Canucks week ahead: taking on the hawks, Kraken and the wild

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The Vancouver Canucks’ stumble out of the gate has them with just one win of their first four games. But each game has told a different story about who this team could be this season, and the big picture remains hazy.

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They were in each of the first three games, including a loss at Detroit, where they deserved to win. Then there was Tuesday’s ugly effort at Buffalo.

Those losses also happen. But what will these 2021-22 Canucks be?

The history

Two away games, then the long-awaited home start at full capacity.

But there are two divergent paths to get there: There’s the one that sees this early season stumbling down the Canucks continuing through the final stops of the road trip, leading to a lot of hair pulling and a lot of anxiety heading into the first date in Tuesday’s home, or the other, that sees at least one win from those last two games, landing the Canucks with a 2-3-1 record to end the trip.

Such a record would hardly be inspiring, but the expected goal on any trip is a .500 record, and scoring points in three out of six games would not meet the standard, but it is acceptable.

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Opponents

Over the next week, the Canucks will be in Chicago on Thursday, in Seattle on Saturday and then at home against the Wild next Tuesday.

the Blackhawks they are in dire straits, not winning in four games to start the year. His coach, Jeremy Colliton, was booed during Tuesday’s opening game. They have given up 17 goals in those four games and have scored just eight.

Saturday’s first home opener in Seattle will bring a lot of excitement for him Kraken , who opened their season with a five-game swing that yielded only one win. Seattle has conceded 19 goals in five games, far from being an excellent defensive record. You’d think their stable backend could work better.

No matter what happens in Vancouver’s last two road games, you know that the first home game with fans, preseason excluded, will bring an inspiring atmosphere for a road-weary team. the Wild they’re tight and looking strong early this season. They will be a formidable opponent.

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Increasing Stock

Kyle burroughs Playing the Sabers on Tuesday wouldn’t have solved the Canucks’ defensive weaknesses on its own, but he’s a soft skater in a way that tough Luke Schenn never has been. He was quietly solid in his first trio of Canucks contests and as long as he is, he will continue to be a presence in the lineup.

Stock falling

Alex Chiasson it does not kill the sorrows. With Brock Boeser healthy back, is there a place for him in the lineup? He was scratched Monday against Buffalo. Matt highmore he’s light on offense. He didn’t play much against Buffalo, but he’s part of PK’s unit for now, however if he keeps fighting how secure will his place be in the lineup?

Question of the week

“How do we feel about (Jonathan) Dahlén’s big night in San Jose, (Olli) Juolevi’s debut in Florida, (Braden) Holtby’s resurgence in Dallas and (Jared) McCann competing for No. 1 in Seattle? ” – Ken L. Vancouver

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Let’s start with Holtby’s question. Signed to be the Canucks endorsement last year, he struggled for the most part, but so did everyone in what became a COVID-fueled castaway season. Not impressed with all sorts of nickel and dimming off the ice amid a challenging time for players and their families, Braden holtby asked to be traded after the season. In three starts for the Stars, he has a stratospheric .947 savings percentage. That will not last. But can it be better than last season in Vancouver? Maybe?

As for the trio of former prospects, Olli Juolevi He looked ready to finally make his Panthers debut on Wednesday. His struggles to defend the race and get away from the center of the ice will continue to be challenges he must overcome if he is to succeed in the NHL.

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It is the two forwards who are the most interesting question:

Jared McCann , of course, he left the city under a cloud of doubts about his maturity. And now he’s on his third team (fourth including the Leafs, who he never played for) since leaving Vancouver … but that’s as much about roster realities as anything else. The fact that he is stuck as an NHL player suggests that he discovered the mental part of the game.

He’s been a solid depth center in Florida and especially in Pittsburgh, who didn’t want to lose him in the expansion draft for nothing. They took him to Toronto, which was willing to make a bet on him, but still lost him to Seattle.

For the Kraken, he will have the greatest opportunity of his career. He’s listed as the No. 2 center behind Yanni Gourde, but it’s hardly a lock for Gourde to stay in the top slot. if McCann proves to be the consistent scorer, you know he would like to be.

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McCann would certainly look good in a trio of crosses with Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson, wouldn’t he?

As for Jonathan Dahlen In the Sharks’ two-goal debut, we always knew he had offensive skills. He had a slump during his season in Utica, NY, which is unfortunate for the Canucks, given the never-ending need for cheap depth scoring that all teams have.

Could the Canucks have handled their situation better? Dahlén granted This week you may not have been emotionally ready.

If he keeps scoring, it’s a huge win for the Sharks and a real loss for the Canucks.

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