Canucks’ coach expects plenty of competition during training camp
Roster spots available as youth movement continues for Vancouver
VANCOUVER — The head coach of the Vancouver Canucks has a simple message for his players.
“Everyone should feel pressure,” Travis Green said Thursday as players reported for medicals and physical testing. “Our team got 73 points last year. There’s pressure to get better for everyone.”
Vancouver finished last season secondlast in the Pacific Division with a 31-40-11 record, and has lost stalwarts Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who retired after 17 seasons in Canucks jerseys.
The disappointing finish and the loss of the twins means there are jobs up for grabs as the squad heads to Whistler today for training camp.
Green said he has lots of options to fill the roster, between returning veterans and up-and-coming youngsters like Swedes Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen.
“I think we have a team right now that, well, there’s a lot to be determined,” the coach said. “You look at our forward group and, man, there’s a lot of guys vying for jobs.
“I’m not going to pencil in guys to play in a certain spot yet. I want to see where everyone’s at.”
Returning players who fail to meet expectations could be placed on waivers and demoted to the farm team, said Canucks general manager Jim Benning.
“That’s what training camp is going to be for. We have extra players. The players know that. And it’s going to be how they show at camp,” Benning said.
Young players who’ve been battling for a roster spot need to take the next step, whether that’s offensively or otherwise, Benning said, adding that he’s spoken to many who seem to have put in a lot of hard work over the summer.
“They know what’s at stake. And I’m expecting them to come in and be better this year,” Benning said.
One Canuck who isn’t looking to make any big changes this season is right-winger Brock Boeser.
The 21-year-old played 62 games for Vancouver before a broken back cut his first NHL season short. He still managed to put up 29 goals and 26 assists, and was a finalist for the league’s rookie of the year award.
“I think if I play the way I did last year, come to the rink every day with that same mindset, take it day by day, work hard and with these guys by my side, I think I can have the same season I did last year and hopefully build off of that,” Boeser said.
Still, Green wants to see his team produce more offence, especially with the Sedins out of the lineup. Combined, the twins tallied 105 points last year.
Their impact wasn’t only on the scoresheet, but in the locker room, too, said centre Bo Horvat.
“It’s tough to lose Hank and Danny because they were such keys to our group, but at the same time . . . there’s a lot of young kids that are going to come up, that are going to step in and try to prove themselves as every-day NHLers,” he said.
Horvat is one of the players expected to take on a larger role this season.
Last season, he played 64 games, notching 22 goals and 22 assists. Horvat thinks he can increase that point total.
“We want to keep getting better every year,” said the 23-year-old. “Scoring more goals and getting points is going to win us hockey games. That’s the most important part.”
Putting the puck in the back of the net has been a source of angst for the Canucks in recent years. The team scored 218 goals last season and was 26th in the league in that department.
Staff have spent “countless hours” this summer trying to find ways to light the lamp, Green said.
“It’s hard to score in this league,” he said. “There’s good goalies, there’s good teams, and we’ve got to find a way to do it if we want to have success.
“We’re going to have to do it by committee,” he added. “I’m expecting a lot of our players to be better hockey players than they were last year. We’re going to need that.”
The Canucks could be without a captain this season. The role comes with a lot of responsibility, especially in a Canadian market, said Green.
“We had a great one here for a long time,” he said, referring to Henrik Sedin. “I don’t think there has to be a rush to name a captain. If you do (rush the decision), I think you’re making a mistake. You gotta make sure whoever’s named the next captain is the right choice and is ready.”