Author Archives: Sean Chesman

A glowing review of SCRAPYARD by Quadeca

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2023 was maybe my favourite year as a music listener. Ever.

I discovered so many awesome new artists and bands, as well as diving deep into older material that I had been putting off for a long time. Expectations were high going into 2024, and after a lackluster month of January, we got ourselves an early album of the year contender from an unlikely source.

Let me tell you a little bit about a fella named Ben Lasky. Ben was making FIFA videos as a teenager and would occasionally try his hand at rapping. Famous YouTuber KSI went to say that Ben “couldn’t rap”, which prompted the release of this music video:

This was my introduction to Quadeca: A KSI diss track that has since garnered over 38 million views on YouTube. The track itself is totally acceptable with Ben actually showcasing some technical ability, but it’s that “lyrical miracle” white boy rap that typically puts red flags all over my brain.

Ben released his first full-length LP: “Voice Memos” in 2019, and it’s one that I haven’t heard a lot about (even from the artist).

Obviously, the pandemic was an absolute gut punch to the entire world, but we all changed and grew over that 2-3 year period. The same can be said for Ben, who released his second record: “From Me To You” in 2021. While still raw, this album showed a much more diverse range of sound, especially with its first single “Sisyphus”.

Ben’s true breakout came in the form of 2022’s: “I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You“, a concept record told through the lens of a ghost who is trying grasp his new reality. This, to me, is when Quadeca became Quadeca. 

Although he has another album on the way, Quadeca scattered some “scrapyard” material throughout the latter half of 2023. These singles were so good that he eventually compiled all of them (15) into one mixtape: “SCRAPYARD“. For my money, this is my favourite album of 2024 so far and it isn’t particularly close. I’m typically not all that crazy about most of the styles (yes, plural) that are showcased on this record, but it just hits so damn hard that it’s impossible to overlook.

It may be a mixtape, but what’s on here is so good that I classify it as a full-length album. Both the production and songwriting on this thing is just consistently great.

Look no further than the song A LA CARTE (feat. brakence). I’m typically not a fan of music that pulls from the emo, bedroom-pop side of things, but this song just does it for me. Not only is the production lush and vibrant, but the lyrical content is all about feeling uncomfortable about sex, which is an incredibly vulnerable thing to talk about. Brakence really sells his feature well as he’s fully vulnerable in discussing a difficult topic over what is one of the most beautiful, yet hard hitting hip-hop instrumentals I’ve heard this decade. Quadeca’s tremored vocal patterns on the chorus are hooky and infectious, though I understand why many find it off-putting.

“I know you never grade looks, still feel like a fiveBut you said if we make love and I start to cryI can let it all out, shouldn’t rationalize but goddamnDo I deserve that you can’t hear me now?”

This is a very early ‘song of the year’ candidate for your boy, here.

There aren’t many other straight up ‘hip-hop’ tracks on this album; the sound on this record is seriously diverse. WAY TOO MANY FRIENDS is one of the other few which fit into this mold, and it’s a great depiction of Quadeca clearly struggling to manage several friendships at once: An all-too familiar problem for a lot of folks in their early 20s (me, I am one of those people).

Maybe the hardest hitting hip-hop cut on the entire record comes directly after with GUESS WHO? A grimy, snot-nosed “I’m him” track that I am all ears for. The bass on this one is incredible and I love the references to Liverpool footballers Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah in the chorus.

We’ve had enough fun, let’s discuss some of the darker material on this LP.

DUSTCUTTER is a perfectly unsettling opening to the mixtape with its earie, yet infectious synth melody which mixes perfectly with Quad’s disturbed vocals. PRETTY PRIVELIGE is another fantastic emo track with distorted, droning ambience and just an overall unsettling vibe. This one is another bit of lyrical excellence from Quadeca as well, as he dives into self-image issues and dysmorphia as a whole.

“Why did you say I was pretty?I wanna know what you meanIf I was really so prettyI wouldn’t want to be seen”

If you’re a fan of Xiu Xiu, I think you’d find value in tracks like: U TRIED THAT THING WHERE UR HUMAN and BEING YOURSELF. I don’t know, I personally see a lot of parallels between these two and some of Jamie Stewart’s work.

Yeah, this album is incredibly versatile, yet we haven’t even touched base on some of the prettiest songs on the album.

EASIER is another duel threat with its great production and lyrical content. Quadeca clearly has feelings for this one person; but isn’t sure about them; but actually, wait, he’s REALLY sure about them; okay wait no now he thinks he wants her because she’s “easier”. It’s an uncomfortable situation that is enhanced by some stunning acoustic guitars and trap instrumentals.

U DON’T KNOW ME LIKE THAT is a vibrant melodic hip-hop track that sounds like it could be a BROCKHAMPTON track (an awesome one, at that). This is another one of my favourites on the record: The piano runs activate every possible neuron in my brain and ascend me to greener pastures, and the outro is an electronic outburst in the best way.

GUIDE DOG is one of the sweetest love songs I’ve heard in quite some time. While it is one of the shorter tracks on the mixtape, it’s one of the main songs I find myself going back to. Lyrically, this might be my favourite song on the album, as Quadeca is clearly infatuated with someone and makes it known.

“PleaseYou would tell me that you don’t agreeBut I am half the man you would be if you were meI watch you like I’m not worthy”

That line. Right there. Like a million daggers to the heart.

Finally, TEXAS BLUE (feat. Kevin Abstract) is, handedly, the most beautiful track on a record filled with beautiful tracks. The overall vibe of this track carries it hard, but that’s not an issue. Everything from the vocal harmonies; to the layered instrumentals; to the lyrics; everything about this song absolutely rules. It’s the definitely the most “vibey” of the bunch and I’m glad that Ben saved it for last. A perfect closer.

Will SCRAPYARD end up being my pick for album of the year? I mean, it’s far too early to say that right now, but what I do know is that it will take something truly extraordinary to top this. It’s been over a month since this bad boy got released and yet I still find a ton of enjoyment from basically every single track here.

It’s fun, terrifying at times, and incredibly diverse: SCRAPYARD isn’t a typical mixtape, it’s something that’s impossible to ignore and push to the side, and is worthy of your time. A truly special album.

ALBUM RATING: 9.5/10

The Go-To Guy: I’m not crazy about the L.A. Kings

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It’s springtime: The sun is shining, the seasonal depression is beginning to leave our bodies, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are just over a month away.

That sure is one way to completely rid my own seasonal depression.

The NHL is in an… interesting spot. It seems that the top teams in each conference have separated themselves from the pack, a fact that’s especially true in the west. The only problem for those elite teams in the west is that there’s a bounty of them; seven to be exact.

And yes, the Vancouver Canucks are right near the top of that list. Settle down.

Talking about all seven in one article seems like a bad idea. I mean, does Kanye put all of his material into one album? No, he splits it up and I think that formula worked out quite well for him.

Maybe he should try being a good person, next!

So, naturally, I’ll be doing in-depth breakdowns for each of the seven elite playoff teams in the west. I would first like to apologize to the Nashville Predators who are not a part of this esteemed club, as they don’t have enough high-end talent to justify calling them “elite”. Juuse Saros is cool, at least!

The team I’d like to start off with is what is, in my opinion, the worst of the bunch: The Los Angeles Kings.

Am I a biased individual who despises 1-3-1 trap hockey? Maybe: But don’t worry, I am still fairly high on the Kings despite them being at the bottom of the elite western food chain.

Let’s take a look to see if the Kings actually have what it takes to be considered a true contender in the NHL’s western gauntlet.

On Paper

This team is a perplexing one in the sense that they look rather unremarkable on the surface.

They have name value in guys like Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, both have won cups and various other hardware in their time spent in The City of Angels. Those two are still the centerpieces along with a plethora of former high-draft pedigree forwards in Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield.

What you get after that is a squad filled with names that any casual hockey fan would recognize as “good” not “great” players: Philip Danault, Trevor Moore, Adrian Kempe and Matt Roy are a few which fit that mold. But what’s great about the Kings is that these guys are all great players and in some cases have provided more value than the bigger names on the squad (Dubois, Fiala).

