BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Vancouver Canucks wanted more offence from their defence this season and so far, they’re getting it.
Last season, the Canucks had one of the NHL’s least productive defensive corps.
Only the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils — who all missed the playoffs, by the way — had fewer than the 135 points contributed by Canucks defencemen.
This season, the Canucks are better than middle of the pack in that category.
Heading into Friday’s schedule, the Canucks stood 11th with 25 points from their blueliners.
“When we analyzed where we were at the end of last year, we wanted to be more mobile back there, have our defence go back, get the puck and either make a good first pass up to the forwards or have the ability to carry the puck up ice and into the neutral zone,” general manager Jim Benning said Friday.