the game. And the game. And the St. Rachel and Satyar Shah here in the kin tech studio. Canada's favorite provider. Thousands of reviews, sore feet. What are you waiting for? Can I central is for enzyme Pacific Vancouver's premier Chrysler Dodge Ram and Jeep Superstore on 2nd Avenue between Canby and Maine or at enzyme Pacific Chrysler dot C. A. So we wondered what the Oilers would do in goal and they are going to their AHL journey man. The guy who started the season as their third goalie Calvin Pickard getting the start for the Oilers in game four sat and not all third goalies are made equal. No, no, I guess you would not you would not say that. No, no, no, no, I will show us a bit different story, different pathway to this point of the playoffs. Now I will say, um, this year had a what a 12 and seven record. Yeah, 908 save percentage. 265 goals against average or something. I think so not horrible numbers by any estimation. The Oilers only lost like 18 games after not blocked to go. I'm not not sure it mattered in the regular season who played goal when they were on that hot run. But nonetheless, you still won 12 and 12 seven. But if you heard, um, Kevin Woodley, who will talk to tomorrow on with, uh, Drans and Jamie on Canucks talk, uh, he has areas of his game where he's very susceptible. Club side high club side also rebound. So could you say J. C. Miller anytime goal tonight? Maybe. All right, let's get to the open. Welcome to the open. That's your home. Are you too good for your home? Answer me. It's Dan Rachoe and Sati, our shot a lot to get into here. 650 650 on the Dunbar Lumber text message inbox. That's where you get in touch with the show with any questions, comments otherwise for you to be a part of Canucks Central here today. Um, a couple of things I want to get to. And a couple of the big acquisitions that the Canucks made are having huge impacts on this series, but I kind of want to get your takes at on sort of the, the rhetoric around this series through three games. From my perspective, like the Canucks coming into the series, yeah, we talked about it. 94% of NHL analysts or whatever it was, took the Oilers in this series. A lot of them taking the Oilers in five, which is now an impossibility. And so I tweeted out today that the Canucks, it's funny how quickly the Canucks exposed all of the Oilers' flaws. And mostly because my feeling on how people felt about this series coming into it was completely based in recency bias of what happened with the Oilers and how they steamrolled the LA Kings and how the Canucks struggled relatively to get by the Nashville Predators in six games. And I feel a lot of that, um, shaped the way many people thought about this series. You know, we both took the Canucks to, to win this in seven and we felt that the Oilers goaltending and defensive issues could play a role in the series. And to this point, they have, but I'm just, I'm surprised that so many people seem to be surprised that the series is where it is currently through three games. Well, I mean, when 23 out of 24 analysts on ESPN picked the Oilers to win, you should have a lot of surprise. I mean, we saw what the odds makers also had the series at, right? Over 70% chance Edmonton winning it. The overwhelming, um, feel was that the Canucks were going to get rolled in this series, right? So yes, I mean, I gave the, the Canucks about the equivalent of a punter's chance. Yeah. So clearly there is surprise and should be surprised based on, you know, what they had, but one of the reasons why we were locally a bit surprised that it was such a big gap was because we've seen this team play all season. Yeah. We know what they are. We also know what they're not, like we know what their limitations are, but we also know how they match up against certain teams. And one thing that has been totally underestimated clearly across this entire landscape is how good the Canucks are defending in their own zone. Yeah. How well they box out, how well they keep guys from getting second opportunities and how well they keep, they prevent odd man chances, generally speaking, right? But in zone defending, especially with how big and physical their D is, like that's really something that's really underrated all season as good as Thatcher Demkall was this year before he got hurt. Now he's a Vessna finalist, right? For good reason. But what have the Canucks done all year? Something the coaches has been talking about. We let our goalie play half the night because we take away the backdoor play and we're going to take away some of those cross scene plays. So you're not going to, you don't have to worry about the backdoor. You worry about facing the shot and making the save when a shot comes to you. Don't worry about going post to post too much. It still happens. It's hockey every once in a while. And that's why you have superstar goalies. They're up to the task in those moments when called upon, but you're asking less of your great goalie generally. And as good as our Trishilov's is and you get, had made 42 saves the other night, how many in zone cross eyes passes were being made? And the ones that were made, how many were broken up by Canucks forwards and