4 Big Questions facing the Vancouver Canucks in 2020-21
By Jasmine Yen
3. Can their forward depth keep up?
One thing that is very obvious among Canadian teams is that they have incredible amounts of forward depth. Many of these teams have four lines that they can roll out at any time, most notably the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets.
The Canucks have two very talented lines, but their third and fourth lines are where it’s a little less certain. Nils Hoglander has been making a very strong impression at camp, and he can help provide more firepower to their top-six.
In a condensed schedule against the same six opponents, having all four lines being a threat is going to be very important. When the first line isn’t rolling one night, the team relies on the other three to chip in.
A big part that can make up for this is on the man advantage. Last season the Canucks had the fourth-best power play in the league with a success rate of 24.2 percent, the best among the Canadian teams. If they can continue that dominance, it will give them a strong advantage over their opponents this season.