Canucks 2nd Half
Easier said than done; avoiding the murky middle.
After five more games, while in Detroit on January 8th to take on the Red Wings as part of a six-game road trip, the Canucks begin the 2nd half of the season. So yes, there’s still plenty of time.
Will the team screw its management out of one of the top three or four NHL Draft picks by being overly competitive? It’s a distinct possibility. Players don’t think about tanking, especially the new guys who have something to prove.
Vancouver has won four of five since the arrival of Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Quinn Hughes.
Mobile D-man Buium started out like gangbusters in his first Vancouver game with a power play goal, an assist, and close to 20-minutes in ice time. He’s played more than twenty minutes three times, including 22:28 against the Rangers on December 16th.
Winger Ohgren had his two-point effort against the Bruins on the 20th.
Both of these players have three points total since joining the Canucks while centre Rossi has just one.
Unless they’re expecting Cup contention in the spring, which they definitely shouldn’t, Vancouver fans should root for losses. While ownership would love a round or two of playoff money, in the long run it would be better for everyone if the team ends up with a top pick.
Management could help the cause by starting to dump their pending UFA’s.
The Canucks bottomed out earlier this month, in the basement of the NHL, and they should stay as close to the dungeon as possible. They’re tied for 3oth in the league entering action on Saturday and they should stay there.
A little bit of patience in this case is truly a virtue. Imagine a healthy line-up next season with a high-end centre added via the draft. How about two or three seasons from now.
Especially keeping in mind that a fully healthy Vancouver roster this season probably makes the playoffs. So imagine everyone who’s supposed to be back, back, with high end talent added.
Jumping up to a wild card spot at this point only hurts the club’s chances at cashing in for the future.
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks, Kraken 9 Holiday Wishes
