Whoever will get on the left aspect of the third pairing of Canucks involves the coaching camp.
The Vancouver Canucks have had some main roster fluctuations over the previous yr. Of the 23 gamers who made their debut squad final season, 9 of them are not on the crew.
Which means the Canucks 2021-22 shall be fairly completely different from final yr’s roster, however the remaining roster is way from being set. Because the crew heads to coaching camp subsequent week, followers ought to regulate some key battles for spots within the squad.
There shall be a battle for a spot within the Canucks prime 6 and a battle for fourth row alongside Brandon Sutter and Tyler Motte, however probably the most controversial battle will seemingly happen on the left aspect of protection.
There the Canucks have two younger defenders preventing for a spot within the beginning XI: Olli Juolevi and Jack Rathbone. If this battle wasn’t fierce sufficient, there’s one other defender who may flip this duel into an actual duel: veteran Brad Hunt.
Let’s check out the gamers and the issues that make this probably the most compelling battle at Canucks coaching camp.
Olli Juolevi: the contested prime ten choose
Juolevi is the longest of the trio on the Canucks, ending fifth total in 2016. Rather a lot has gone mistaken with its growth since then. Initially projected as a possible defender within the prime pairing, important accidents and restricted mobility have considerably diminished expectations.
Nonetheless, 23-year-old Juolevi has most of the qualities it takes to play within the NHL. He is a great defender who strikes the puck successfully and has the dimensions and energy to deal with opponents. He has confirmed up to now season that he can play on the NHL degree, albeit in a closely guarded function.
Whereas he struggled with some bother getting broadly overwhelmed within the onslaught and confronted weaker competitors than the remainder of the Canucks protection, Juolevi nonetheless delivered stable defensive outcomes. He was on the ice for the third-lowest price of high-danger probabilities of the Canucks behind the shutdown pairing of Alex Edler and Nate Schmidt and the second-lowest price of objectives towards Travis Hamonic.
This may be seen in its remoted influence warmth map from HockeyViz. His offensive contributions could have been restricted – he solely managed 3 factors in 23 video games – he was comparatively efficient at defending the entrance of the community.
There are nonetheless some considerations about his mobility – he has a foul tendency to get burned in a rush – however there are causes to be optimistic too. The hope is that Juolevi can take a step ahead after 23 video games subsequent season.
Whereas Juolevi may maintain his personal in a restricted function, Jack Rathbone may have an even bigger influence.
Jack Rathbone: the hovering sizzling shot
Rathbone represents the joys of the attainable. The 22-year-old is barely a yr youthful than Juolevi, however far much less examined on knowledgeable degree. The little skilled hockey he has seen has been massively encouraging.
On the AHL degree, Rathbone dominated and picked up 9 factors in simply 8 video games. An damage introduced him to Vancouver for remedy and he by no means left, taking part in with the Canucks in 8 video games within the NHL. He managed 3 factors in these 8 video games, together with his first profession purpose, and confirmed some thrilling potential.
Rathbone’s analyzes in its small pattern measurement of simply 8 video games are utter chaos and may seemingly be defenestrated, particularly since they had been all performed on the Canucks’ tough schedule following the COVID outbreak.
Nonetheless, let’s check out his remoted influence warmth map.
That is plenty of offense created by Rathbone who’s finest referred to as an offensive defender. Along with his 9 factors within the AHL final season, Rathbone gathered 31 factors in 28 video games for Harvard College final yr, good for third place within the nation in factors per recreation amongst NCAA defenders.
That got here with some ugly trying defensive numbers for Rathbone, however that is once more a small pattern measurement at a tough level on the schedule. What makes Rathbone thrilling, past its offensive perks, is its capability to make use of his skating defensively. His mobility is on the different finish of the Juolevi spectrum.
This recreation within the AHL, courtesy of Cody Severtson at AHL Nucks Harvest, exhibits that skating is great.
Rathbone generates extra velocity from standing when working backwards than some defenders when working ahead. He combines that with an aggressive studying within the impartial zone that disrupts the onslaught after which covers his entrance teammates if he is hit extensive.
Juolevi versus Rathbone could be convincing sufficient by itself, however Brad Hunt complicates issues.
Brad Hunt: the trusted veteran
It is easy to think about that veteran Hunt, who was born and raised in Maple Ridge, was signed primarily as an AHL deep. However Hunt hasn’t performed within the AHL because the 2016-17 season when he racked up 29 factors in 23 video games, main the league on the time of his call-up.
Since then, Hunt has performed for 4 completely different NHL groups, together with the Minnesota Wild, the place he has performed for the previous two and a half seasons. Hunt was a reliable defender for the Savages when he was on the line-up – though his fashion and 5’9-inch top labeled him as an offensive defender, Hunt was solidly defensively for the Savages.