The Kings have depth in spades. When the big dogs are slumping, they have an army of uber-effective players to pick up the slack. That’s great ’til you realize that one of their supposed ‘big name’ players has been anything but since his arrival in Los Angeles.

I don’t know what Pierre-Luc Dubois has been trying to do this year but it sure ain’t working.

And here’s why I don’t like the LA Kings all that much: They’re high-end talent is the weakest of the bunch, especially on offence.

I have all the time in the world for the likes of Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield and Anze Kopitar, but are any of these guys really going to be the best player on a cup winner in 2024?

Doubtful.

Defensively, it’s pretty much the same thing. Matt Roy, Mikey Anderson, and Drew Doughty are all great players, but I don’t think I’d call any of them legitimate #1’s. Hopefully Brandt Clarke can make that leap in short order.

So, you might be thinking: “This fraudulent team has fraudulent players and you’re trying to tell me they’re one of the seven elite teams in the west?” and that’s fair, I haven’t done a great job selling them being a great team.

Let’s continue both praising and critiquing them simultaneously!

The winning formula: Defend, create, don’t score on your chances.

Yeah, the Los Angeles Kings are elite at both creating and preventing chances, and that’s why they’re touted by many as one of the best in the west. They rank third in the entire league in expected goals share according to moneypuck.com (xGF%) and trail only the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes (shocker) in that category.

Being able to both create and prevent scoring chances is a key recipe in today’s NHL as many of the league’s best teams are exceptional at one (at the very least), so with them being good at both (and exceptional defensively), that’s a terrifying prospect for the other six top dogs, maybe besides Edmonton.

The more you have the puck, the better; so L.A. being elite in those areas is good news for them.

What isn’t is their lackluster finishing ability.

The Kings rank just 23rd in goals for across all NHL teams this season, and that’s an alarming stat when you factor in how much they generate. Look at the Canucks: They rank 21st in xGF, yet are the highest scoring team in hockey. A lot of that has to do with an incredible PDO bender that basically lasted from October to January, as well as swaths of efficient shooters from top to bottom.

While creating offence is important, you’ve got to capitalize, and I don’t know if the Kings have the juice to best a team with actual shooting talent.

They’re only hope to do so is if they’re elite defensive game can carry them.

Ranking 2nd in the league in expected goals against (xGA), L.A. have had the reputation as a rock solid defensive unit, and a lot of it has to do with coaching. Even with Todd MacLellan getting the axe, Jim Hiller has deployed a very similar 1-3-1 defensive structure (one forward at the opposing blueline, three players in the neutral zone, one at the back) that has resulted in winning hockey and groans everywhere.

Yeah, watching an L.A. Kings game is how it must’ve felt to watch Oppenheimer, just to get nothing out of it. You spend roughly three hours watching something that you probably should be enjoying, yet instead it’s just a boring, multi-hour slog fest that’s only dialogue.

Oops, that’s what some actually said about Oppenheimer.

The Kings just don’t play an appealing style of hockey to me, at all. All I’m left with afterwards is the feeling that I simply watched a game of hockey that will now forever be forgotten because of how unbelievably, excruciatingly BORING it was.

Even though they are the 2nd best team at preventing chances, they rank 7th in goals against. That’s a totally fine split at first glance, but Cam Talbot is this team’s starting goaltender. Talbot has been a good goalie for many years now, but not one that’s ever really moved the needle as a 1A starter.

I’m a believer that you don’t need an elite goalie to win a cup, but having an elite goalie in your toolkit can certainly help out against elite shooting teams like Vancouver and Dallas, especially when the finishing talent on the Kings is pretty barren.

So, I don’t like the Kings a whole lot, which is funny considering how much stock I put into analytics. I also like a good chunk of their players: Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, and Matt Roy are all players that I rate very highly.

They have a real good team over there in California (we won’t talk about the other two) and they could win the cup and I don’t think anyone would be too shocked, but I still don’t think they have enough.

Call me a hater, call me negative, I just don’t like the L.A. Kings all that much, and that’s why they’re at number seven on this ranking.

The Go-To Guy: Analyzing J.T. Miller’s bounce-back season

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The 2019 NHL Entry Draft was an eventful one for the Vancouver Canucks. On top of hosting the festivities, the Canucks went into this draft with a goal: Get faster, bigger, and more tenacious.

They exited the first round with Vasily Podkolzin (10th overall), who still hasn’t found his footing in the NHL; and I think time may be running out for the young Russian power forward to make a meaningful impact at the NHL level.

But the second round was where Vancouver really did themselves some good; not only drafting Nils Höglander with the 40th pick in the draft, but reports began to circulate about a potential trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning had just come off being swept by the eighth seed Columbus Blue Jackets, after having the greatest regular season in NHL history (prior to last season’s Boston Bruins). They were tight against the salary cap and needed to unload some assets.

One of those assets was left winger, J.T. Miller.

Miller, who was 26 at the time of the trade, had been a solid top six-caliber point producer with the Lightning, and was involved in the blockbuster deal that also involved Ryan McDonaugh heading to Tampa alongside him just one year prior.

So, the Canucks trade was as follows:

TBL gets: 2020 1st round pick, Marek Mazanec (G), 2019 3rd round pick.

VAN gets: J.T. Miller (LW/C). 

At face value, this seemed like a bit of an overpay when the announcement broke. Miller only had a career-high of 58 points prior to the trade, so trading a first rounder for a 2nd line scoring-rate forward wasn’t all that great from a value perspective, especially when you consider how there wasn’t even an attempt to squeeze out any sort of surplus value from Vancouver’s perspective. Tampa were hard-pressed against the cap, for crying out loud!

With all that said, this is what you typically see from Canucks fans nowadays:

Miller has become an absolute weapon for the Canucks. Heck, he’s ranked 10th in points league-wide since his arrival in Vancouver. This season has been his best to date, with 21 goals and 67 points through 49 games so far.

Even though he’s always been an efficient scorer in his time here, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the American-born forward. The 2022-23 season was a disaster for most parties involved in Vancouver, and Miller was typically in the spotlight for reasons that weren’t always entirely on him. Even with the scrutiny and occasional poor play, he still amassed 82 points in 81 games.

When he’s not playing well, he still produces.

That’s kind of become Miller’s mantra: He may not be a consistently dominant force every shift, or even every game, but he will find a way to rack up points regardless. Now that the Canucks are actually, you know, winning hockey games, Miller hasn’t been under the microscope. If he makes a mistake, who cares; he’ll probably make up for it later in the game.

J.T. Miller has always been a great hockey player, but he’s now a part of a winning formula, and there’s a few reasons as to why.

Playing winning hockey by fitting into a system

Canucks management clearly believes in Miller long-term, even if he’s set to turn 31 this year. How do I know that? Well, he was signed to a 7-year, $56-million contract ($8-million AAV) in the summer of 2022. It was a deal that I was skeptical of at the time; and while I still worry about the potential long-term ramifications, Miller has outperformed that $8-million price tag this season.

When Rick Tocchet was brought in as head coach, many in the industry said that this move was, in part, to help stabilize Miller’s game. Tocchet got everyone in that room to buy in to his system, and Miller is no different.

Miller would often be picked a part by the Vancouver market for his lack of effort away from the puck. He’d be caught cheating for offence, waiting for plays to come to him instead of forcing opponent’s to make mistakes; but not this year.

Tocchet’s system has proven to be near-unbreakable, as the Canucks are in the upper-upper-half of the league in terms of their defensive performance; a stark contrast from what we’re used to in this market. No one is cheating for chances, because why should they? If you play the right way, you’ll be rewarded.

Not only is Miller being rewarded, he’s fully deserving of his uptick in production.

Yes, he’s shooting 21% (12.7% at 5v5), but Miller has always been a percentage driver: It’s just part of his mantra, and only drives this point home even further. If the top guys buy in to playing the right way, they’ll still get rewarded, and Miller has done just that.

The smartest power play presence on the team

Dare I say it: J.T. Miller is the single-best power play driver this team has had since the Sedins.

I think there’s an argument to be made that he’s even better. I’m dead serious. When the Canucks get a power play opportunity, I’m not watching for Elias Pettersson or Quinn Hughes, I’m watching for Miller, dammit!

