to relent on protecting the GOTI without being harshly punished for it. This will stop the overthinking. In other words, free up the obvious offensive creativity of the players so that we can once again enjoy it!

Get someone in front of the goalie to screen and get rebounds.

Never shoulda traded Newell Brown!!