Wednesday November 1 - Vancouver Canucks vs. New Jersey Devils - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet Vancouver, Sportsnet 650
Vancouver Canucks: 11 GP, 6-3-2, 14 pts, third in Pacific Division
New Jersey Devils: 10 GP, 8-2-0, 16 pts, first in Metropolitan Division
I'm not sure I've ever been this excited about a visit from the New Jersey Devils.
October 8, 2013 was pretty good, with the first head-to-head meeting between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider after the draft-day trade that brought the Canucks the rights to select Bo Horvat. Jaromir Jagr was also playing for the Devils at that time—and it was the fourth game of the Torts era. The Canucks improved to 3-1-0 that night with a 3-2 win. Mike Santorelli scored the game-winner in overtime, assisted by Jason Garrison and David Booth.
...That blast from the past got me wondering why Santorelli isn't on the Olympic radar? Though he's only 31, it looks like his playing days are over—according to Hockey DB, he played only seven games in Switzerland last season after finishing his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks in 2015-16. His Wikipedia Page says that he has indeed retired due to nagging injuries. Looks like he has now moved into the role of Hockey Dad here in the Lower Mainland:
Even after acquiring Schneider, who has mostly been terrific, the Devils languished in the standings—until this season. Following in the footsteps of last year's Columbus Blue Jackets, they've vaulted unexpectedly to the top of the standings in the tough Metropolitan Division and are suddenly playing an entertaining brand of hockey.
I can't wait to get my first look at first-overall draft pick Nico Hischier tonight. The first Swiss player ever to be drafted first overall, Hischier doesn't turn 19 until January but already has seven points in his first 10 NHL games.
I expect he'll be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy by the end of the year but through the early part of this season, he's not even the most prominent rookie on his own team!
That honour is currently being shared by two other players. Defenseman Will Butcher, 22, is tied for second in rookie scoring with 11 assists in his first 10 games after spurning the Colorado Avalanche and signing with the Devils as an NCAA free agent. He won the Hobey Baker Trophy and the Frozen Four at the University of Denver last season.
Like our own—currently injured—Troy Stecher, Butcher is listed at 5'10" and 190 pounds. Seven of his points so far have come as part of the Devils' power play that is currently ranked fifth in the NHL with a 27.5 percent conversion rate.
If it was surprising to see Butcher transition so easily to the NHL, the debut of Jesper Bratt is downright shocking. Chosen in the sixth round in 2016, the 19-year-old Swede currently sits fourth in rookie scoring with 10 points in his first 10 games.
Butcher and Bratt are second and third in Devils scoring behind Taylor Hall, who's off to a hot start of his own with 13 points. After seeing Tyler Seguin snipe a goal for Dallas on Monday night, tonight will be Hall's turn to show why he was able to grab the top spot in the 2009 draft.
#njdevils leading scorer Taylor Hall has 29 career points vs #Canucks (9G,20A). He’s put up more PTS vs VAN than any other team. Finally...
As for the Canucks' leading scorer and star rookie Brock Boeser, he's tied for fifth in rookie scoring with nine points. But he has only played eight games, so his 1.13 points per game are just a hair behind Arizona's Clayton Keller, whose 15 points so far work out to 1.15 points per game, and just earned him Rookie of the Month honours for October.
After only a small group skated at Tuesday's optional practice, this morning's game-day skate looks like it's quite well attended:
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