Canucks Off-season
It ain’t over yet, but with just five weeks to training camp in Penticton, let’s take a quick look-see at what the Canucks have done this off-season. For starters, things couldn’t get much weirder or worse than last year.
1) There will be heaps of pressure on Adam Foote. Vancouver’s new head coach carries that title for the first time at the NHL level. It’ll be fascinating to see how he handles it and how the team responds.
2) Big winger Evander Kane comes home via trade, hopefully a more mature, well rounded hockey player and individual. He has plenty to prove and he may have found the perfect place to play. The motivation should definitely be there and the team needs him to help establish a physical identity. He’s in the final year of a four-year contract that will pay him $5.1-million.
3) Based on the Canucks approach to their goaltending situation, it appears former elite number-one Thatcher Demko is rip-roaring and ready to go again. His health will remain a question mark until the club is well into the season, simply because of his recent past history. Kevin Lankinen is still around to carry the load if necessary, while Calder Cup champion netminder Arturs Silovs has moved on to Pittsburgh.
Vancouver received sturdy young winger prospect Chase Stillman, son of two-time Stanley Cup champion Cory, and a 2027 4th-rounder in the exchange with the Penguins.
4) Speaking of Silovs, congratulations again to the Abbotsford Canucks and their fans for winning it all at the American Hockey League level, a first for a Vancouver affiliate. Maybe the winning will rub off 70 kilometres to the west.
5) Did someone mention pressure? How about the amount number-one center Elias Pettersson will be feeling if he doesn’t get off to a good start. At a Team Sweden Olympic orientation camp this summer, “Petey” said he’s seeking ‘revenge’ for his poor performance last season. Call that ‘lost in translation’ in terms of his choice of words, but we get it. He added that he’s bulked up and worked his arse off this summer, in so many words.
6) Just when you thought he had both feet out the door, Brock Boeser surprised us by signing a last minute deal with the Canucks as a pending UFA. The sentimental Minnesotan, dripping with niceness, simply couldn’t pull himself away from his familiar Vancouver surroundings. The Canucks gave him a seven-year deal, $7.25-million per season, and a complete no-move clause for the first four years.
“Gee Wally, I sure hope that works out.” (Google “Leave it to Beaver”)
7) The Canucks will have to outwork and out-hustle opponents up front, not the strong suit of their roster, particularly in the bottom-six. While Kiefer Sherwood proved to be a man among boys last season, there remains some youthful question marks.
Outside of what could potentially be great goaltending, the D-corps stacks up as the club’s strong suit. The group is physical and loaded for bear. Filip Hronek and Tyler Myers are the two regular righties, with lefty “Petey-D” Elias Pettersson likely playing the right side on the 3rd pair.
(Notice how ‘Petey-D’ rolls off the tongue. Not sure who came up with ‘D-Petey’, but it’s stunted, awkward, and I’m sure no one will get instantaneously confused which player we’re talking about after hearing ‘Petey’, and then ‘D’, a micro-second later. I expect most will continue with the awkward version. No worries. I won’t.)
Meanwhile, star captain Quinn Hughes will once again be in the Norris Trophy conversation.
8) Of the young players and prospects in the organization, I’m most intrigued by Linus Karlsson at the moment. He should be overflowing with confidence following his Calder Cup postseason and will be one to watch at training camp. By the way, he’s not that young, he’s 25, so it’s really time for him to establish a permanent presence. Or not.
9) Speaking of camp: Penticton. Congrat’s to that delightful Okanagan community for getting the nod for a few days of preseason proceedings. Also time for the Canucks media contingent to enjoy some Naramata wine.
There’s more of course, including a Draft review, but 9 is where we leave it for now. Enjoy August!! We’ll be in touch. Cheers!
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks/Kraken Rivalry Should Get Ornery
