Canucks quarter-mark report: Few bright spots in dark days of rebuild

VANCOUVER — Losing hockey games is not the same thing as playing losing hockey.

Coach Manny Malhotra warned everyone about this ahead of the first full season of the Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild. 

“There’s a very big difference between losing games, which is inevitable. . . and playing losing hockey,” Malhotra told reporters on the eve of training camp in September. “The measure of our group will be on playing the right way, doing the things that we’re talking about, having details to your game, which is going to give us an opportunity to win. That’s where the pride or the joy will come from: knowing that we are learning, we’re doing the things that we’re asked, and it’s getting better.”

There has been no joy for the Canucks so far. What’s worse, on several nights, some of that essential pride has been missing, too, as Vancouver crashed to its worst opening quarter in franchise history.

Even as the Canucks were losing 16 out of 17 games, they appeared to be making some progress in their structure and details, and willingness and ability to compete. But their 3-1 loss in Game 20 Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers — Vancouver had six shots through two periods on home ice against the National Hockey League’s third-worst team — was their second absolute dud in three games and was disconcertingly similar to a handful of games in October when the Canucks were regularly getting outshot two-to-one and losing by multiple goals.

Their 3-16-1 record, which included a 2-1 start to the season, equals the worst 20-game winning percentage (.175) by any NHL team since the salary-cap era began in 2005. And their 16 regulation losses are the most by anyone at this point in the season in nearly three decades.

The Canucks are 1-8 on home ice and the victory was on Oct. 3.

The only redeeming number attached to the Canucks’ performance is that their minus-34 goal differential, inflated by poor special teams, is considerably better than what most of the worst first-quarter teams in NHL history have amassed. So Vancouver has been competitive in a lot of games.

But if they want to keep onboard a fan base that has wholeheartedly embraced this rebuild, the Canucks have to find a way to be consistently engaged and competitive. A few wins would help, too.

Most Encouraging Development

Even in the context of a rebuild with its focus on prospects and development, 2022 first-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki was almost an afterthought at training camp. This was going to be a critical development year for the winger; most people just figured it would be in the American Hockey League.

But the slight (5-11, 172 pounds) sniper not only made the Canucks but has been one of their best and most consistent players with seven goals and 15 points through 20 games. Beyond Lekkerimaki’s ability to finish, which was not evident during NHL stints the last two seasons, it is impressive that the Swede is learning to use body position to protect pucks and make plays after previously looking physically overmatched. He also seems to have gained a half-step.

With most of the Canucks’ top prospects still developing elsewhere, Lekkerimaki’s growth has been like an organizational lifeline in Vancouver.

Most Concerning Development

There are plenty of players to be concerned about: top defenceman Filip Hronek is minus-11 at five-on-five, Drew O’Connor has two goals and is minus-10, Marco Rossi has gone 16 games without scoring and all but disappeared after a brisk start, and elite defence prospects Zeev Buium has been erratic and generated just four assists so far. Buium, at least, is still just 20 years old.

But the most concerning position is in goal where starter Thatcher Demko, who hasn’t played since undergoing major hip surgeries last February, has dropped completely off the radar after being around the team — and on the ice — at training camp. Uncertainty about Demko’s future is amplified by the collapse in form of veteran backup Kevin Lankinen, whose .808 save percentage is by far the worst among 61 NHL goalies who have appeared in at least five games.

Lankinen won on opening night in Edmonton and not since, and with just one start since Oct. 22 looks almost unplayable. Leevi Merilainen, a 24-year-old prospect plucked on waivers from the Ottawa Senators, has started 10 of the last 13 games.

Top-Six Forwards Grade: C

Engaged and focussed, top centre Elias Pettersson looks reborn after 2 ½ years lost in the wilderness. He is a point-per-game player again, albeit without an even-strength goal so far. With Pettersson flanked mostly by wingers Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk, the Canucks have had an NHL-caliber first line. Even with Lekkerimaki available, the second line has been far less settled or effective, partly due to the lack of a centre to drive it with Rossi’s slump and Filip Chytil’s injuries.

Bottom-Six Forwards: C-plus

With the Canucks 25^th in the NHL at 2.8 goals per game, scoring hasn’t been quite the debilitating problem it was expected to be, partly because of contributions from forwards in the bottom half of the lineup. Up and down the lineup, Liam Ohgren is third on the Canucks with six goals. Fourth-line centre Max Sasson has five goals, while Linus Karlsson and versatile newcomer Paul Cotter, lately playing as the second-line centre, have four goals apiece.

Defence: D

Last in the NHL at 4.5 goals-against per game, the Canucks’ defensive structure has been a massive problem. Of course, this failure reflects on all players, including the forwards and goaltenders, as well as Malhotra and his staff. But it is also inarguable that Vancouver’s defencemen have generally struggled. Veterans Hronek, Luke Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak have failed to find consistency and haven't been the stabilizing influence the Canucks need, while Buium hasn’t played well enough to stick with Hronek on the top pairing or earn extra power-play time. Physical third-year defenceman Elias Pettersson (Junior) has been the bright spot and, lately, so had been sophomore Tom Willander before he missed the last four games due to injury.

Goaltending: C-minus

Leevi Merilainen has performed well while playing far more than expected. His form, however, has shown glimpses of eroding with time and probably too many starts for a 24-year-old still building his game after a difficult season last year with the Senators. Still, on the Canucks, in this defensive environment, Merilainen’s save percentage of .889 and six goals saved above average at even strength warrant a B. But Lankinen’s F brings the position’s grade down significantly. 

QUARTER MARK AWARDS

Most Improved Player: Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Best Defensive Player: Elias Petterssons (both of them).

Best Newcomer: Leevi Merilainen (honorable mention, Paul Cotter)