The Canucks performance this year as a team has exceeded the expectations of most fans and hockey analysts. At the beginning of the season, I think very few people would have picked the Canucks to be leading the Northwest division with 10 games remaining.
I was looking at TSN’s depth chart/scouting report and it got me thinking about individual player performances. I thought it might be interesting to do a player-by-player analysis of performance this season. It’s going to be a pretty long, time consuming process, but I’m used to that.
My idea is to look at each player’s flaws, assets, and career potential as identified by TSN’s depth chart and scouting report, and see how each guy has measured up so far this season. I will also be adding my own thoughts about each player. I’m no expert, but I have watched every game the Canucks have played this season, so I certainly have some opinions.
Just a few notes before I begin: 1. I will not be analyzing players who are currently in the minors (except for possibly Marc Chouinard – if I’m really bored at some point), or those who have played the majority of the season in the minors (except for possibly Alexander Edler – again, only if I’m really bored.) 2. I’m pretty sure that TSN’s “scouting report” thing was written at the beginning of the season. I will be working under that assumption. 3. This will be a long process and I will be only analyzing a few players at a time. This is partially because I don’t have time to do write ups of 20 players, and also because if I did, it would be the longest post in the history of the internet. Well, not quite, but you know what I mean. I will start with 5. Here we go!
DANIEL SEDIN
GP: 71, Goals: 31 (Tied for 20th in NHL), Assists: 40 (Tied for 37th among NHL forwards), Points: 71 (Tied for 24th among NHL forwards), +/-: +15, Shots: 209, PIM: 36, Game winning goals: 7. Salary: $3.575 million
TSN Scouting Report: Assets: Has a great shot and knack for finding open ice. Is also very solid in the defensive zone.
Flaws: Is lacking in physical play but has been highly durable early in his career. Initially needed to display more confidence on the ice, but has improved in that area.
Career Potential: Top 6 Winger.
My thoughts: I don’t know about a “great” shot, but it’s decent. Obviously what makes Daniel great is his ability to control the play with Henrik, and to make great passes and create offensive opportunities. He has a very good puck controlling ability. I think his physical play has improved throughout the season. He seems more willing to take and dish out hits than he used to.
OVERALL: He has exceeded my expectations this season.
HENRIK SEDIN
GP: 72, Goals: 10, Assists: 58 (5th in NHL), Points: 68 (Tied for 33rd among NHL forwards), +/-: +15, Shots: 129, PIM: 58, Faceoff %: 53.1%, Power play assists: 28. Salary: $3.575 million
TSN Scouting Report: Assets: Is extremely well rounded and more suited to the physical game than twin brother Daniel. Has strong defensive tendencies and playmaking ability.
Flaws: Doesn’t have a natural goal-scorer’s mentality. Could stand to shoot more often with limited options at his disposal.
Career potential: Second line center.
My thoughts: “Could stand to shoot more often” is the understatement of the year. His shot isn’t great, but I think it’s pretty accurate – especially from close range, which is usually where Henrik is when he has the opportunity to shoot (and then passes). He is decent defensively, usually. He needs to figure out how to be defensively sound without taking unnecessary penalties. So far, 40 of his 58 penalty minutes have been for either hooking and holding. He also has a frustrating tendency to take these bad penalties at key times in games. Henrik has an unbelievable ability to control the puck and is also an excellent passer.
OVERALL: He has exceeded my expectations this season.
TAYLOR PYATT
GP: 66, Goals: 18, Assists: 12, Points: 30, +/-: +2, PIMs: 40, Shots: 126, Game winning goals: 3, Power play goals: 9. Salary: $700,000.
TSN Scouting Report: Assets: Boasts a tremendous combination of size and skating ability. Has sound body-checking skills, and is both defensively aware and an emerging offensive talent.
Flaws: The jury is still out on his offensive upside. Tends to struggle in the hockey sense department.
Career Potential: Power forward.
My thoughts: For the majority of the season Pyatt has been a pleasant surprise. For most of the year he has played excellent with the Sedins. He does a great job screening in front of the net, especially on the powerplay, and is pretty good at tipping shots from the point. He is a bit of a streaky player at times in terms of point production. The thing is, when he’s not producing, he’s almost invisible on the ice. So it seems to me, anyway.
OVERALL: Has greatly exceeded my expectations, despite the fact that he has been slumping a bit lately.
WILLIE MITCHELL
GP: 54, Goals: 1, Assists: 10, Points: 11, +/-: +2, Shots: 48, PIM: 34, Time on ice/game: 22:18 (53rd in NHL). Salary: $3.5 million
TSN Scouting Report: Assets: Is a huge physical specimen and displays terrific mobility for his size. Possesses a big shot from the point–when he uses it.
Flaws: Needs to prove he can stay healthy and handle a heavy workload over the long run. The mental aspect of his game needs improvement, so as to equal his physical ability.
Career Potential: Defensive defenseman.
My thoughts: Without question, he is the best defensive player on the team. He excels at the role of shut down guy against the opposition’s best players. He is a very smart player. Off the top of my head, I can only think of one defensive mistake he’s made all year. As for TSN’s assessment, I’m not sure how his ‘mental’ game could be improved, so either it has improved since the scouting report was written, or TSN is crazy. Mitchell is the type of guy whose value to the team somewhat goes unnoticed until he’s missing from the lineup.
OVERALL: He has exceeded my expectations this year. I didn’t even know he had exceeded my expectations until the Canucks played a few games without him in the lineup… Then it became pretty obvious to me.
KEVIN BIEKSA
GP: 72, Goals: 11 (Tied for 14th among NHL defensemen), Assists: 27 (Tied for 26th among NHL defensemen), Points: 38 (Tied for 23rd among NHL defensemen), +/-: 0, PIMs: 128 (9th in NHL), Shots: 182 (Tied for 7th among NHL defensemen), Game winning goals: 2, Powerplay goals: 5, Time on ice/game: 24:13 (26th in NHL). Salary: $500,000.
TSN Scouting Report: Assets: Loves to initiate contact from the back end. Owns a big shot from the point. Is defensively responsible.
Flaws: Needs to add more strength in order to thrive as a defensive defenseman. Will never put up huge numbers at the highest level.
Career Potential: Defensive defenseman.
My thoughts: I’ll start out by saying that he’s my favourite player on the team, so this is probably really biased. TSN’s assessment of him is dead wrong. It just goes to show I guess that it’s impossible to predict what a guy can do when he’s given the opportunity. The thing I like the best about him is that he is beyond intense. He’s a great competitor and plays a very emotional game. He’s also a hard hitter and a tough fighter who stands up for his teammates. He has a decent shot which I think is most effective from the point when it’s a light wrist shot to get through traffic. He is also really good at moving the puck up the ice. He still occasionally lacks defensive responsibility and still makes some ‘young’ mistakes, which is to be expected as this is his first full year in the league. Sometimes he pinches in at the wrong times and get get back into position in time.
OVERALL: He has exceeded my expectations more than anyone else on the team.
So that does it for the first five. I would love to hear any comments that anyone has. (Go Canucks!)
