The 2022-23 season presents a great opportunity for Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser. With trade rumours gone after signing a three-year deal worth $6.65 million in average annual value (AAV) this past offseason, the 25-year-old winger won’t have to deal with continuous chatter about whether or not the Cancuks should deal him from fans and the media. He is also fully healthy, which should allow the former first-rounder to play to his maximum potential.
Boeser’s 2021-22 Season
The 2021-22 season was a difficult one for Boeser on and off the ice. After a slow start to the season, he finished with the lowest points-per-game total of his career. Before rushing to judgment about last season, it is important to note that there were a lot of distractions off the ice in the form of his father’s illness that played a factor in his on-ice production.
Focusing on the positives, Boeser picked up his game once Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench. He finished first in power play shots and second in overall shots on goal. As for his point production, it saw a rapid increase from 0.52 in his first 23 games to 0.73 in his final 49 games. It was clear that the coaching change benefited him and helped him return to the scoring threat Canuck fans have become accustomed to.
Related: Canucks’ Boeser Returning to Form Under Boudreau
Where Boeser thrived last season was on the power play. He finished second on the team in goals with 11 and fifth in points with 17. What was even more impressive is that he was able to have this success despite being relegated down to the second unit at times, which on some nights would rarely see the ice. With some strong offensive additions to the lineup in Andrei Kuzmenko and Ilya Mikheyev, he should once again have another strong season on the power play, even if he is placed on the second unit.
Where Should Vancouver Play Boeser in 2022-23?
Predicting Boeser’s spot in the lineup is tricky. There are a few options, but a good place to start is the “Lotto Line.” This line, alongside Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, was a big reason Vancouver was able to beat St. Louis during the 2021 NHL Playoffs. Below is how the trio did together and apart at five-on-five last season, according to Natural Stat Trick.
| Minutes | Corsi % | Goals | Goals For % | Shots For % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto Line | 134:04 | 52.73% | 2 | 40% | 50.78% |
| Elias Pettersson + Brock Boeser | 279:39 | 53.20% | 9 | 47.37% | 49.33% |
| J.T. Miller + Brock Boeser |
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