According to Head Coach Rick Tocchet, changes are coming to the Vancouver Canucks power play.

Through the first eight games, one of the biggest issues for the Vancouver Canucks has been the power play. The team is five for 25 of the season and has really struggled over the past five games, only scoring twice on 13 opportunities. From an inability to get set up to not getting enough shots on goal, there needs to be some work done on the power play before it starts causing major issues later on in the season. 

After the Canucks overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Head Coach Rick Tocchet said that changes would be coming to the power play. Currently, Vancouver's two power play units look like this:

Quinn Hughes- J.T. Miller- Elias Pettersson- Conor Garland- Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek- Nils Höglander- Daniel Sprong- Danton Heinen- Jake DeBrusk

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As for the setup, the Canucks utilize an umbrella formation, with three players up high, one player in the bumper and one at the net. Vancouver also likes a lot of movement in their power play, meaning that a player could start on the flank but eventually make their way to the bumper spot, depending on where the puck is. While this plan has worked on occasion, the Canucks inability to set up and move the puck without turning it over has made it difficult to create chances while on the power play. 

Shot generation has also been a problem for Vancouver. The Canucks have 28 shots on the power play, which ranks 30th in the NHL. Here is a look at the shot totals and ice time for players who have played at least five minutes on the power play through eight games:

One potential solution Vancouver's coaching staff could be looking at is splitting up the power play. This would help balance out both units while creating a matchup problem for the opposing penalty killers. If the Canucks do decide to go down this route, here is one option they could use:

Hughes- Miller- Boeser- DeBrusk- Pius Suter

Erik Brännström- Pettersson- Sprong- Garland- Heinen 

Looking at these units, the first features five players who all have developed chemistry at five-on-five and have had success on the power play in the past. As for the second unit, it is very intriguing as there are plenty of shooting threats that can hammer one-timers. The unit also includes Brännström, who has shown his offensive capabilities this season and, from an analytics perspective, has been one of the best players on Vancouver's roster this season. 

Whether it is a change in scheme or moving players around to different units, the Canucks need to find a way to be more efficient on the power play. While they have been collecting points, a strong power play could be the difference between home ice in the first round and playing as the lower seed throughout the postseason. With upcoming games against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and L.A. Kings, who all rank in the bottom half for penalty kill this season, there should be plenty of opportunities for Vancouver to find their form and start once again producing on the power play.