They tried everybody but the janitor before Alex Burrows got a turn with the Sedins, so maybe it’s time to try something equally outside the box with the Canucks’ power play.
Like, say, Chris Tanev on the point?
OK, now that I’ve got your attention, stay with me here.
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault gets credit for putting Burrows – who was at the time considered just an agitating checker — alongside the Swedish telepaths. Yes, it was an instant hit – Burrows scored a goal in that third period in St. Louis on Feb. 10, 2009 so didn’t get yanked back to the checking line the next game. He also scored another 15 goals and 26 points over the remaining 29 regular season games of that season and has averaged close to 30 goals a season (real or prorated) ever since.
Props to AV for making a canny move, but let’s not forget that Burrows was the seventh player to skate on a line with the Sedins that season. Sometimes counter-intuitive moves lead to great discoveries.
Which bring us to the Canucks’ power play, a special teams unit that used to be feared in the NHL. You remember those days? From the 2009-10 season through to 2011-12, the power play was ranked no lower than fifth. Need a key goal or get a power play in overtime? It was money.
But now – and really since mid-way through last season – there hasn’t been anything like that dynamic. Minute-long possession shifts by the Sedins seem like a distant memory. Intimidating blasts from the point? Christian Ehrhoff and Sami Salo are gone, Alex Edler is still trying to find consistency and newcomer Jason Garrison is trying to fit in.
The Canucks’ power play – which clicked 24.3 per cent of the time when it led the NHL in 2010-11 – is at a poor 15. 9 per cent so far in this wacky short season and has a dreadful 20th ranking. They are 0-for-15 over the last six games.
You know it’s costing the Canucks points. In a 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose on Tuesday, the Sharks took a penalty in overtime but the Canucks could barely muster a scoring chance in the ensuing four on three.
Yes, there are extenuating circumstances. Certainly, the Canucks miss Ryan Kesler, who was in integral part of the first-unit power play’s success when it dominated.
The Canucks have tried a few new wrinkles this season. They had Daniel Sedin at the left point – but it’s clear he’s more dangerous down low – although he has just two power play goals this season. The last two games rookie forward Jordan Schroeder has been on the first-unit point, but everyone in the building knows he’s not going to shoot.
So now we get to Tanev, a 23-year-old who has just one goal and seven points in 76 career NHL games but has already established himself as a top-four D-man based on air-tight defensive play.
No, Tanev is not going to intimidate anybody with his shot, but after the Sedins he sees the ice as well – or better – than anyone else on the Canucks and is the team’s best passer from the back end. He may be the guy who can tee it up for Edler. Certainly, there’s only one way to find out.
Tanev also has some common traits with Burrows. Like Burrows was, Tanev has been under-estimated through much of his hockey career. Both have proved the doubters wrong.
Maybe it’s time to see if the similarities go any further.