Miller has good hockey sense, that’s not up for debate, but he isn’t a particularly good 5v5 play-driver. He’s only generated 6.7 expected goals at 5v5 (per moneypuck.com), with only 29 of his 67 points coming at even-strength.

But this just continues what I’ve been saying about his mantra.

Percentage. Driver.

All of this is to point out just how effective Miller is on the power play, specifically when deployed on the left flank.

Typically, the best power play’s have guys flanking on their off-hand side as one-timer options; Tampa Bay being a great example:

Paul (net-front)
Stamkos (right-handed) – Point (bumper) – Kucherov (left-handed)
Hedman (point)

The Canucks opt to use both of their righties (Lindholm and Boeser) at the net-front and bumper positions, leaving the three main lefties manning the top of the zone:

Boeser (net-front)
Miller (left-handed) – Lindholm (bumper) – Pettersson (left-handed)
Hughes (point)

Vancouver’s first unit tends to rotate a lot when they have possession, but this is the alignment that many of us have become accustomed to this season. Pettersson is typically the main one-timer option, so what does Miller do on the left flank?

Miller uses a wind-up tactic that is so incredibly intelligent; occasionally leaving zone for a brief instance to build-up speed.

This goal vs the Edmonton Oilers is a perfect example of Miller’s dominance from the left flank:

He quickly turns from the blueline, Hughes finds him with time and space, and since he doubles as both a shooting threat and an elite passer, no one on the Oilers knows what he’s about to do. Miller shoots the puck as if it had been badmouthing his family just moments prior, labeling the top corner. We see this from him on a nightly basis, even if it doesn’t amount to a goal or assist (a rare sight).

Should there still be concern over the long-term deal? Sure, but one thing is for sure: J.T. Miller is a damn good hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks. He won’t be the guy driving the offence at 5v5, but his genius-level IQ on the power play can make up for his shortcomings.

A top 10 scorer, elite playmaker, and power play weapon, J.T. Miller has some great hockey left in him, and I hope it’s for a long time.

Comparing and contrasting the 2011 & 2024 Canucks

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Did you know that the 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks are on pace to be the greatest team in franchise history?

No, you’re not living in a dream, this Canucks team is legit. The front office knows it, too. You don’t go out and get Elias Lindholm unless you’re ready to go for it.

It’s an exciting time to be a Vancouver hockey fan. There’s just a level of buzz that hasn’t been seen here since 2011…

Oh yeah. 2011. That was certainly a year that happened in history!

The Canucks were the best team in hockey throughout the 2010-11 season, and it’s not hard to see why if you look at their roster. High-end talent at forward, loads of quality defencemen, and one of the greatest goalies of all time in Roberto Luongo. 

I thought it would be a fun exercise to compare the 2011 roster to today’s iteration of the Canucks. If I ultimately decide that the current Canucks roster is better, they’re winning the Stanley Cup this year.

I don’t make the rules (I do).

I’ll be comparing what I think are the best possible lineups for each team, assuming both would be fully healthy.

Let’s get right into it, starting with…

Goaltending + Special Teams

I’m lumping these categories together.

Why?

Easy: The 2011 team wipes both.

Both teams feature world beater-caliber netminder’s as starters, but comparing Casey DeSmith to Cory Schneider seems unfair. DeSmith is a high-end backup, but Schneider was a high-end goalie who just-so-happened to be playing behind one of the ten greatest goalies the sport has ever seen.

Also, while incredible, Demko needs to put in a few more seasons like this one before we can even have that conversation. 

The Canucks’ current power play is an absolute weapon, especially after adding Elias Lindholm to that first unit. With that said, there are few players who dominated the power play like the Sedins did.

And the penalty kill that 2011 team had…

No notes.

An early 2-0 lead for 2011.

The Bottom 6 and Bottom Pair D

2011:
Torres-Malholtra-Hansen
Glass-Lapierre-Tambellini/Hodgson

Ballard-Salo

2024:

Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Höglander-Aman-Lafferty/Di Giuseppe
Soucy-Myers

Uh oh, I think there’s a hot take brewing in the distance.

The 2011 Canucks had depth in spades: The third line was especially a key part of their success in the regular season. While Manny Malholtra may have been injured for the majority of the playoffs (eventually returning in the Stanley Cup Finals), he was still a rock-solid, faceoff ace at 3C.

Jannik Hansen and Raffi Torres were lightning bolts for the bottom six, with Hansen in particular being a key penalty killer and defensive driver. It also helps that they each scored big goals during their playoff run that year.

Lappiere was a pure pest, but an effective player in his own right. I will say though, I’m not as high on Glass, Tambellini, or Cody Hodgson.

Defensively, Keith Ballard was a gaffe-prone, physical defenceman, and Sami Salo was a warrior with a cannon of a slap shot. Both were good enough to play bigger minutes (in a pinch) if injuries mounted.

Fast-forwarding to today: Joshua-Blueger-Garland is one of the best third line’s in the entire NHL by just about every metric, and the fourth line has two players with over 10 goals. On defence, while Tyler Myers can be prone to gaffe’s like Ballard, he’s calmed his game down a lot this season, and Carson Soucy has been a great value find for this front office.

I’m sorry, just can’t look past how good the current bottom six is.

Conor Garland can drive a third line with anyone, but both Teddy Blueger and Dakota Joshua have leveled-up offensively as well. If you told me before the season that Joshua and Blueger had finished the season with their current totals, I wouldn’t have batted an eye, yet we’re just 49 games into the season.

Keeping Nils Höglander a fourth-line role also earns this team some bonus points. Having a guy on pace for ~20 goals on your fourth line is crazy.

Yes, he’s on a shooting percentage heater right now, but I still think he’s a third-line player at minimum.

2-1 2011.

Top 4 Defencemen

2011:
Edler-Ehrhoff
Hamhuis-Bieksa

2024:
Hughes-Hronek
Cole-Zadorov

Let’s just get this out of the way: 2024’s team has a massive advantage solely because of Quinn Hughes.

Even still, man, that 2011 group is real good.

Alex Edler and Christian Ehrhoff were both capable offensive-minded defenders, whilst Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Bieksa were typically deployed as the shutdown pair with Ryan Kesler’s line.

I’d say this team was smart in separating their two best defenceman. Dan Hamhuis was a shutdown specialist, who was actually a decent-enough offensive driver; he just wasn’t a point producer. Christian Ehrhoff was a monster: A play-driver at both ends of the ice, with offensive production to boot.

Bieksa and Edler were no slouches, either. Both played in all situations and were fan-favourites for many years.

Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov aren’t nearly as good as Bieksa or Edler, and they certainly aren’t a better second pair than Hamhuis-Bieksa…

Hughes-Hronek is the best top pair this team has ever seen.

I look at Filip Hronek similarly to Christian Ehrhoff: A great puck mover with a bomb of a shot. He profiles as a ‘meat and potatoes’ offensive defenceman: Not great at any-one thing, but good enough to produce at a high level.

Some analytics models don’t love Hronek. Some suggest that his his success is solely due to playing with Quinn Hughes; which I think is unfair, at least to a certain degree. Hughes was great before, but is a superstar now; and I think we have to give Hronek his fair shake in that regard.

I still have to give the edge to the 2011 group solely based on the amount of quality they add. If this year’s Canucks can add a player of Chris Tanev’s quality, they’ll surpass them.

3-1 2011.

The Top 6

2011:
D. Sedin-H. Sedin-Burrows
Higgins-Kesler-Raymond

2024:
Mikheyev-Pettersson-Lindholm
Suter-Miller-Boeser

The 2024 team is playing for pride at this point, but I think this one is still close.

The Sedins were two-of-a-kind: The best players this city has ever seen (so far). Alex Burrows, meanwhile, was one of the smartest complementary forwards I’ve ever seen. The speed, defensive ability, scoring touch, penalty killing; I can keep going.

Chris Higgins and Mason Raymond were fine players, Raymond in particular was an underrated play-driver, but Ryan Kesler was a capable 1C playing 2C minutes. The two-way force scored 41 goals AND took home the Selke Trophy in 2010-11. 

