Vancouver Canucks training camp is just a week away, and after some offseason shuffling around on the wing and the defence corps, multiple lineup spots are up for grabs. In this series, we’ll be highlighting some of these training camp battles and will provide all the facts so you can make your best-educated guess at who you think should earn the spot in question this season.
First, we discussed which of Teddy Blueger and Pius Suter would win that third-line centre role. Today, we’ll dive into a few options to win the left-wing spot alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser.
There’s been a major makeover in this Vancouver Canucks winger group. Sam Lafferty and Vasily Podkolzin were the only two departures, while Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood, and Daniel Sprong were all brought in to compete for various winger slots. However, perhaps the most sought-after position up for grabs for these players is that opening on the left side of Miller and Boeser.
Last season, there was frequent line juggling for that spot. The three players to play at least 100+ minutes of 5-on-5 ice time with Miller and Boeser were Phil Di Giuseppe, Pius Suter and Elias Pettersson – honourable mention to Nils Höglander, who played 98 minutes.
Here are how these three lines performed:
According to these numbers, Miller and Boeser performed the best when Suter was on their line. And of course, Pettersson-Miller-Boeser was the more fun and impactful trio on the ice, with goals like these:
However, consistently stacking those three on one line isn’t sustainable for successful forward depth. With the added winger depth, Suter’s centre ability is needed on either the third or fourth line, and Phil Di Guiseppe will likely start the season in the press box. This leaves a likely newcomer to fill that void.
But who?
Jake DeBrusk
Although he was the big free-agent forward acquisition brought in to play alongside Pettersson, DeBrusk seems like a perfect player to play on a line with Miller.
DeBrusk brings some qualities from what Suter brought to the line. He’s defensively responsible, first-in on the forecheck and first-back on the backcheck. But he would bring an extra level of goal-scoring and offensive production that Suter lacked.
During his time in Boston, DeBrusk played his best when he was playing as the third option on a line. In the 2022-2023 season, DeBrusk had a career year (27 goals, 50 points in 64 games) playing third-fiddle on a line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron for 409:37 5-on-5 minutes.
Miller and Boeser excelled in the cycle game last season, often drawing extra defenders toward them, leaving Suter with weaker pressure near the net for a scoring opportunity. DeBrusk isn’t a slouch in the corners, either. He could be first-in on the forecheck and work the boards with Miller or Boeser, leaving the other with a solid scoring chance.
Adding DeBrusk’s finishing ability, along with his defensive prowess, could be that final piece of the puzzle to form a dominant line on both ends of the ice for the Canucks.
Danton Heinen
Aside from the centre defensive knowledge and faceoff abilities, Heinen seems like the closest comparable to what Suter would bring to this line.
Heinen is best known for his defensive game, but showed last season that he can produce offensively. Although the former Bruin struggled to find consistent linemates throughout the season, it can attest to the trust Boston coach Jim Montgomery held in Heinen and his versatility to play with star players and in a depth role.
In our “The Tape” series, we highlighted Heinen’s ability to carry the puck through the zone comfortably. He may not need to use that as much, with Miller and Boeser being strong in that regard, but it is an area that would be an upgrade on Suter. Like DeBrusk, Heinen is also not afraid to play along the boards and in the cycle game – an area in which Miller and Boeser excelled last season.
Heinen’s tenacity on the forecheck and defensive play could be an excellent fit alongside one of the Canucks’ most dynamic duos.
Daniel Sprong
Over the previous few seasons, Sprong has provided his team with some much-valued depth scoring. Although he excelled in that role, scoring back-to-back 40-point seasons, it’s always been a question of why he hasn’t been trusted higher in the lineup.
During his time with the Detroit Red Wings last season, Sprong seemed to struggle on the defensive side of the game, as well as against tougher competition when slotted higher in the lineup. If he’s going to play with Miller and Boeser, that will undoubtedly be a problem.
Miller and Boeser are often lined up against opposing teams’ most difficult matchups. The third member of this line should be able to at least hold their own in the defensive zone.
However, Sprong would bring an added level of offence with a powerful, accurate shot on the opposite side of Boeser’s that this line hasn’t seen – outside of Pettersson, of course.
Nils Höglander
This seems to be a popular option discussed around Canucks-universe, but least likely in this author’s opinion.
In need of a spark on Elias Pettersson’s line and Höglander scoring 17 5-on-5 goals on the fourth line, he graduated to the first line. He performed admirably in that role, scoring seven more 5-on-5 goals and being the hard-nosed forechecker to get the puck for Pettersson out of the corners.
However, that ran dry when it came playoff time. So dry that Höglander was scratched for three of the Canucks’ 14 playoff games. But again, Suter wasn’t too consistent in the point column and still thrived on Miller and Boeser’s line.
But it’s the defensive side that lacks for Höglander. While Miller was trusted to shut down Connor McDavid in the playoffs, and Boeser proved to take a massive stride defensively, having a defensively sound third option (Suter) on that line allowed Miller and Boeser to shine where they know best: in the offensive zone.
While it may not be an ideal fit, his board work and forechecking ability could make up for the defensive deficiencies and form a solid trio.
So, we ask you, Canucks fans: Which of these four formations do you like best as a fit beside JT Miller and Brock Boeser?
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