defenseman? Yeah. All the time. I mean, Noblock even said it today. Sometimes we're trying to force that cross eyes pass and it's just not there. Yeah. And a couple of times it was there and then a Edmonton player had a shot or had a chance on the back door and a Canucks stick came in the way or somebody came and blocked the shot and took it away. And those would have been sure goals, maybe a different conversation about goal tending so to speak. The goalie has no chance on it, right? Yeah. What are you going to do? But I do think that people have underestimated how good the Canucks are defensively and not just because of their defense, but also because of how they play down the middle with their centers. And the shot clock tells a story, but it doesn't tell the story of the series, right? It doesn't tell the entire story of the series. So that's where I think people are even still getting a little bit caught up in, "Hey, look at how the Oilers have outshot the Canucks. They've completely dominated." It's, "Look, yes, Arthur Shilov's has been the best goalie in the series through three games." And that has helped the Canucks build this to one lead, but again, there's more to how the Canucks are defending and how they're giving Arthur Shilov's a good chance to make the saves that he has made, whereas the Oilers on average are giving up a similar amount of high-danger scoring chances than the Canucks are so far at five on five. And the Oilers, as we talked about yesterday, having to go to their fastball already in this series, loading up their top line, running them out for half the game. They look like they're going to change that strategy a little bit tonight, but them having to do that kind of shows just how fragile they are as a team. And I think as I mentioned at the start of the series, plant the seed of doubt, the Canucks have certainly done that. And the deployment of how the Oilers are going about the series tells us that they have the seed of doubt in their minds right now. But I don't think it's just no block trusting the bottom of his lineup. I think it's also like McDavid and Drycidal. Like they feel they have to be out there in order for them to win this series. They don't necessarily trust their teammates to go out there and help them get the job done. That's why McDavid, he takes his 90 seconds on the bench and he's back out there ready to go, putting his one foot over the boards being like, All right, I'm ready. Those are the kinds of things that I'm looking at in the series that tell that tell me more about the story of this series to this point than just the shot clock as many are pointing to. Yeah, the one thing I would say too about Edmonton, as much as all those things are true, they're still so dangerous with McDavid and Drycidal. A hundred percent that can still win this series. Easily can win this series still. Like we talked about yesterday though, the problem with this team is, are they realizing that they're not good enough to do anything more than maybe win this series? Yeah. And even if they did somehow buy a crook or buy a hook, get to the cup final, do they really have a chance? And if you're an Edmonton player, you may have that sinking feeling already about what your team is and what the prospects look like. And one of the underlying stories of this series to this point, how the two teams acquisitions over the course of the season have helped. And for the Oilers, Adam Henrik is going to be out again tonight. Unfortunate that he's got an injury. Sam Carrick has been a healthy scratch and will be again tonight. It looks like the Oilers' additions, you know, were tough to make around their salary cap constraints, but the ones they have made have not made an impact. Whereas the Canucks have had a huge impact from Elias Lindholm and both Nikita Zadorov. When it comes to Lindholm, his impact, I mean, in games one and three, you could argue he's been among the Canucks best players. And among the biggest reasons why they were able to win those games score two in game three scored a course in game one as well. Have we thought about changed our minds on what Elias Lindholm's future might be with the Vancouver Canucks? I think some may have, right, with what they've seen. And when you first saw him come over and he didn't really live up to the billing and the fact that he didn't really mesh with Patterson nor JT gave some concern about how is he going to fit in here? Not only this year, but long term, but clearly he's found his role on this team. I still think this organization and the people that acquired him really value him. Yeah, and I think they still maintain if they can find a way to keep him, they would love to do that. Right. So I do think maybe with what they're seeing, it would embolden them a bit more. Maybe you're a bit more confident in making that bet. Despite the fact that it doesn't fit with JT or Patterson, you can still find a way to make it work. You may feel right. But with how he's also playing and the dearth of center is on the free agent market and also the fact that there aren't very high many high and right handed centers to begin with, and especially guy was good defensively. Now he has seven points in