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Rumours & Revelations: Bieksa returning, Jensen leaving, Lack playing, Kassian excelling

DH Vancouver Staff
DH Vancouver Staff
|
Dec 19 2017, 10:20 pm
Rumours & Revelations: Bieksa returning, Jensen leaving, Lack playing, Kassian excelling

As the Canucks continue to beat the likes of Anaheim and St Louis, while losing to the likes of Buffalo and Arizona, now seems as good as any time to dip into some rumours and revelations.

Playoffs?

Jim_Mora-playoffs

The Canucks have precisely one month left in their regular season schedule and they are in good position to bring playoff hockey back to Vancouver for the first time in two years. They’d like to win a playoff game for the first time in three years and win a home playoff game for the first time in four years. Can you believe that the last time fans at Rogers Arena saw the home team win a playoff game was game 5 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final?

But not so fast.

The Canucks are 2nd in the Pacific Division, which would ensure home ice in the first round of the playoffs, but they have just a 3 point cushion on their playoff spot. The defending champion Los Angeles Kings are one of the teams on the outside looking in at the moment, and that should scare you.

Since 2005-06, the average point total for the 8th place team in the Western Conference is 94 points (not counting the lockout shortened season in 2012-13). The highest point total by an 8th placed team was by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010-11, with 97. The lowest point total to make the playoffs was 91 by Nashville (2007-08), Anaheim (2008-09) and Minnesota (2013-14).

If the Canucks modestly earn half of the remaining points left in their final 16 games, they will finish the season with 96 points, essentially guaranteeing a playoff spot. Vancouver’s remaining schedule includes games against 8 non-playoff teams (not counting the Kings), Los Angeles three times, Winnipeg twice, St Louis, Nashville and Chicago.

Bieksa Back on Saturday?

 

The most amazing part about the Canucks’ performance over the past month has been the fact that they have won games despite missing three of their top-4 defencemen. Alex Edler and Chris Tanev have returned to the lineup, and Kevin Bieksa looks like he may return to play on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I bet Don Cherry will be happy to see his boy ‘Bieska’ back in the lineup against his Leafs.

Jensen on the block?

 

I can’t help but wonder what the acquisition of Sven Baertschi (the 13th pick in the 2011 draft) means for Nicklas Jensen (the 29th pick in the 2011 draft). Baertschi is more accomplished and has a higher upside than Jensen. Jensen has one more year where he can play in the AHL, before being subject to waivers in the 2016-17 season.

I think it is pretty telling that Jensen hasn’t been given much of an opportunity this season, despite showing flashes last year. Jensen has just 22 points in 44 games in Utica this season and has just 51 points in 124 career AHL games. Those aren’t numbers that scream future top-6 forward.

The 22-year-old needs to give the Canucks a reason to keep him, particularly with the likes of Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen set to pass him on the depth chart. Is there room for Jensen? He may be someone that GM Jim Benning uses to recoup some draft picks that he lost in other trades.

Decision 2015

 

You know it’s coming. Goaltending controversy 2015!

Eddie Lack has always been the goalie with most potential (given his age) but also with the most uncertainty (given his lack of experience). Lack played well in spot duty as Miller’s backup this season, but proving that he can perform as the starter is a different animal.

He didn’t respond to it well last season, albeit in difficult circumstances. This year has been a different story.

With a save percentage of .920, Eddie Lack is above the Drance bar of eliteness. In the 8 games that Lack has started since Miller’s injury, Lack has a .934 SV%. In 44 games, Ryan Miller has a .913 SV%.

What on earth are the Canucks going to do if Eddie Lack continues this level of play for the next 2-3 weeks? If Lack keeps this up, he will be playing at a level that we couldn’t expect from Miller, especially coming back from an injury.

Power Kass

 

It doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as ‘perimeter pass Kass’, as I dubbed Kassian earlier this season, but it is wonderful to see Kassian finally playing like the player we have been waiting for.

Playing on a line with the Sedins, Kassian looks like a power forward. And that’s significant, because it wasn’t that long ago that people were beginning to say that being a power forward isn’t his game.

https://twitter.com/captain_kirk87/status/562840808941170689

And how can we blame people for thinking this? Kassian wasn’t a force physically. He wasn’t scoring. He wasn’t noticeable.

There’s no way of knowing if all of the healthy scratches and tough love got his attention, or if this is simply a function of being put into a top-6 role, but Kassian performing like a true power forward with the Sedins is a game changer.

All of a sudden, the Canucks have discovered a brand new top-6 forward. They also have another look to give teams on their top line.

For years, the Canucks have been susceptible to teams shutting down the Sedin line. Shutdown the Sedins, and you are likely to win the game. And when you constantly roll out Alex Burrows as their winger, you make pre-scouting very easy for your opponents.

Now, with Zack Kassian, Radim Vrbata and Alex Burrows as legitimate options to play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the Canucks have three very different looks to throw at teams. Different situations and matchups will call for the size and strength of Kassian, the tenaciousness and defensive awareness of Burrows, or the goal scoring ability of Radim Vrbata.

And that bodes well for the playoffs… If they make it.

Feature Image: canucks.nhl.com

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff
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