Today’s top six is also formidable. Ilya Mikheyev hasn’t been the speed demon, PK’ing force that was expected (an ACL injury will do that), but he’s still an effective two-way winger who has fit with Pettersson in the past.

Assuming he’s a career-Canuck, Elias Pettersson will be the best player in the team’s history, and giving him an off-puck attacker in Elias Lindholm should be a seamless fit; as Pettersson can control play with anyone.

Suter-Miller-Boeser is the real wild card. While Suter is an incredibly intelligent defensive forward, he’s typically played in a bottom six role. Miller and Boeser don’t typically control play all-that well at 5v5, but they still find ways to get on the scoresheet more times than not.

If we’re solely looking at it on paper, the current top six might actually look more appealing. I still have to give the 2011 squad the *slightest* edge, simply because there’s some uncertainty about the current group (Lindholm, Mikheyev, Suter).

4-1 win for 2011.

While it’s a three-point gap, I think these teams are closer than the score indicates. Maybe we’ll see this team do what the former couldn’t…

Bring the cup home!

The Go-To Guy: Chris Tanev would be an incredible get for the Canucks

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Oh, you thought that I was gonna just give up on my trade target series just because the Canucks traded for Elias Lindholm?

Think again, fella.

The Canucks aren’t done. We know this. They are going to at least try to add even more to this roster. Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford have the rest of their chips on the table and are ready to push them in if the right piece becomes available.

The Canucks are going for it. Buckle up.

The Lindholm acquisition was so seismic that I initially struggled to imagine what else the team could add. Now that we’re hearing more rumours about Nikita Zadorov potentially being on the move to clear cap space, many are beginning to wonder about Chris Tanev. 

Tanev has been one of the league’s premier shutdown defenceman for a few years, really ever since he signed a four-year deal with the Calgary Flames in the 2020 off-season.

It’s a moment in Canucks history that continues to haunt me today,

With that said, the Canucks have the opportunity to re-write history. The players want Tanev; management wants Tanev; the fans want Tanev; the entire city of Vancouver needs a Chris Tanev reunion more than it needs oxygen.

But that’s it: Everyone wants Tanev. No, seriously, there are apparently over 10 teams that are calling about the Toronto, Ontario-born defenceman.

Can you blame them? Absolutely not. A player of Tanev’s quality is desirable, especially after considering his profile. Right-handed, defence-first defenceman with a track record of thriving against other teams’ top competition?

Go figure.

Chris Tanev would be a terrific add for any team, but he needs to be a Canuck; it just needs to happen. Nothing would be sweeter than to see a former fan-favourite win a cup with the team that signed him out of college.

Yeah, I said “win a cup”. The Canucks have a shot this year, and I think Tanev would be a worthwhile get.

Let’s get into why that is.

Trading Zadorov to get Tanev would be a big upgrade

Let’s just get this out of the way right now: No, I’m not an insider.

I seriously don’t think that the Zadorov rumours are just smoke and mirrors. While Jim Rutherford said they “are not shopping Zadorov”, it’s also been confirmed that the Canucks are trying to get Tanev.

Connect the dots. Zadorov would be the most-likely guy on the way out if they truly want Tanev.

But, again, I’m not an insider.

If these rumours hold any weight, I am of the opinion that essentially swapping Zadorov for Tanev (albeit in separate deals) would be a meaningful upgrade to the Canucks’ blueline. That’s not to discredit the 6’6″, all-situations freak that Zadorov is, rather it’s me highlighting how good Tanev is in comparison.

But these two aren’t comparable; they’re very different players.

The reason as to why I think this upgrade is worth it is simply because of Tanev’s tenure in Calgary. While a respected player in Vancouver, he never got much love from National media or the analytics community. Once he arrived in Calgary, Tanev slightly re-invented his game, relying more on being a disruptor rather than a shot-blocker (although he still eats pucks for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner), and the analytics have popped.

Nothing makes me happier to see a former fan-favourite getting the respect he deserves. It’s just a shame that it had to happen in Calgary.

Nikita Zadorov provides value with his physical presence, solid transitional play, and defensive reliability; but is prone to the occasional gaffe. Tanev isn’t prone to these “gaffe’s” I speak of. He’s one of the most reliable defenceman in the league; you almost never see this man make a mistake.

That in itself is worth trading for. It’s a rare, rare quality to be that dependable. He just doesn’t mess up.

I wouldn’t object if the Canucks just opted to keep Nikita Zadorov, but if they were to seek-out Tanev, I would be more than okay with trading him to get it done.

Tanev is a defensive driver

Chris Tanev is an analytical darling.

Just don’t expect him to generate any offence.

Moneypuck.com shows that Tanev has only generated a meek 0.82 xGF (expected goals for) at 5v5 this season. Luckily, you won’t be getting Chris Tanev to generate chances; you’re getting him because he’s great at preventing them.

That number isn’t good, yet Tanev’s xGF% is still 51.2%, meaning even though he isn’t generating anything, he still *slightly* controls play in his team’s favour more times than not.

That in itself is enough to show just how effective Tanev is defensively. If paired alongside of a decent-enough two-way defenceman (i.e. Carson Soucy), Tanev would thrive.

Come to think of it, having a top four of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Carson Soucy, and Chris Tanev would be; maybe the best top-four in Canucks history.

Maybe that’s a stretch, but it’d definitely be their best since 2011.

The players want him here

When your nickname is “Dad”, you’re probably a favourite in the locker room.

The 2019-20 season was the closest many of the current Canucks’ core has come to any type of playoff success, losing in the 2nd round fto the Vegas Golden Knights.

This is important because Hughes, Pettersson, Boeser, and Demko were all just starting their NHL career’s (Hughes and Demko were rookies), and Chris Tanev was a major influence on not just the core guys, but the rest of the team as well.

If you scroll back up to the JFreshHockey post, do you see how he mentions Quinn Hughes? I believe Rick Dhaliwal initially reported that Hughes has talked to Canucks management about Tanev, directly.

Look, I love to use data and analytics, but sometimes team chemistry can be a factor into who you trade for. Canucks management have signed and traded for players that they are familiar with: So why not get a guy who the most important players on your team called “Dad” in his tenure here?

Oh, he also just-so-happens to be a fantastic hockey player, too? Even better.

The love for Tanev in that locker room is something that has been broadcasted over the last week or so, and I honestly believe that adding him would make the rest of the team run through every wall in Vancouver.

A successful front office tries to balance data with intangibles. You can’t just get a player who’s selling point is something like leadership; or grit, and that’s why we’ve seen more and more old school-type GM’s not getting another crack. A good GM has to move with the times.

Jim Rutherford is still in the NHL at 74. He’s been able to stay open-minded and forward thinking in his approach, always moving with the times.

We are just over one year removed from everyone (including myself) questioning how he (and the rest of the front office) questioned how the Bruce Boudreau fiasco was handled, along with many other interior cracks.

Now we talk about this team as legitimate foes for the first time in at least over a decade, and how reuniting with Chris Tanev is in the realm of possibility.

Life doesn’t feel real anymore.

Tanev would be an unreal get; it’s one that I would struggle to disagree with. The Canucks shouldn’t trade for him if heaven and earth is the asking price…

But if the price is right, they should absolutely pull the trigger.

The Go-To Guy: Breaking down the Elias Lindholm acquisition and why it’s a great fit for the Canucks

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Well, there goes my plans for the week.

I’m not complaining, though. I’m all for the chaos.

If you’re not in the know, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames, with the Flames receiving Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2024 1st round pick, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, and a conditional 2024 4th round pick in return.

Many view this deal as a win/win for both parties, and I find it difficult to say otherwise. Calgary clearly went for the ‘quantity over quality’ approach, and that’s totally fine. Andrei Kuzmenko has the skill to be an impact player, Hunter Brzustewicz has produced at a high-level in the OHL, and a 1st round pick is never a bad get.

But you’re not reading this to know how Calgary did.

Let’s not waste any time and break down this trade from the Canucks’ perspective.

The player himself + his season so far

I mentioned in my article about Jake Guentzel that familiarity has consistently proven to be a factor whenever the front office has added to this Canucks roster. Look no further than Sam Lafferty, Ian Cole, and Teddy Blueger all being previously brought in by Jim Rutherford’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Low and behold, they went out and got someone who was drafted by Jim Rutherford back in 2013.