the playoffs. He scored five goals. He's been fantastic defensively. He's looking like a top line center. Yeah. So is it as a Columbus going to like all of a sudden pony over all the money possible to unite him with good job. You look at the Boston Bruins who are who are battling the Florida Panthers right now in the playoffs. They could use another center. They've been linked to him in the past. They have some cap space, for instance, and that new new team in Utah, the Utah, whatever. Yes. We'll see what they're called, you know, next season, but the Utah hockey club for the time being could desperately use the center. Yeah. And also they have a lot of cap space to burn. Yeah. So even if the clinics want to keep them, has he played so well, that the market is already going to surpass Vancouver no matter what. It's gotten like, we've maintained that he could still probably get the nozzle cadre deal seven by seven on the open market. You know, it was rumored a deal that was on the table for him in Calgary was maybe around 70 ish million dollars, you know, eight years, nine million per. Now, I don't think he's going to get that he won't get that in free agency because he would only be able to get seven years in free agency. So I think he understood that if he was dropping that deal from Calgary, that he may not be able to get all of that money. But there's just too many teams in need of quality two-way centermen that are going to pass up on the opportunity to get a player like Elias Linholle. I don't know if Bassant Motors can continue to keep Elias Linholme as happy as they have to this point, given you never know, you never know, maybe they can. This is like the old thing. How many local businesses can up the ante so that it makes it more profitable to keep a player even at a lower salary in this market. And maybe, you know, Bassant Motors is helping that cause with, with Elias Linholme was clearly very happy in that commercial. But, you know, there's only so much of that you can do to overcome, you know, potential for playing in a lower tax state or just getting a flat out bigger contract somewhere else than you would be able to get here in Vancouver. And it depends on what the priorities are, right, for the player. But he seems to like it here, though. Now that he's playing well, he seems to be in a really good spot. He does. And I think as much as, you know, I think he preferred to play up the lineup with like, you know, a higher end players, but he's playing with Dakota Joshua and Garland, who've been fantastic. That trio was really good. He's essentially bumped Patterson down the lineup. He has right now. He has, right. And I think the question does become if you keep Linholme, where does the money come to fit other needs on the wing, for instance. But I think it's pretty clear, this organization truly values the strength down the middle. And if you look at Rutherford's pass too, when he made the trade for Doug Wade, they already had a few centers, had Eric Stahl, right? But they, but they wanted to make it even stronger. And they've always kind of looked to build it down the middle. And even when you look at the Pittsburgh Penguins, when they went through their success, you know, they have three, three or four guys that could play center that were pretty good. So it wouldn't shock me if they still found a way. But the way he's playing right now, like he's, he's putting himself into a different category again, like as much as he had a bad regular season, I don't think anybody's going to really be looking at that, that are looking at at different, looking at different options to play down the middle for them. So centermen that had better seasons or more points than Elias Linholm this year that are going to be unrestricted free agents. There are three of them. Sean Monahan, Chandler Stevenson, Max Domie. After that, it's Linholm Roslavik Alex Wenberg. Yeah. And Teddy Blueger is the seventh highest name on the list. Yeah. And I mean, so that tells you the story of like, you know, Linholm is still probably the most coveted name on that list, even though there's a couple players that had more points than him. Yeah, even a guy like Stamco's, for instance, he's, he can play center, but he's going to use on the wing quite a bit too. Like depends on what you're looking for, right? And as a shorter term thing, you're looking for a Stamco's, even if he gets their free agency, or you're looking at a longer term bet. Yeah. Well, the Stamco's one, it's still also how much is he really going to leave Tampa Bay? Yeah, we'll see if that actually happens or not, right? But yeah, he's, he's put himself in a situation like that. And I think it's similar with Zadorov too, as much as, you know, the Canucks would love to keep Zadorov. And I think with how he's played, they'd love to make it happen. The question is, does somebody out there looking for a defenseman that can lug the puck and is big and physical, or are they looking to give that guy $6 million per year, maybe a long term contract? I love Zadorov's honesty. Like again, today, he's the guy making headlines. If you missed it today, we do have the clip. I want to play just to intro this conversation