The Vancouver Canucks have been a surprise success story this season. They were predicted to compete for the chance to select Rasmus Dahlin at the 2018 draft. However, approaching the Christmas break, the Canucks are holding a playoff spot in the Western Conference. And it’s not even a Wild Card spot.
What explains this surprise turnaround? Is it the result of improved coaching, role players stepping up, or a weaker division? Perhaps.
Or maybe it’s all Brock Boeser.
Canucks fans were rightfully excited about Boeser before the season started. After notching five points in nine games to finish Vancouver’s woeful 2016-17 season, he looked like a surefire NHLer.
But I don’t think anyone expected him to be this successful this early. Not even Brock.
To date, Boeser has scored a point-per-game, with 13 goals and 12 assists in 25 games.
Those 13 goals place him 20th in League scoring (in what amounts to a fourteen-way tie). With 25 points, he is outscoring names like Patrik Laine, Jack Eichel and Jamie Benn. No Vancouver rookie has put up a scoring pace like this since Pavel Bure.
To quote the inimitable Keanu Reeves, whoa.
So does Vancouver’s season success all depend on Brock Boeser, particularly with Bo Horvat about to be out for weeks to come?
Yes it does
Without Boeser in the lineup, Vancouver’s scoring looks dire. In the last two seasons, the Canucks tallied just 191 and 182 goals, respectively. Over that span only the New Jersey Devils scored fewer.
Making matter worse, Daniel and Henrik Sedin are clearly slowing down. For the first time in a decade they are no longer Vancouver’s top production line. Without Boeser in the mix, that places the burden of first-line offence on the shoulders of Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi.
Bo and Sven are indisputably top-six players, but can they run the engine on their own?
Look at it this way: if you take away Boeser’s 13 goals, Vancouver has just 65 this season. That’s good for second to last in the NHL once again. Brock has busted this club out of the basement.
Brock has scored 11 points on the power play this season, a longstanding area of weakness for the Canucks. With his quick release and offensive instincts, he’s a power play wonder, whether he's stationed at the left faceoff dot or not.
And then there’s the underrated side of Brock’s game. He takes flack for his lack of foot speed, but Boeser’s superior hockey IQ mean he gets on the right side of the puck more often than not, and he boasts respectable five-on-five possession numbers.
No it doesn’t
Boeser isn’t the only new piece. The biggest change comes in the form of coaching, with Travis Green replacing Willie Desjardins.
Green has shown to be an adaptable coach, willing to take risks on youth. I’m not sure Boeser gets the ice time he currently does if Desjardins were still in charge. Green also has a knack for coaxing more out of young players. With the team now dependent on the likes of Troy Stecher, Jake Virtanen, Ben Hutton, Bo Horvat and Derrick Pouliot, that’s an essential trait.
Some free agents have made an impact too. Thomas Vanek is providing very dependable secondary scoring. In addition, Loui Eriksson’s scoring touch appears to have been resuscitated.
Vancouver’s goaltending tandem has performed quite well. When Ryan Miller departed in the offseason there was speculation that netminding would be a weak spot. While there have been some wobbly starts for each goalie, Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson have both stolen games for Vancouver.
The team is lesser without Boeser
Better supporting cast or not, and limitations to his game notwithstanding, Boeser is essential to Vancouver’s success. Wrap the dude up in bubble wrap.
Sure the team looks revitalized, the coaching is better, and the goaltending is encouraging. But it’s hard to imagine this team being nearly as successful without Brock Boeser scoring obscene wristers. Or as fun to watch. He has provided spark to the top-six, and his ability to score against the grain has shifted the momentum on multiple occasions.
Perhaps most importantly, Boeser’s emergence has balanced Vancouver’s offence. The Sedins are no longer receiving the toughest matchups, and the Canucks suddenly find themselves able to roll three scoring lines.
Potting goals, balancing lines, and saving managerial jobs; Brock is the Boest thing to happen to this team in ages.
