2010 top 6
D Sedin
H Sedin
Kesler
Burrows
???
2019 top 6
EP
Horvat
Boeser
JT Miller
Ferland
???
2010 Middle Group
Samuelsson
Raymond
Malholtra
Raffi Torres
Jannik Hansen
2019 middle group
Tanner Pearson
Sutter
???
2010 4th line
Tanner Glass
Jeff Tambellini
Chris Higgins (injured)
2019 4th line
Leivo
Virtanen
Schaller
Beagle
Motte
2010 top D
Ehrhoff
Edler
Hamhuis
Bieksa
2019 top D
Edler
Myers
Huges
Tanev
2010 bottom D
Salo – (injured)
Rome
Ballard
Andrew Alberts
2019 bottom D
Benn
Stecher
2010 Goaltending
Luongo
Schnieder
When you do a comparison I would say the top 5 – 6 are similar in skill set for the time they played in. in 2019 it seems speed is a higher value than size (but then look at the Blues last year)
Top D are also comparable – assuming Hughes/Myers are as good as we think and Edler/Tanev can stay relatively healthy.
The big difference you start to see is in the middle group where in 2010 the team had players like Malholtra/Hansen/Raymond, the 2019 Canucks have Pearson/Sutter. The bottom still seems better in 2010 and it shows the depth the Canucks had at that time or they picked up at the TDD to go as far as they did.
In goaltending the combination of Luongo/CS is a lot stronger that Markstrom/Demko. Goaltending will be somewhat equal if Markstrom plays like he did last year.
The first unit PP comparable seems to be heavily favored for 2010 when the Sedins could cycle the puck for the entire 2 mins and they had the #1 PP %. They also had the 3rd best PK.
If you review the stats the Canucks in 2010/11 had everything clicking at the right time but I feel that the current version may have a better or should I say a more balanced top 5. Each of the players today are good on their own while the Sedin’s seems to make everyone better. D overall is a wash again assuming that Hughes develops and Myers plays as well as we expect.
This bodes well for the team to get some playoff exp this year and then with Pod who seems to be on the elite level and truly adding to the top 6 it makes the team closer in overall skill to the 2010 team. Other notables include Hoglander/Woo and maybe Lind to come in at the right time.
I am leaving OJ out of this discussion but if he makes it then that is icing on the cake. In 2 – 3 seasons when they get rid of all the dead weight this team is really in a great position to be a top contender.
It really is an exciting time to be a Canucks fan or the alternative is that Reef tried some new brownies over the weekend and still not fully recovered.
Edited for the right backup goalie