on Zadorov, because he was asked about, you know, him and Susie getting punished compared to McDavid and Hyman. Here's what he had to say. Yeah, it is a big part of our team. Obviously, it's a big loss for us. My thought on that, I mean, I've been thinking for a couple of days, the force of death, the word will limit it. Sometimes, you know, social media and the public views can create some hard decisions for specific people, you know, and they might make questionable decisions at the end of the day. That's how I look at it. You know, at the end of the day, they have to protect their investment. So that's my understanding in this situation for sure. So there is Niquita Zadorov. He also said, he guesses he doesn't make the league enough money for them to protect him. So it was quite a funny jab. And look, I don't necessarily disagree with him. I said it as much on the show yesterday. The league's got to protect Conor McDavid when a clip, a video clip comes out like that and people are clamoring around the league. You've got to protect your best player. You know, there's, there's going to be some punishment levied that way to the offending player towards Conor McDavid. And that's exactly what happened with Carson Susie. But I just, I love the honesty, you know, it's, it is refreshing. We don't get enough of it. And it's been a big part of why he's been so well received. I think not just within the Canucks fan base, but I also think within the Canucks locker room. And I think that's the thing. And now like everything I've heard is that he's been a great fit. And the coach loves that he's there and mentions the fact that this room needs somebody that's loud like him, that keeps things light on the bench too, that has the experience. Like he's only what 20, 27, 28 years old, but he's been in the least since he's been 18. Yeah, so he's been around forever, right? So it's like, he's one of those guys that has a lot of experience despite not being very old. And for a team that has many young key players or younger that are younger than him on this team, he actually carries himself as a veteran compared to them. And I think having a guy like that in a room is really important. And clearly there was a level of respect. Sometimes the guys that are really good in the media aren't always as good in their own room. You know, depending on what they say and how they act and stuff like that. So I think sometimes, you know, who we like in the media may not be who but that was also the perception of him in for sure before he came here. He blasted his teammates publicly early in the season and people were like, this guy serious, right? Yeah, this guy doing it. I know they didn't go well or with some guys on his own team too. So I think it's one of those things that you got to be careful. But I think he, from what we've heard, he fits in really well in the room. So if all those things are true, if he's actually fitting in really well with the room, right? And he's bringing a real tangible leadership quality and some communication skills, right? Because there are a lot of guys in this team that are quiet, right? And I'm not saying go and give this guy whatever he wants because he's good in the room or whatever. But when you combine the fact that he's such an impactful player in the playoffs here for this team, what he can do and also what intangibles he brings off the ice as well. But I can see why the team may value him more today than they may have valued him before the playoffs began. Seven points in nine games so far in these playoffs. He got four goals, leads all the Fencement and goals so far in the postseason. So there's been a lot to like of Nikita Zadorov's game. And the question is, like, look, if you're going to give him five, if the number pushes six million in unrestricted free agency this summer, that's that's a big ticket for a guy that at the end of the day hasn't, you know, been a big minutes eater for the Canucks. He's been a minutes eater in the playoffs a little bit playing 20ish minutes here. But for a large part of the year, I mean, he was a 17ish minute guy. And it actually plays slightly less per game of Vancouver than he did in Calgary. There is, I think he's one of those players that like when you're in the playoffs, you see their value to a higher level. But over the course of 82 games, you might see their warts a little bit more. Well, so here is his career high and goals is 14. Yeah. He had that, you know, not this year of the year prior to that. Before that, the most he's had in the season was seven. His career high in points is 22. Yeah. I'm not diminishing anything he's doing right now. The thing is, you also have to be careful when a guy is having a good 10, 11, 12 game stretch. Now, I do think there is such a thing as players being different and more valuable for you in the playoffs. I think Myers is a guy we're seeing that with right now too, right? But also, it's just can't play as physical as the way they are in the playoffs like they do or have to to manage their 82 game season. But at the same time, you also have to weigh that with the value of how much of the pay a guy to help you get there through an 82 game season. Because