How the Canucks have strategically transformed themselves into one of the NHL’s best net-front offences
Canucks general manager Jim Benning knew it wasn’t good enough. Data via MoneyPuck No team has improved the rate at which they generate rebound shots better than the Canucks, who’ve gone from league-worst to 12th-best in one season. “It helps when you have Quinn there, he gets his shots through and racks up a lot of points that way, that definitely plays into it,” Troy Stecher said about the team’s improved net-front offence. “So you just go back to basics, it’s a common saying, but you get pucks and bodies to the net and good things will happen.” Brock Boeser’s stylistic evolution into more of a poacher is easily the starkest difference — he leads the team in rebounds and his average shot is coming from 3.3 feet closer. Vancouver has gone from a team that was in the basement in generating shots close to the net, tips and rebounds and transformed into a squad that is one of the NHL’s better teams at creating chances and goals from the interior.
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