It is easy to attract a parallel with one other undersized veteran defender from latest Canucks historical past – Alex Biega. Now signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Biega was a priceless defender for the Canucks as he sat within the press room with no complaints, then received into the line-up and performed a dependable, hard-working recreation.
In reality, Hunt appears ideally suited to being a seventh or eighth defender whereas the Canucks could not need a younger defender like Juolevi or Rathbone in such a task.
That mentioned, even when Hunt does not beat Juolevi or Rathbone to begin, he may nonetheless make it onto the opening evening checklist whereas one in all Juolevi or Rathbone is distributed to the AHL to attain large minutes for the Abbotsford Canucks to play .
There are just a few different elements that may play a task within the Canucks ‘determination, other than how effectively the three defenders play at camp: their cap hits, the waiver eligibility, and the issues of the Canucks’ wage cap state of affairs.
Cap hits, waivers and LTIR: It is sophisticated
Let’s begin with their respective cap hits. At $ 750,000 and a one-year contract, Juolevi is the most affordable of the three. That offers Juolevi an edge when the Canucks must pinch pennies to suit Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.
The opposite two aren’t rather more costly, nevertheless. Hunt has a one-year contract value $ 800,000, simply $ 50,000 greater than Juolevi. Each of those are one-way offers, which suggests they’ll get the identical quantity within the AHL, so there isn’t a monetary profit to sending one or the opposite.
Rathbone is the most costly however solely has a cap hit of $ 925,000 within the remaining yr of its entry-level deal. Would $ 175,000 actually be that a lot if Rathbone trumped Juolevi in coaching camp? Perhaps not, however what in the event that they tie in camp and haven’t got a transparent winner?
Rathbone can be the one one of many three to be exempt from the waiver, which suggests he will be despatched to the AHL with out having to delete waivers first. Each Juolevi and Hunt must waive waiver earlier than being despatched to the AHL and there’s a likelihood they could possibly be claimed. Juolevi nonetheless has a pedigree because the sixth total choose, whereas Hunt has beforehand been claimed by waivers.
That is the place issues get sophisticated. If Rathbone is distributed to the AHL, he’ll have the next cap hit if the Canucks wish to name him up in the course of the season. As an alternative of a cap hit of $ 925,000, it will have a cap hit of $ 1.49 million
This will appear unusual, however there’s an evidence and it has to do with the Canucks utilizing LTIR for Micheal Ferland.
Here is the issue: if a crew makes use of LTIR to draft gamers and exceed the wage cap, they should have sufficient cap reduction to cowl not solely a drafted participant’s wage, however any achievable efficiency bonuses as effectively.
Rathbone has hit a cap of $ 925,000 based mostly on his base wage and signing bonuses, however he additionally has $ 850,000 in potential efficiency awards on his contract. This isn’t uncommon with an entry-level contract.
Whereas Rathbone could not earn any of his efficiency bonuses for the following season, if he’s despatched to the AHL after which known as up, the Canucks should have sufficient headroom to cowl the complete common annual worth of his contract, together with his efficiency bonuses. In keeping with CapFriendly, this corresponds to $ 1,491,667.
That is just because the Canucks use LTIR. If the Canucks had been under the wage cap with out an LTIR, they would not have to fret about efficiency bonuses when calling up a participant.
When Rathbone kicks off the season with the Canucks, nevertheless, they do not have to fret about their efficiency bonuses – this rule solely applies to gamers known as up on LTIR following an injured participant.
Even when Rathbone hits his efficiency bonuses that will drive the Canucks above the wage cap, they may transfer these bonuses till the next season, as they did with Pettersson and Hughes.
Clear as mud? Don’t be concerned an excessive amount of: all that you must know is that preserving Rathbone within the NHL at the beginning of the season is an efficient motive.
The Joker: Quinn Hughes
There may be yet one more wildcard choice: what if all three of Juolevi, Rathbone and Hunt make the Canucks’ opening evening checklist?
There are a few methods that may occur. One among them is accidents, both to defenders on the left or proper – Hunt has performed on the fitting earlier than. If the Canucks endure just a few accidents in protection, none of those three defenders must be despatched to the AHL instantly.
The opposite risk, God forbid, is that Quinn Hughes is not signed at the beginning of the season.
Let’s keep in mind that perseverance is virtually the one leverage that Hughes has at his disposal. He’s not licensed to signal a suggestion sheet and he has not been in a position to apply for pay arbitration. If he’s not happy with contract presents from the Caanucks, his solely choice is to not signal them and never play.
That will imply Oliver Ekman-Larsson shifting as much as the highest pairing on the left and two from Rathbone, Juolevi and Hunt within the second and third pairing, with the final participant within the press field.
Is that seemingly? Most likely not, however there will be some nervous nights when the Canucks enter coaching camp with out Hughes and Pettersson signing up.
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