as much as it matters in the playoffs, you have to get there first. Yes. And the money you have in your books matter to a large degree. So that's where can you live with paying Zadorov say five million if he's only playing 18 minutes a game in the regular season, but then in the playoffs, he takes that step for you, right? If you're happy with that, then I think you make it work. If not, I can see how if somebody's willing to pay him six million, well, if he's not playing 20 minutes for you in the regular season, can you pay him six million? Yeah. I think that's where the problem kind of arises. And with how well he's played, does somebody just get so enamored with him that they say, forget it, we'll give you whatever you want, because we think you're taking another step. I just hope they find a way to keep them. Because there is a world too that as he's now hitting age 30, 29 with a new team and he's learning new things, does he take a step? And we've seen defenseman get better defensively into their 30s as well. And some guys become a bit stronger as a two way presence. So maybe there is another level in his game. He couldn't have picked a better time to go on a heater. No, he does a door off. So I think, you know, the playoffs, the stage that they're on right now, how many people are watching these games might get a little funny around and he does the door of when it comes to free agency this summer. All right, let's get to the Canucks central roundup. A couple of news bits that you need to know ahead of tonight's matchup with the Oilers game four, which you'll hear on sport since 650. Rick Talkett saying there might be one lineup change, but not 100% sure yet. The only one I can think of, we know Julesin is in for Susie. So are we thinking Nils Hoaglander maybe gets a chance back in the lineup? Is that the decision they were maybe making this afternoon? I'm sure it's one of the if he's if it's one, then it might be that one. If it's a few, he's definitely one of the ones he's considering. But I would put Hoaglander back in. Lafferty's not really doing it for me right now. And Hoaglander at least has a little bottom line if he gets going. His score 24 goals in the regular season. Only one point that's an assist in the playoffs. Like, he has not been good enough. There's no doubt. But message received getting bench for one game. Does it come out and after having watched the game and play maybe his best game of the playoffs, I think I would roll the dice and play Hoaglander for sure, especially over at Lafferty like that. Lafferty's not doing enough for me to be concerned about the Canucks not having his size and speed on the fourth line. Well, if you have Om on there, you still have another guy that can take face offs. So he was better than Lafferty lost game played on the PK took that spot from from Philadelphia's episode. So you're not getting a lot of extra from Lafferty. So I could see that potentially being the decision. The Canucks were weighing this afternoon. We'll have to wait and see what happens in warm up. Of course, it's Calvin Picker today starting for the Oilers 32 year old, making his first playoff start made his first playoff appearance the other night making what was the three saves in the third period when he took over for Stewart Skinner. Chris Knoblock saying that the Oilers could go 11 forward seven D and that McDavid and dry side will start on separate lines. Matthias echolm did not take part in morning skate neither did dry side or Evander Kane, leading some to wonder if echolm is now nursing an injury. I would imagine he's at least a sore. Yeah, and maybe it goes back to the first shift of the game when he got blasted twice. Yeah, by Lynn Holm and Dakota Joshua and both were like heavy, heavy hits, right. And the Canucks as much as yes, they were chasing the game a little bit. They threw a lot of hits too. Anytime they had a chance to get in on the Oilers, D they did. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's feeling it a little bit. And if you roll seven defense, but it's clearly because echolm they feel like he's not 100%. But anytime anytime team plays seven defense, like to me, that's like, that's a good thing. Yeah, that means they're not they're lying. They're not comfortable with their D to begin with. And now you're taking a forward out of their top group as well. So I always I always enjoy when I say for the most part, it's an 11 seven is not a good solution. Let me just put it that way. You don't do that because you feel like that's a good thing to do. Phillip Broberg could draw in for the Edmonton Oilers as the seventh defenseman. One thing knob lock did say is if they do go 11 forward 70, maybe they have an extra guy to like get McDavid and dry side all out there with. So just expect another healthy diet of number 97 and number 29, even if they start on separate lines to begin this game. Erfan Gefar Knocks Insider is going to join us next here on Knocks Central. It's Dan Richel, Satyarsha on Sports at 650. Hey, it's Jamie Dodd and Thomas Drans. Get your daily dose of Canucks talk with us weekdays from 12 to 2 on Sportsnet 650. Or catch up on demand through your favorite podcast app.
