Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Is Early Season Success Real or a Mirage? With the Vancouver Canucks making a surprise appearance near the top of the Western Conference standings, fans start to cautiously wonder whether this success will be sustainable for an entire season.

Sounds like a maintenance day for Bieksa as per Dave Tomlinson on TSN 1040.
I don't think Botch's numbers tell the whole story about the Canucks so far this season.

Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Is Early Season Success Real or a Mirage?
With the Vancouver Canucks making a surprise appearance near the top of the Western Conference standings, fans start to cautiously wonder whether this success will be sustainable for an entire season.
- Carol Schram

Oh Botch....it annoys me how some of the mainstream hockey media that is now using #fancystats doesn't fully understand how to analyze them.

1: Fenwick is a better stat than Corsi when evaluating a team

2: You have to look at Fenwick(or Corsi) "Close". This only tracks shot attempts when the game is within 1 goal. Because teams with 2+ goal leads always sit back and it looks bad on their advanced stats, and teams always trailing take more attempts.

The Canucks are 11th in the league in "Fenwick-Close". Not great, but definitely not suggesting they're due for a major regression like Colorado was this year.

(L)ack should have worn the Luigi hat and (M)iller the Mario hat
Lack is tall and skinny and Miller is... poop... tall and skinny...
I guess Lack is taller and skinnier so he is definitely the Luigi

Oh Botch...it annoys me how some of the mainstream hockey media that is now using #fancystats doesn't fully understand how to analyze them.

1: Fenwick is a better stat than Corsi when evaluating a team

2: You have to look at Fenwick(or Corsi) "Close". This only tracks shot attempts when the game is within 1 goal. Because teams with 2+ goal leads always sit back and it looks bad on their advanced stats, and teams always trailing take more attempts.

The Canucks are 11th in the league in "Fenwick-Close". Not great, but definitely not suggesting they're due for a major regression like Colorado was this year.
- Nucker101

Also pretty sure we had unreal fancy stats last year no? Still finished with the 6th pick

Also pretty sure we had unreal fancy stats last year no? Still finished with the 6th pick
- bezz44

Exactly, as did NJ. They're a decent tool, but not the bottom line. The Canucks are generating higher quality scoring chances this year, last year it seemed like they'd just shoot the puck and hope they'd get an ugly goal in. Coaching change has made a big difference offensively.

They need another top 4 potential puck moving defenceman. Someone like Free Agent NCAA

Ahti Oksanen, D, Sophomore, Boston University (Hockey East)

It seems the team misses out on FA Defence lately Shultz, Dekeyser etc. Benning has to know of this kid being from Boston. There is a good read on him and other free agents below.

http://www.hockeysfuture....ailable-ncaa-free-agents/

Sounds like a maintenance day for Bieksa as per Dave Tomlinson on TSN 1040.
I don't think Botch's numbers tell the whole story about the Canucks so far this season.
- SirJesto

This from Botch's article "They are 22nd in shots-against per 60 minutes. That is not good."

As long as shots against are around 25-30 I don't see it as a big deal. Some goalies want to be in the game and facing shots as opposed to long spells of inactivity.

Whatever, crystal ball or not, only the Shadow knows.

This from Botch's article "They are 22nd in shots-against per 60 minutes. That is not good."

As long as shots against are around 25-30 I don't see it as a big deal. Some goalies want to be in the game and facing shots as opposed to long spells of inactivity.

Whatever, crystal ball or not, only the Shadow knows.
- hillbillydeluxe

They need more ready to play D, it will become more of an urgency and expensive as time goes on.

The nucks are like the Habs. If there goalie keep going, there is no reason why they should slow down.

Average team beside the goalie.

The nucks are like the Habs. If there goalie keep going, there is no reason why they should slow down.

Average team beside the goalie.
- soad_live

Moen would have been a nice pickup by Van.

The nucks are like the Habs. If there goalie keep going, there is no reason why they should slow down.

Average team beside the goalie.
- soad_live

Does Miller score goals though?

