A deep dive into the 2023-24 season of Vancouver Canucks defenceman Mark Friedman.
A deep dive into the 2023-24 season of Vancouver Canucks defenceman Mark Friedman.
Welcome to the 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks player review series. Over the summer, we will be taking a look at Canucks players performances from the 2023-24 season. Today's player is Mark Friedman, who had one point in 23 games.
After being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the start of the season, Friedman showed he could be a solid depth defenceman who can be reliable in limited minutes. Over his 23 games with Vancouver, Friedman averaged 12:14 of ice time and finished the season with only three giveaways in over 280 minutes. Ultimately, he understood his role and was able to provide value to the Canucks lineup early in the season.
Often seen skating beside Ian Cole, Friedman's NHL EDGE numbers show just how effective he was at keeping the puck out of his defensive zone. At even strength, Friedman ranked in the 92nd percentile in offensive zone time at 44.3%, while his 37.6% defensive zone time ranked in the 89th percentile. While it is important to note that these numbers may be a bit inflated due to low minutes, the percentages are positive as they show that when Friedman was on the ice, the Canucks were able to maintain possession and create offensive chances.
One statistic that stands out when it comes to Friedman is his shot-blocking. The 28-year-old set a new career high with 35 blocked shots and recorded a shots blocked per 60 of 7.46. In the end, Friedman showed a willingness to do whatever it took to win, even if that meant diving in front of shots whenever he got the chance.
After signing a one-year extension this offseason, the question surrounding Friedman is where he will play next season. At the moment, it looks like he could start the season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks and be a player who is called up when injuries occur. If that is the case, at least Vancouver can be comfortable with the fact that they have a defender who not only understands how to play in Rick Tocchet's system but has also shown he can have success on a third pair.
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