Tyler Toffoli was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by the Los Angeles Kings just before the NHL’s 2020 trade deadline for Tim Schaller, Tyler Madden, a 2nd-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft, and a conditional pick in 2022 NHL Draft, February 17, 2020. That might have seemed like a pretty hefty price for a player who was a rental as the Canucks pushed towards their 2020 postseason. But, perhaps it wasn’t.
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Toffoli Had an Immediate Positive Influence on the Canucks’ Lineup
Toffoli had an immediate impact on the Canucks lineup as the team closed down the 2019-20 regular season. And, by the time COVID-19 caused that season to be suspended, he’d scored 10 points in 10 games. Obviously, Canucks fans hoped for similar production during the playoffs. However, during Game 1 of the best-of-five play-in series against the Minnesota Wild, Toffoli suffered some sort of a “lower-body” injury and exited the lineup.
Fortunately, the Canucks knocked out the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games. There was additional hope Toffoli would be able to start the round two series against the Vegas Golden Knights. But, he wasn’t able to and the Canucks were shutout 5-0 in Game 1.
Then, after not seeing any action since Aug. 2, Tyler Toffoli returned to the Vancouver Canucks lineup for Game 2. It was perfect timing because the Canucks needed his offensive presence in their lineup. He provided it.
Toffoli’s Impact on Game 1? Three Points and Plenty of Confidence
Toffoli’s impact on the team was immediate. He scored a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s 5-2 Game 2 victory over the Golden Knights. In addition, he boosted the team’s swagger more than a bit.
Toffoli returned to the Canucks lineup after missing 10 games because of a “lower-body” injury. He seems to have great chemistry with Elias Pettersson and showed that when, only n two minutes into the game he turned a slick pass from Pettersson into the first goal of the game.
The 28-year-old Toffoli hadn’t seen action since Aug. 2, but he gave his team an instant boost. Although the Canucks were shutout in Game 1, Toffoli ensured that wouldn’t be the case in Game 2. Just nine seconds into his first shift of the game, when Pettersson drew the defense and the goalie to him as he skated the puck around the back of the net, Toffoli set up on the doorstep. When Pettersson’s seeing-eye pass hit Toffoli’s stick, the result was instant – an easy goal.
Toffoli Adds Experience to Pettersson’s Line
Canucks head coach Travis Green made a great coaching decision, putting Toffoli back into a top-6 role for the Canucks. In addition, Green partnered Toffoli with Tanner Pearson as the wingers to give his young rising-star center (Pettersson) plenty of experience to skate with. Toffoli scored 24 goals and 44 points across 68 games during the regular season, with 10 points in 10 games after coming to Vancouver at the trade deadline.
Toffoli’s time on the ice was impactful. In total, he only skated 14:35 minutes during the game, but those minutes made a huge difference to his team. He starting the scoring early in the first period, he later assisted on Bo Horvat’s power-play goal, and he added another assist on Pettersson’s even-strength goal.
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The Canucks Need Toffoli to Keep Scoring
Something about Toffoli seems to make him an extremely powerful fit in the Canucks lineup. He’s been incredible since he came to the Canucks, but this playoff game was his best by far.
With the series tied one game each, the Canucks will need him to continue to provide offense if they’re going to push the Golden Knights out of this series. Is it possible that the rumors that Toffoli might be around for a long time might have merit? I’m certain that, given his impact on the team, that few Canucks fans would mind at all.