The Canucks are 7th in the league in goal per game. Montreal relies on Price more, you guys are 27th in scoring.

Moen would have been a nice pickup by Van.
- VanHockeyGuy

- Nucker101

Good big gritty Sask boy!

Sounds like a maintenance day for Bieksa as per Dave Tomlinson on TSN 1040.
I don't think Botch's numbers tell the whole story about the Canucks so far this season.
- SirJesto

I think you are going to see a lot of 'maintenance days' for the older guys this season. Management has to try everything they can to keep these guys healthy.

I always underestimated the value of team health. But it might be the second most important factor (behind great goaltending) in determining a team's success, especially in the playoffs.

Good big gritty Sask boy!
- VanHockeyGuy

Nice.

The cream always rises to the top - another month (mid Dec) should give us a better indication of where they're gonna be at. I like how it's all worked out so far this year, they've been so much better to watch and cheer for.

I'm still skepitcal of that second line; is Bonino really making those guys (Higgins & Burrows), who are tweener's IMO, that much better? Can the Sedins produce 5 on 5 against the better teams?

Exactly, as did NJ. They're a decent tool, but not the bottom line. The Canucks are generating higher quality scoring chances this year, last year it seemed like they'd just shoot the puck and hope they'd get an ugly goal in. Coaching change has made a big difference offensively.
- Nucker101

Big time. There is a reason why the Sedins score, and it isn't because they adhere to the adage "pucks on net"
10 high percentage shots > 30 low percentage shots

I think you are going to see a lot of 'maintenance days' for the older guys this season. Management has to try everything they can to keep these guys healthy.

I always underestimated the value of team health. But it might be the second most important factor (behind great goaltending) in determining a team's success, especially in the playoffs.
- bloatedmosquito

Yeah, especially after they met with Spurs management. The Spurs take it a step further and rest guys like Duncan, Parker, Ginobili completely for regular season games. They can afford to, unlike the Canucks so the best VAN can do is give guys a practice off every now and then.

The nucks are like the Habs. If there goalie keep going, there is no reason why they should slow down.

Average team beside the goalie.
- soad_live

Except we're bigger and better

Exactly, as did NJ. They're a decent tool, but not the bottom line. The Canucks are generating higher quality scoring chances this year, last year it seemed like they'd just shoot the puck and hope they'd get an ugly goal in. Coaching change has made a big difference offensively.
- Nucker101

I agree completely although I do think so far this year this team has gotten its fair share of lucky bounces ( often what separates average and horrible teams ) and last year this team had horrible luck. This team has done very well in 1 goal situations and I think WD deserves some credit but I will credit his system more if we see this team start to dominate teams.

I do really enjoy the way they are playing but if you listen to WD talk it sounds like he isn't happy with the play yet regardless of the good results.

The cream always rises to the top - another month (mid Dec) should give us a better indication of where they're gonna be at. I like how it's all worked out so far this year, they've been so much better to watch and cheer for.

I'm still skepitcal of that second line; is Bonino really making those guys (Higgins & Burrows), who are tweener's IMO, that much better? Can the Sedins produce 5 on 5 against the better teams?
- LeftCoaster

I agree about the 2nd line, I hope they continue to prove the fanbase wrong but I'm not gonna get my hopes up.

Moen would have been a nice pickup by Van.
- VanHockeyGuy

Yes because we have a serious shortage of bottom 6ers

Good big gritty Sask boy!
- VanHockeyGuy

Only steers and queers come from Saskatchewan, if you're not from BC or Ontario you're nothin!!


(for Nucker)

The cream always rises to the top - another month (mid Dec) should give us a better indication of where they're gonna be at. I like how it's all worked out so far this year, they've been so much better to watch and cheer for.

I'm still skepitcal of that second line; is Bonino really making those guys (Higgins & Burrows), who are tweener's IMO, that much better? Can the Sedins produce 5 on 5 against the better teams?
- LeftCoaster

Bonino has been awesome.