Yes Wids. Bottom 9 is better because it is exactly what they are based upon that description. In my original response I actually did not quite get what you meant. Now I do.Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:20 am no. Like I said not quit top six. Is bottom 9 better? I don't see us as having a true top six. So bottom nine and top 3??
I see our "top" 6 being Pettersson, Kane, Boeser. Chytle, DeBrusk, Garland.
BTW. You know well what I mean so give it a rest.
I agree. Imho, the Canucks have two top line players in Boeser and Pettersson…..this is heavily predicated upon the assumption that Petey goes back to being the producer he was for the 100 or so games he played in 22/23 and 23/24. Boeser also probably needs to have a bounced back Petey in order for him to score at a true top-line pace.
Kane, Chytil, and DeBrusk, are middle-6 players. The two wingers are best suited in a second line role with the right pivot. While both of them can spot in on a top line, that is very dependent upon who the other guys on said line are.
Chytil is at best a 2nd line center but likely better suited to play in a 3rd line where that trio is expected to produce offense rather than shutdown one of the opponent’s top 2 lines.
Garland is a top-9 player. Not because he’s lesser than the rest, but because he is more versatile and can play on any of a team’s top-3 lines. He can create offense and contribute in a top line role. He can help drive a second line. And he can single-handedly drive a 3rd line. He’s tenacious and good on the forecheck, and he’s positionally smart in his own zone. He could play a 4th line checking/harassing role, but it would be a waste of his talents.
Blueger, Joshua, Hoglander, O’Connor, Karlsson, Sherwood, and Aman, are all bottom-6 guys. And truly most of them are good enough to be 3rd line players on most teams. I’d say that only Aman and Karlsson are true 4th liners.
