St. Louis Blues Opposition: Vancouver Canucks
By Todd Panula
The St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks have a an interesting history. Despite their distance geographically, the two franchises formed a rivalry.
They say familiarity breeds contempt. Well that holds true in the case of the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks.
Though the two teams have not faced eachother year after year, they always battled. It seems odd to think of it, but for brief moments at a time, the Canucks were up there with the Red Wings and Blackhawks in terms of a chief rival.
Right now, the two teams seem headed in opposite directions. Though some might argue whether the Blues are ascending or not, it is harder to think the Canucks are not on the way down.
NHL writer, Craig Custance believes this is a team destined for more mediocrity. Hard to imagine this franchise is only six seasons removed from a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
The Canucks have a host of problems. The chief among them seems to be an unwillingness to go all-in on either rebuilding or stocking up on free agents.
They are trying to do a bit of both. All it is doing right now is blurring the lines as to their expectations.
Key Additions
One of those questionable additions is Erik Gudbrandson. The Canucks acquired him from the Florida Panthers in a trade over the summer.
Gudbrandson is not the problem. It’s the idea behind picking him up.
He’s a heavy defender. A big body, taking up plenty of room and tossing people around.
The only problem is he’s an old school defender in a day and age when skating and puck moving are the way the game is moving. Of course, you still need those guys who can clear out the front of the net, but it seems like a step in the wrong direction.
On the plus side, the Canucks did not give up too much to get him. So, in that regard, it is a net gain.
Vancouver also added Loui Eriksson and drafted a mobile defenseman, Olli Juolevi.
Both are good additions, but again make one wonder what the end game is.
Juolevi is not NHL ready and is all but earmarked for a return to his junior team. Eriksson is a great scorer, but he is 31 now and the Canucks gave him a six year, $6 million per season contract.
Key Losses
The Canucks gave up Jared McCann in the deal to get Gudbrandson. On the surface, it is not a great loss.
McCann played in 69 games in 2015-16 and only scored nine goals and 18 points. However, he is only 19.
Not everyone comes into the NHL and lights it up immediately. Giving up on a potentially talented center could be something Vancouver regrets in the future.
Dan Hamhuis was let go in free agency. His departure is interesting on a couple fronts.
On the one hand, he is the type of defenseman that is more a fit for today’s game. He’s a decent defender, puts up a modest amount of offense and is a passable puck mover.
On the other hand, he’s 33 and the Dallas Stars gave him a sizable contract for his age. At an average of $3.75 million and mounting games missed per season, the Canucks may have been wise to move on.
Yannick Weber, like Hamhuis is also the kind of defender that fits in with today’s game. However, he has struggled to stay healthy and consistent.
Weber only appeared in 47 games and still managed to be a -17.
Canucks Outlook
In a cold look at the production, the Canucks seems to have improved themselves. Eriksson is a solid 30 goal scorer, especially if you pair him with the Sedin’s.
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Gudbrandson should also help. He’ll be used to clear the way so Ryan Miller can see.
However, those changes alone aren’t going to help enough for a team that was -51 in goal differential. Right now, they look like stop gap measures in a vain attempt to stay competitive.
The Canucks were 12 points back in the playoff race. They just don’t seem to have made enough strides to have closed the gap in an extremely tough conference.
Their best hope is that the Central Division picks each other off and the rest of the Pacific gets off to a bad start. Not much to hope for, but for a team a little thin on prospects and not going full bore in free agency, that’s what they’ve got.
Blues Games
As mentioned earlier, the Blues and Canucks developed quite a rivalry despite their geographical differences. Much of it was due to playoff matchups.
Strangely, the teams have only played each other three times in the postseason. All three have been very contentious though.
St. Louis holds the edge in the regular season with a record of 99-84-18. They have fared pretty well both at home and on the road.
When it comes to the playoffs, it’s the Canucks with the advantage. The Blues are 6-12 against Vancouver in the second season.
The Blues and Canucks battled to a seven game series, once in the 90’s when the Canucks went to the finals and again in 2003. The Blues were swept in 2009, but each game was a fight and the Blues used up all their gas just making the playoffs.
Now, the Blues are in control. St. Louis won all three games in 2015-16 (4-0, 3-0, 4-3) and will look to do the same this season.
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The first game in 2016-17 is on the road on Tuesday, October 18. The next two are at home on Thursday, February 16 and Thursday, March 23.
It is unlikely the Blues take all three again, though the last three seasons have had one team or the other do just that. The Blues should win two of three at least though.