Elias Lindholm is a great get for the Canucks. He’s a versatile top-six forward with a solid track record of top line-caliber production and decent defensive impact.

With all of that said, this season hasn’t been a good one for Lindholm. He’s seen his production drop off significantly and the underlying metrics haven’t loved his performance either.

This tweet from JFreshHockey is a good indicator as to why we’ve seen Lindholm struggle mightily so far this season. While he’s historically been a great player, Lindholm thrives when deployed with top-line talent, especially players that can get him the puck (hence why Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk was the best line in hockey in 2021-22).

Lindholm had been tasked to be Calgary’s number one forward, and that’s just not the role that’s best suited for him. He doesn’t have to be “the guy” in Vancouver. Lindholm could absolutely thrive if he rides shotgun with someone like Elias Pettersson driving his line. Pettersson hasn’t had quality linemates for the majority of the year, and getting a player with Lindholm’s defensive profile and scoring ability could be a seamless fit.

I fully understand the level of skepticism amongst a portion of the fanbase who may look at what the analytics are suggesting and think “why not a rental like Guentzel, instead?”: but with Lindholm’s scoring profile and defensive ability, this should work; and many of the smartest hockey people seem to agree.

Versatility (mock lineup season!)

Okay, let’s get into the fun stuff.

Elias Lindholm’s versatility was maybe the biggest draw for a Canucks front office that has already grabbed swaths of forwards who can play both in the middle and on the wing. Lindholm has won over 55% of his faceoffs, can play on the penalty kill, and has experience playing both center and right wing.

The Canucks have already mixed and matched their lineup quite a bit this season, and now they have another versatile forward who can play in all situations to further expand the lineup’s flexibility.

Here’s the thing: While many seem to agree that Pettersson would be the best fit to play with Lindholm, I’m not sure if they could go wrong with any line combo.

So… I’ve cooked up some potential lines combos.

Mock Line #1: Mikheyev-Pettersson-Lindholm

This is probably the best case scenario for both Lindholm and the team as a whole, at least on paper.

All three forward’s have a track record of solid defensive play, and Lindholm could finally be the trigger man that Pettersson has so desperately needed this season. Not only that, but Lindholm can lessen Pettersson’s workload in the defensive zone, as he won’t be fully responsible for cleaning up messes all by himself.

I’d expect this trio to be a formidable matchup line if given the opportunity.

Mock Line #2: Miller-Pettersson-Lindholm

Lotto Line adjacent.

I would much prefer option one, but if Tocchet opts to load-up the top line, I don’t see how this wouldn’t be a viable option. Miller has historically proven to be an uber-effective play-driver when deployed on the wing, especially with Elias Pettersson.

Adding another Elias to that duo would be unfair.

The problem? Brock Boeser plays his best when deployed with an elite passer, and he’s already such a good fit with Miller and Pettersson. Tasking him with driving the second line would minimize his value.

Mock Line #3: Joshua-Lindholm-Garland

Now THIS is where the lineup flexibility could really prove to be a boon.

If the coaching staff decides to spread the talent, Lindholm could be a great fit alongside Conor Garland, who is one of the better 5v5 play-driving forwards on the Canucks. This line would most-likely be deployed against lesser competition, and Lindholm still wouldn’t be tasked with driving the line since Garland thrives against other teams’ bottom lines.

The question this sparks is what would the rest of the lineup look like?

Teddy Blueger would be the obvious answer at 4C, but what about the top six? Suter-Miller-Boeser has worked in a small sample size, and I think that a player of Nils Höglander’s profile could be a fit with Pettersson and Mikheyev.

Regardless, this is all in good fun, but I think option one is the go-to combo. I just can’t look past the possibility of a Lindholm-Pettersson duo.

What the stats suggest + a revamped power play

Lindholm’s impact at 5v5 has dipped quite a bit this season.

Per moneypuck.com, his 5v5 xG total is a mere 7.5, which means he’s roughly on pace to beat his total of 12.2 last season. Even with these totals not jumping off the page, Lindholm still hasn’t scored at a rate that’s above expected: in fact, he’s been incredibly unlucky so far this season, scoring -3.4 goals above expected.

Add-on the fact that his 5v5 shooting percentage is just 4.8%, his impact may not move that much further up, nor down, but the bounces should be coming; especially if paired with an elite playmaker like Pettersson or Miller.

Lindholm has never been a great play-driver at 5v5. He attacks plays without the puck to get himself in prime scoring areas. That part of his game should be a great complement to the Canucks’ first power play unit.

What makes the Canucks power play so successful? Well, when they’re clicking, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes are basically a package-deal of quarterbacks. While Hughes mans the point, Miller’s IQ from the left flank is wildly impressive, and usually acts as a dual-threat (same as Hughes).

Elias Pettersson has one of the best shots in the entire NHL, that in itself is self-explanatory.

Then there’s Brock Boeser, who has made a living in both the bumper and net-front positions. I think that Boeser is best-suited to be the net-front guy, so bringing in one of the most effective bumper shooter’s in the entire league adds another element to the Canucks’ already lethal power play.

Both players can swap in and out of each position, meaning Lindholm also provides versatility in that regard, as well.

So yeah, I like the trade for Vancouver. I think Lindholm will fit like a glove in Vancouver’s system. It’s just a shame that we have to wait ’til Tuesday to see him make his Canucks debut.

For now, enjoy the NHL All-Star break!

The Go-To Guy: Why Jake Guentzel would be a great fit for the Canucks

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The All-Star break has begun for most teams in the NHL, and one of those team’s just so happens to reside in the beautiful city of Vancouver.

Fresh off of a 5-4 comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Canucks set their sights to Toronto where five players (Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser) and head coach Rick Tocchet will all participate in the annual All-Star festivities.

While their vacations may be shortened, some Canucks brass have already begun their days off, including Nils Höglander, who has opted to go for a slightly more ‘out of the box’ vacation approach…

Sturgeon fishing.

You do you, king.

Despite it now being the All-Star break, don’t be surprised if General Manager Patrik Allvin starts working the phones. In fact, I’m writing this on January 30, which means it’s the one-year anniversary of the Bo Horvat trade.

The current regime has proven to be aggressive time and time again. Whether it be the aforementioned Horvat trade, flipping some of those assets for Filip Hronek, or splurging nearly ~$20 million to acquire Ilya Mikheyev in the regime’s inaugural free agency.

This lot is not afraid to make a move if they think it will make the team better, and that’s not a surprise considering the team’s President of Hockey Operations is Jim Rutherford. You don’t just get the nickname “Trader Jim” for nothing. He’s earned it.

A common theme with this front office is that most of the new personnel they’ve brought in have been linked with Allvin and Rutherford in the past, (i.e. Rick Tocchet, Sam Lafferty, and Teddy Blueger). Familiarity has proven to be a big factor when bringing in new faces, and I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.

With the NHL Trade Deadline closing in, teams more-or-less know where they stand. I mean, the Canucks certainly do, they’re first place in the entire league and are dominating at a level the city hasn’t seen since 2011. They’re on pace to become the greatest team in franchise history.

And that’s why they need to go for it.

One player that has been repeatedly linked to the Canucks is Pittsburgh Penguins left winger, Jake Guentzel. The soon-to-be 30-year-old winger has put up a wildly impressive resume over his eight seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup in his rookie year, and reaching the 40-goal plateau twice.

While I’m not sure if acquiring a rental would be the smartest piece of business for the club, Guentzel is probably the best rental option on the market.

And, again, familiarity is key here, as Allvin played a big part in drafting Guentzel in 2012.

So, if there aren’t any long-term options available, why would Jake Guentzel be such a seamless fit?

A mix of goal-scoring and play-driving

Whether they opt for a rental or not, the Canucks need a top-six forward that can control play. Not only can Guentzel do just that, he does it at an extremely high level.

Guentzel has proven to be an elite chance creator for years, especially at 5v5.

That’s exactly what the doctor ordered for Vancouver. While they are shooting the absolute lights out of the league, there really isn’t anyone not named Elias Pettersson who can create a ton of chances at 5v5, at least in the top-six. The only other forward who profiles as such would be Conor Garland, but I don’t know how you could possibly split that third line up.

