Team brass believes new forwards can create more back-end scoring
General manager Jim Benning and coach Travis Green have a plan to bolster backend scoring if the Vancouver Canucks don’t travel the trade route.
It involves their three freeagent acquisitions on Canada Day. It involves plenty of speed, tact and testosterone. And it involves something positive occurring when pucks get back to the point.
“Travis and I have talked about playing a more aggressive system with our defence — where they’re pinching down on the walls and trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone more,” Benning said Wednesday.
“With the addition of (Tim) Schaller, (Antoine) Roussel and (Jay) Beagle — big-bodied guys who can get in on the forecheck — they can create havoc and get pucks. Our defence is going to have to get shots through and we’re going to have to bash the net.”
Sounds good in theory, but do the Canucks have anybody who can score with authority from the blue-line? Alex Edler and Michael Del Zotto managed six goals apiece last season to lead the back end, while Troy Stecher had one goal and Ben Hutton none.
“We had a good talk with Ben at the end of the year and asked him to come to camp in great shape,” Benning said of the defenceman who fell out of favour with the coach, was scratched seven times in a 15-game period and had but six assists last season.
“It’s a big year for Hutton to take a step and get to the next level and it’s the same for (Derrick) Pouliot. They have offence in them and they can get up the ice.”
They just can’t score.