CANUCKSBANTER February 12, 2023

The Vancouver Canucks (21-28-4=46 pts, .434, 26th NHL overall, 6th Pacific Division) are back home on the West Coast after going 1-2-1 on their recently completed East Coast road trip.

The Canucks defeated the New York Islanders and ex-Canucks Captain Bo Horvat for their only win 6-5; losing in OT to the New Jersey Devils 5-4; and losing in regulation to the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings 4-3 and 5-2 respectively.

Vancouver gets a chance to save face for the Detroit loss tomorrow tonight in the first game of a three-game homestand, which will also see the New York Rangers ( February 15) and Philadelphia Flyers (February 18) visit the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

Vancouver is 10-13-1 at home this season and 11-15-3 on the road after this past weekend’s loss to the Red Wings.

REVIEW OF CANUCKS UNDER HEAD COACH RICK TOCCHET

Since Canucks Coach Rick Tocchet took over as Head Coach with added new Assistants Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar, Vancouver is 3-3-1, .500 with the 15th-best record over that period.

As for how the players have responded:

As for how the Canucks coaching staff has utilized the players with time on ice, you can see below a 7-game sampling since Head Coach Rick Tocchet took over and former Head Coach Bruce Boudreau’s last 7 games.

As for Time On Ice under Head Coach Rick Tocchet (first 7-games):

Time On Ice under Head Coach Bruce Boudreau (last 7-games):

My Thoughts

Both present and former Head Coach utilized the same top 10 players: Hughes. Myers, Ekman-Larsson, Elias Pettersson, Miller, Boeser, Garland, Schenn, Kuzmenko. Ethan Bear has replaced Bo Horvat.

Anthony Beauvillier should receive more minutes as he earns more minutes creating value plays, and could move into the top 10 TOI with somebody losing minutes, a trade, or is hurt.

Canucks Army columnist David Quadrelli wrote this in his article after the Canucks loss to Detroit on Saturday, taking exception to Andrei Kuzmenko playing fewer minutes than any Canucks skater:

Whatever the opposite of a new coach bump is, that’s what’s happening with Andrei Kuzmenko right now since Rick Tocchet has come to the Canucks. Kuzmenko’s ice time has been incredibly limited in the games since, and today was no different. It seems a bit strange, but Tocchet clearly wants players to play a certain way in order to get top line minutes.

David Quadrelli, Canucks Army, 02.11.23

Hockey columnist Justin Bourne wrote when Rick Tocchet was hired by the Canucks:

The play past the “new coach bump”

We have to start by acknowledging the “new coach bump” teams often get. That’s a product of a return to training camp-like effort, where you know the person who will decide your opportunity is watching closely and deciding who should get what, for coveted minutes and line mates. A good show over the next few games can mean increased opportunity, stats and a career boost going forward.

So we can start by judging the team when it gets past the next few games, and into the way we really expect them to look long term.

Justin Bourne, Sportsnet, 01.25.23

Perhaps what Quadrelli is describing is the result of Head Coach Rick Tocchet and his coaching staff watching closely and deciding who should get what for coveted minutes and linemates.

Just saying…Until next time.