Hutton’s hot seat set to sizzling
Blue-liner faces make-or-break off-season after more tough love
Canucks coach Travis Green seemed genuine when during the season’s final news conference he asked: “What do you mean by his strengths?”
He was questioning Ben Hutton, who clearly doesn’t have a glass jaw. If he did, he’d still be lying on the canvas.
Hutton took it on the chin for much of the second half of the season, but the biggest hits were saved for last when he was called out for his fitness, skating and meagre point production. He’s either on his way out of Vancouver or, if all of this works, is destined to be the subject of a TED Talks presentation about tough love in pro sports.
Hutton said all the right things about a fresh start, a summer running program and his plan to return for next season as a refreshed player with a new relationship with the team and its head coach.
But here’s the thing about Hutton and the Canucks’ defence: Something has to give, something has to change. Because the essence of the question Green asked about Hutton can be used in a similar way to probe his entire blue-line corps. What strengths do the Canucks’ defence have?
Collectively, it’s not big or physical. As a group, Canucks defenders don’t skate particularly well and aren’t above average in moving the puck. They don’t create much offence at all. In fact, this season, the Canucks’ defence produced 21 goals, which is one fewer than it did a year ago under coach Willie Desjardins’ stifling, conservative system.
The Canucks’ defence gave up more goals than it did a year ago (3.19 goals against per game, which was up from 2.94). It gave up more shot attempts per 60 minutes played at five-on-five (59.35, up from 54.75). It gave up more goals per 60 minutes played at five-on-five (2.54, up from 2.34).
The real kicker? This defence’s best run of the season was in the final nine games during which the Canucks gave up only 22 goals. But they did it with Alex Edler playing
nearly 27 minutes a game like it was a playoff series. And they did it with Erik Gudbranson out of the lineup. Right now, neither of those things are expected to be repeated in October.
“We need to get more production from our back end,” Green said. “It’s not a secret. Our defence needs to have more offence in it. That’s part of the reason we push these guys. I think Ben Hutton can get back to 20 points in a season, 25 to 30, who knows? But six isn’t going to cut it.”
The six points Hutton amassed for the Canucks in 61 games, all assists, in addition to the coach’s public comments place him at the front of the line when it comes to speculating about possible moves Vancouver
can make this summer to shake things up. It won’t be an easy defence to make over. Olli Juolevi, the team’s top defensive prospect, looks a couple of years away from being an impact player.
Currently, the Canucks are all in on giving big minutes to Michael Del Zotto, who was on the ice for 98 goals against, and Gudbranson, who many believe would be best in a limited role, deployed as a third-pair guy.
The Canucks also have two restricted, defensive free agents in Troy Stecher, who improved over the season, and Derrick Pouliot, who remains a project.
Asked if he wanted both back, along with some other RFAs, Vancouver
general manager Jim Benning gave them a vote of confidence. Signing both would leave the Canucks with a top six of Edler, Chris Tanev, Del Zotto, Gudbranson, Stecher and Pouliot.
Notice a name missing, one that rhymes with Sutton?
But if all the RFAs are re-signed, how can this defence look any different in October?
“If we can make improvements over the course of the summer through trades or through free agency, we’ll look to do that,” Benning said. ” ... We’re going to look at it and try to figure it out.”
One of the issues the Canucks created by re-signing Gudbranson to a three-year, US$12-million deal is
now he’s expected to play in the top four. So given the current roster, one D-pairing would have Tanev on the right side and another Gudbranson. Both play a similar, shutdown role, meaning that’s two defensive pairings that wouldn’t generate much offence.
There are some around the team speculating that the Gudbranson extension opened the door for a Tanev trade. Canucks management spent much of Monday’s season-closing news conference playing down any big off-season plans. But many around the NHL are expecting the Canucks to make some plays for free agents.