While JFreshHockey‘s model is bullish on his play-driving ability, it’s not the same when it comes to his finishing. While that may look surprising, it doesn’t actually shock me all that much.

Guentzel isn’t a one-shot weapon akin to a Brock Boeser or an Auston Matthews. The way he scores is by generating dangerous chances at a high volume, and he has a shot that’s good enough to score on a good chunk of them. The winger has already amassed 22 goals through 46 games this season, meaning he has a very good chance of reaching the 40-goal mark for the third time in his career.

Per Moneypuck, Guentzel has generated a whopping 13.63 xGF (expected goals-for) at 5v5 this season, leading the Penguins in that category. For reference, the Canucks leader in that category is Ilya Mikheyev with an xGF of 8.924.

If a player generates chances at the sheer volume that Guentzel does, he’s gonna score.

If the Canucks were to acquire the star-level winger, I don’t think there’s a wrong answer as to who to put him with. J.T. Miller has been a one-shot weapon throughout his time in Vancouver, and Elias Pettersson could absolutely thrive with another play-driver.

No matter who he’s put with, Guentzel would instantly become the Canucks’ best 5v5 play-driver, and wouldn’t have to ride a stupidly high shooting percentage to score at a high rate.

He’s a proven playoff warrior

“Veteran leadership”, “playoff experience”, and “cup-winning grit” are phrases that haunt Canucks fans due to the sins of Jim Benning, who’d overpay depth pieces for those intangible qualities, instead of paying up for the higher-end pieces with said intangibles.

If the Canucks want a guy with those qualities, Jake Guentzel would probably be the most desirable piece to acquire.

Look no further than his inaugural playoff appearance, which saw the then-23-year-old score 13 goals (11 at even-strength) and 21 points in 25 games, with 4 of those goals coming in the Stanley Cup Final vs the Nashville Predators.

Pekka Rinne may have been “too good right now”, but Guentzel found a way to torch the Finnish netminder, en route to a Stanley Cup.

The Penguins didn’t find that same success in the following year, but Guentzel sure did. With 21 points in just 12(!!!!!) games the following postseason, the Minnesota-born winger proved that the dominance he displayed the previous year wasn’t a fluke.

Guentzel’s playoff production skidded in the following years, but the Penguins weren’t the force that they were in years prior.

Then came the 2022 playoffs.

Guentzel was fresh off of his 2nd 40-goal campaign (with 84 points), and the Penguins had to face a red-hot New York Rangers squad in the first round. While they dropped a game seven heartbreaker in overtime, Guentzel was, again, an absolute monster, tallying 10 points in 7 games.

Oh yeah, 7 of those 10 points were goals.

Even though the Canucks have only made the playoffs once since the start of the Elias Pettersson era, that one run had the Canucks’ top guns performing at the apex of their abilities. Pettersson (7-11-18) and Miller (6-12-18) were over a point-per-game, with Quinn Hughes being one point shy of that mark (2-14-16). And, I mean, Thatcher Demko had one of the best three-game playoff stretches by any goalie in NHL history. I don’t have any doubt that he’ll be a monster when given the opportunity to play a full run.

While it was the weird 24-team year, those Canucks were four years younger than they are now. Pettersson and Hughes especially impressed at ages 21 and 20, and they’ve leveled-up significantly since then.

Adding a proven playoff monster to a team looking to break through would be a sharp, sharp bet. Guentzel comes up in big moments, something that this team has been lacking in their 54-year history (no, I’m not talking about Luongo).

While a longer term solution is preferred, Guentzel would still be an incredible fit for this Canucks team. An elite play-driver, goal-scorer, and proven playoff ace, Jake Guentzel would be a great get for any team; and an absolute no-brainer for a Canucks team ready to go all-in.

Bring me the Trade Deadline chaos. I’m all for it.

The Go-To Guy’s All-Star break player grades for the Vancouver Canucks

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Hey! It’s the All-Star break and the Canucks are 1st place in the NHL.

Nothing makes sense anymore and we are all living a lie.

It may feel that way, at least; but it is reality. The Canucks are piling up the wins and putting together one of the best season’s the franchise has seen over its 54-year span.

There’s just a different energy in the city when the Canucks are doing well. I have had countless interactions with people saying how genuinely excited they are about the team, even if they weren’t previously a fan.

That’s what this is all about. Don’t try to gatekeep your fandom and push those “fair-weather fans” away, embrace them, let them be excited about the Canucks.

If you’re a new fan, I welcome you with open arms.

The Canucks have amassed a 33-11-5 record (71 points) over 49 games so far this season. They had 83 points all of last season. If you look up the saying “what a difference a year makes” you will find a photo of the 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks roster.

Oh yeah, the roster. There are a ton of new faces in this year’s iteration of the Canucks, and pretty much all of them have been great. Genuinely.

The old, the new, the really, really new, everyone is getting their midterm grades today. I’m going to rank each player into tiers going from “A+” to “F”.

So let’s start off with the worse of the regulars.

F Tier:

Nobody 

Bah god! That’s Mitski‘s music!

The Canucks are first place in the NHL. How could I possibly give anyone an ‘F’.

Next!

D Tier:

Andrei Kuzmenko

This genuinely hurts.

I remember saying prior to the season how I wouldn’t be too surprised if Kuzmenko leveled up into a 90+ point, superstar caliber winger; or regressed to a 50-60 point, second line winger.

What I didn’t expect was Kuzmenko regressing into a middle-six-type producer.

It’s been pretty rough sledding for the Russian winger this season. He’s been in Rick Tocchet’s doghouse at times, hasn’t produced even remotely close to the rate he was expected to, and looks completely lost at times. His confidence is clearly shot, and it’s unfortunate to see.

Not much else to say. It seems likely that he’ll moved out in relatively short order.

C Tier:

Phil Di Giuseppe, Ilya Mikheyev

Phil Di Giuseppe hasn’t been a consistent fixture in the lineup over the past month or so (mainly due to injuries), but his play was steadily declining long before his latest injury. His forechecking ability is his best asset… but that’s also his only asset. He hasn’t found a consistent spot in the lineup, but I think he’s still a useful player.

As for Mikheyev, his mark has been bumped down ’cause of a pretty forgettable month of January, with just 3 assists in 13 games. I was debating putting him in the D tier with Kuzmenko, but his defensive impact has remained a net-positive for the squad.

C+ Tier:

Nils Aman, Noah Juulsen, Tyler Myers, Nikita Zadorov

It’s genuinely remarkable how much Noah Juulsen has re-formed his season in rather short order. He was pretty much unusable whenever called upon, but is now one of the key cogs in the Canucks’ PK. That five-minute kill vs the Blue Jackets on Saturday night was a great example of that.

Pretty much the same goes for Nils Aman. He won’t provide any offence, but his defensive play and penalty killing have provided at least some value for this team.

Tyler Myers being this high makes me happy. Last season was a disaster and probably his worst as a Canuck. This year, Myers has been pretty steady in Rick Tocchet’s system, which is all I asked from him at the start of the season. He still takes *way* too many penalties, but that’s just never going to change.

Zadorov is just a better, more disciplined, and less productive version of Myers. He’s been pretty much as advertised since arriving in Vancouver.

B Tier:

Ian Cole, Sam Lafferty, Casey DeSmith

Ian Cole has provided a level of stability to the backend that this city hasn’t seen since Chris Tanev. The defensive metrics speak for themselves, and while he doesn’t provide much offence, he doesn’t need to. A defensive specialist and one of the best signings from last off-season.

Sam Lafferty has become the typical fan-favourite 4th line player that this city loves. The speed, physicality, and occasional offensive production has been great; and he’s a pretty fun player to watch when he’s clicking.

Casey DeSmith is the best backup goaltender the Canucks have had in a very, very long time. I just wish the coaching staff would utilize him more to manage Thatcher Demko’s workload. I have nothing outwardly bad to say about DeSmith’s performance thus far. He’s typically rock-solid whenever called upon.

B+ Tier:

Nils Höglander, Carson Soucy

One-half of The Höglem Globetrotterssons has given the Canucks’ bottom-six an extra gear. With 14 goals and 20 points (14-6-20) so far, Höglander’s trajectory is going up after a couple of down seasons, and I have no doubt that he’ll hit 20 goals by season’s end.

Not bad for a fourth liner.

I don’t think Carson Soucy has gotten enough love from the Vancouver market. While he’s been in and out of the lineup due to injuries, Soucy has been maybe this team’s best defender not named Quinn Hughes or Filip Hronek. What sets him apart from a guy like Ian Cole is that while he’s been steady, he’s also been able to produce at a solid rate to boot. Another great signing from Allvin and co.

A- Tier:

The third line, Pius Suter, Filip Hronek

When talking about the best 5v5 lines in the league, the Canucks’ third line of Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger, and Conor Garland are frequently brought up. They’ve been this team’s engine at 5v5, especially Garland. Blueger’s production has been a pleasant surprise, and Joshua has leveled-up from last season.

Pius Suter was, in my mind, the best off-season acquisition that the Canucks made. With a cap-hit of $1.6 Million, Suter has provided surplus value and then some. He’s the catalyst of the penalty kill, a solid 5v5 play-driver, and one of the smartest defensive forwards the team has had since the likes of Jannik Hansen and Manny Malholtra.

Oh, and he’s signed ’til the end of next season. Score.

I was skeptical of the Filip Hronek trade when it initially happened, but he’s proven to be an incredible sidekick for Quinn Hughes. His underlying numbers have been less than spectacular, but 36 points through 49 games is too good to overlook.

For an organization that hasn’t had a whole lot of high-end defenceman, having two top-pair caliber ones on the same team is pretty remarkable.

A Tier:

Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Thatcher Demko, Elias Pettersson

Brock Boeser a 30 goal-scorer for the first time in his NHL career and we’re only 49 games into the season. Enough said.

As for the other three All-Stars in the A tier, they’re all having the best season’s of their respective career’s. J.T. Miller is fourth in NHL scoring (21-46-67) at the time I’m writing this piece, Elias Pettersson scored 14 goals in the month of January (27-37-64 on the season), and Thatcher Demko has been a world beater between the pipes, manning a .920 save percentage and 5 shutouts through 35 games.

There’s just one player who has been, in my mind, the best player on the Canucks.

A+ Tier:

Quinn Hughes 

I mean, duh.

The frontrunner for the Norris Trophy has amassed 12 goals and 50 assists (12-50-62) in 49 games, averaging just over an assist-per-game rate so far this season.

Bonkers.

Hughes is set to destroy Canucks records that HE had set in years prior, chugging along at a 104 point pace. This is Bobby Orr-level stuff from Hughes this season, and it’s been incredible to watch.

Whether he’s breaking the opposition’s ankles or ripping shots bar-down, Quinn Hughes has been one of the league’s best players this season, and it’s difficult to process the sheer level of dominance that he’s showcased so far.

That’s how you lead.

The Go-To Guy: Brock Boeser is a 30 goal-scorer!

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What the hell happened last night?

I was so prepared to write a rant-piece, yet I am about to gush about one of the zaniest hockey games I have ever seen, on the back of a three-goal comeback win from the Vancouver Canucks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the worst team’s in the Eastern Conference… again, while the Canucks have been one of the league’s top teams throughout the duration of this season. But it wasn’t long ago when the Canucks had a five-game winning streak snatched away from them by the hands of said manteau bleu’s. 

Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t some sort of “revenge game” from the Canucks’ perspective, but going in, many thought this was the perfect opportunity to go into the All-Star break on a high note.

It was far from perfect, but it sure was a high note!

This game had everything (as I say that in a Stefon voice), and you came to the right guy to break it down for you.

Buckle up, this is going to be a fun one.

1st Period: “Is this PDO regression?”

First of all, what’s PDO?

PDO is a metric that combines shooting percentage (SH%) and save percentage (SV%). Team’s with a PDO below 100 tend to be unlucky, whilst team’s with a PDO above 100 are usually touted as “lucky” and due for regression.

The Canucks fanbase has become familiar with the term due to different members of the analytics community constantly preaching about the regression the team was set to face.

As for the Canucks themselves? They’ve never heard of this “PDO” but they send their regards.

That first period felt like an omen. I was seriously considering the possibility that this game was the start of the regression during the first period. I mean, the Canucks couldn’t get a bounce no matter what they tried.

Who was I kidding? These are the Vancouver Canucks. “Regression” doesn’t apply to this bunch.

The Joshua-Blueger-Garland line were humming along as usual, and I really think that Rick Tocchet might have found something Suter-Miller-Boeser. Sure, they’ve only gotten reps together vs St. Louis & Columbus, but that unit was dominant again, tonight. Jackets’ goalie Elvis Merzlikins made some key saves, and both team’s left the first frame without a goal.

Ugh. Give me some fireworks, already.

2nd Period: Why is it ALWAYS the 2nd Period???

I DIDN’T MEAN IT! GO BACK! GO BACK!!!

The hockey gods figured “hey, the Canucks haven’t had enough misfortune tonight”, so then they proceeded to give the Blue Jackets four goals in the 2nd period.

Yuck. Blegh. Glarb.

Denis Voronkov high sticks Elias Pettersson, and instead of scoring on the power play, Pettersson decided to grab an assist!

It’s just too bad it happened to be for the opposition. Alexandre Texier takes advantage of the turnover and scores shorthanded. 1-0 CBJ.

Oh, cool, Sean Kuraly takes a shot that hits the stick of Teddy Blueger and finds its way into the net. 2-0 CBJ.

This is fun!

Having two goals against in rather short order is obviously not an ideal way to begin a period, but man the Canucks looked sloppy, especially their top guys. Pettersson, Hughes, and Miller all had notable turnovers in the second frame, but the latter decided, “what if I passed it to our leading goal-scorer instead?”

Brock Boeser finally breaks the six-game goalless drought to bring the game within one off of a sick, sick pass from J.T. Miller. 2-1 CBJ.

This is… slightly more fun!

And Miller wasn’t done there. For his second act, J.T. Miller is going to attempt a breakout pass directly up the middle of the ice-

Yeah I think you know how this ends.

Jake Bean cruises through the offensive zone and buries a wrist shot past Thatcher Demko. It’s now 3-1 CBJ.

What? You want to see more blatantly stupid decision making? How about a knee-on-knee hit by Nikita Zadorov to take Columbus to the power play? Does that sound better?

No, it doesn’t. 4-1 CBJ.

This was the first time all-season where I seriously debated turning the TV off mid-game, but I just couldn’t. This team is different, last night wasn’t the norm anymore. Something was brewing during the 2nd intermission. I could sense it.

3rd Period: …He did it

Vancouver started the 3rd period on the power play after a penalty taken in the winding moments of the 2nd. And with just 18 seconds remaining on the man advantage, Elias Pettersson had Elvis Merzlikins flopping around like prime Luis Suarez, and ripped it.

4-2 CBJ.

Denis Voronkov figured one penalty wasn’t enough, so he came out for an encore, hooking J.T. Miller.

Chance, after chance, after chance, but nothing to show for it. Then, Quinn Hughes does what he does best, destroying Sean Kuraly’s ankles while walking the blueline, ripping a wrist shot towards the goal, and both Pius Suter and Brock Boeser get their sticks on it. Boeser got the last touch, two on the night for him.

4-3 CBJ.

Boone Jenner then takes a penalty shortly thereafter and ohhhh baby, Canucks to the power play… again!

One thing to note about the prior goal was that it was Brock Boeser’s 29th of the season. It’s worth noting because, well, he’s one away from 30; but he’s also never reached that plateau in his career thus far.

I mean, who else was going to get the game-tying goal?

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

“The Flow”, “Brockstar”, whatever nickname you choose, it doesn’t matter. Finally, in his seventh season as a Canuck, Brock Boeser hit the 30 goal mark. It’s a day that all of Canucks Nation has been waiting for. No one is more deserving of the season they’re having than Brock Boeser.

4-4 tie.

With just over eight minutes to play, Ian Cole takes a penalty that is reviewed for a major. Tyler Myers actually elbows Sean Kuraly on that same sequence, and he ends up getting the major penalty…

Which technically isn’t allowed.

Breaking the rules to make the right call is the most NHL thing I’ve ever seen.

Hilarious.

The good news is that the Canucks killed off the entire major, and did so near-flawlessly. They might have actually generated more offence than the Jackets did, with Pettersson, Ilya Mikheyev, and Nils Aman all getting chances.

I also want to give a shoutout to Pius Suter, as I thought he was the catalyst of this PK. Unreal stuff from him.

The Garland line had some more chances near the end of 3rd, and that just about does it for regulation. Off to overtime, again.

Overtime: *insert really popular song by Smash Mouth*

There was never any doubt that Vancouver would take this, right? Columbus weren’t generating much of anything and the Canucks dominated puck possession in OT.

J.T. Miller had a great chance, cutting to the inside and firing a wrist shot that was gloved by Merzlikins.

While I was hoping for another four-goal-game from Boeser, I guess I’ll just have to live with him getting an assist on the winner, courtesy of Elias Pettersson.

Elias Pettersson ends January with his 14th goal and 21st point of the month (13 games). Boeser notched his fourth point of the night, with Pettersson, Hughes, and Miller all finishing with 3. The stars were noticeably off in the first two periods, yet they were the ones that would eventually be the difference.

The Canucks end an incredible January with a 10-1-2 record, and now lead the league in wins, points, and point-percentage.

These guys are a wagon. Full stop.

Will we see a trade during the break? Who knows. But what we do know is that with even more firepower, the Vancouver Canucks could increase their chances at winning the Stanley Cup.

It feels crazy that this is even being talked about, but it’s reality. Finally.

The Go-To Guy: The five best songs not released in 2023 that I discovered last year

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One of the really cool things about music is just how accessible it is in the current day. Whether it’s artists of said current day; or artists that were from decade’s prior, any song and/or artist can be accessed at the click of a button.

It’s a whole other conversation when talking about the compensation these musicians are getting from certain music distribution platforms, but with music being so accessible, it’s easier for artists to get themselves out there.

For me, I try to support the artists I like through buying merchandise and seeing them live. It’s the least one could do, but if you can do it, you should.

I listened to a lot of music in 2023, old and new, and while many are still debating about if 2023 was actually a good year for new music, I can safely say that I found more music that spoke to me in 2023 than any other year in almost 21 years on this planet.

I already did a piece highlighting my favourite songs from 2023, but this one will be the best songs that I heard that weren’t from 2023. Karan Parmar (fellow writer on Evolution) has also done his own list, so I recommend you read that one, as well (just after you’re done reading this one).

If you’re looking for a totally objective, fact-based list, well, you’re not in the right place. However, I think these five songs would be worthy additions to any playlist you may be cooking up.

5. Arcarsenal – At the Drive-In (2000)

“BEWARE!!!!!” x15 billion.

At the Drive-In is a band that I’ve known about for a long time. They’re one that has consistently found critical acclaim for many years, especially their album Relationship of Command. 

I decided to give this album a spin at one point towards the end of summer. I already knew the most popular track, One Armed Scissor, so I wasn’t totally unfamiliar with the band’s sound. Add-on the fact that two of the group’s founding members were the same two that formed The Mars Volta, who just so happen to be one of my favourite band’s.

While the album has many highlights, Arcarsenal is such an incredible statement to start the record. The intensity is palpable throughout its nearly three-minute runtime. The raw, punchy production is a great complement for Cedric Bixler‘s shouty vocal delivery.

There isn’t the typical, traditional chorus, but the repeated refrain of “BEWARE!” sticks like Flex Tape, especially in the track’s winding moments.

The pure catharsis in which this track generates is insane, making for one of the most memorable music experiences I had in 2023.

4. Hysterical Us – Magdalena Bay (2021)

Shoutout to the homie Sophie for this one.

Hysterical Us is just so damn infectious; a serotonin boost from start to finish.

The song comes from the duo’s 2021 full-length record, Mercurial World, a synth-pop triumph and one of the better records released this decade so far.

The influences of bubblegum-pop and art-pop are present throughout the record, but Hysterical Us might be the album’s crowning achievement. It’s a song that seems to be about the confusing nature of loving another person and how fun it can be.

Like I said, it’s a serotonin boost. There aren’t many songs that can bring out such a visceral, genuine feeling of joy, but this one does it! Both the instrumentals and vocals invoke such positive energy, making for one of the most infectious songs I have ever heard.

Give this one a spin (along with the album itself) if you want a good-vibes banger, ’cause lord knows we need some more of those right now.

3. Never Fight A Man With A Perm – IDLES (2018)

“Brylcreem, creatine, and a bag of Charlie Sheen” has to be one of the funniest lyric’s ever written.

Quality lyricism seems to be the mantra for UK punk outfit, IDLES. The band has consistently been a force in the punk scene for many, many years with their politically charged, mostly positive take on punk/post-punk; yet I had previously never made the effort to check out their catalogue.

That all changed once my sister showed me Never Fight A Man With A Perm, the second track from their second full-length album, Joy.

I almost felt bad for myself. How could I possibly have missed out on something this good.

In peak IDLES fashion, the lyrical content is hilariously tongue and cheek, targeting the sigma male, incel gym bros that we have all come across at one point in our lives; and they do so in an incredibly effective way.

Punk riffage, hard-hitting drumming, explosive vocals from Joseph Talbot, you got yourself a winner here.

I also would like to point out that I will be seeing this song when they’re at the PNE Forum on May 3. The only reason I’m pointing this out is because it’ll be my first ever punk show, and, you know, this band has continuously ruled for years and you should totally see them if you have the chance.

Their new album is going to be so good, but it’ll be difficult for anything to top this one. Never Fight A Man With A Perm is one of the best punk songs ever.

Period.

2. Left of the Dial – The Replacements

Ah, the obligatory “Replacements pick.”

Okay, okay, I know that I went on a massive Replacements binge this past year, and they were already one of my favourite band’s ever, so there is some clear bias here, I have to admit.

I love Left of the Dial like how I love the Jeff Rosenstock track, 3 SUMMERS. I just can’t help but smile every time I hear the opening riff, knowing that the song I’m about to listen to is Left of the Dial.

It’s just the only way I could possibly describe it.

The track came off the band’s 1985 release, Tim, which, I don’t know if you’ve heard this album, but you should. Frontman Paul Westerberg has gone on to say that this song was a nod to the College radio stations that helped the band get to where they were, it was also revealed that, in part, the track was about the singer’s interest in Lynn Blakey (Let’s Active).

Not only is it my favourite song on the album (which I gave a 10/10 by the way), it’s potentially my favourite song in the entire ‘Mats catalogue.

It may not have the emotional stagnancy that tracks like Androgynous (Let It Be) or Bastards of Young (Tim) have, but I just can’t help it. The positive energy in which this song radiates is just so infectious.

It’s a fun, punky, power-pop masterpiece. Full stop. While not #1 on the list, I don’t want to sell it short; since the only song that beat it was one that made me cry upon first listen…

1. Stars (Live at Casino Montreux) – Nina Simone

Haha, yeah, this song makes me feel horrible in the best way possible.

I use the term “emotional powerhouse” when describing certain songs, and I think there’s no greater use of term than when it’s being applied to Stars. 

This song destroys me.

I first heard the track at the end of Bojack Horseman‘s season three finale, and while the scene itself was already incredibly powerful and emotional, the use of Stars in the episode’s winding moments was seismic. I mean, I had to ask my sister what the song was because it was that stunning. 

An uber-effective commentary about Hollywood, the common thirst for fame, and the pressures that come with stardom; as well as how quickly it can fade away. It’s also not hard to pick up on the singer’s commentary about how Hollywood has taken advantage of many, many people, which is still a relevant topic of discussion.

The gentle piano and near-spoken-word vocals carry the track for the majority of its runtime, but that buildup.

Oh my god, that buildup!

Simone‘s vocals crescendo along with the piano, and it features nods to the many others before her to sing this song before her. The final refrain of “we always have a story” never fails to give me chills.

Nina Simone was one of the most incredibly gifted singers the world has ever seen, and Stars deserves to be discussed as one of the greatest moments in music history, with this version being the peak of it’s many iterations.