Burrows sets example for rookies
PLAYED THROUGH ILLNESS: Veteran proves actions speak as loud as words to back up Daniel Sedin’s demands
Actions can speak as loud as words. For everything a frustrated Daniel Sedin rightfully said Saturday night about how a collective lack of work ethic, battle level and commitment can affect the culture of the team in a trying transition, it was an unselfish understanding by Alex Burrows that should resonate with those who need a reality check.
Burrows was ill, but still played Friday in Edmonton and was sick all night. He wasn’t expected to play Saturday against St. Louis, but knew the Vancouver Canucks needed the winger and he vowed to do anything to aid the cause. And whether as a fourth-liner or being reunited with Henrik and Daniel Sedin at practice Monday, the professionalism shown with his future here in doubt trumps any of those motivational signs in the dressing room.
“Burrows showed up because we needed him,” Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. “That could have been a bad game and he did his part to show up and help us. Those are things that young guys sometimes don’t even see. They just take it for granted that he’s OK. Those are valuable lessons that you can miss along the way.
“The most important thing is our culture. You get the right one and you’re going to win. It’s that simple. But when you bring in an awful lot of new guys, it takes time to establish that and it’s a lot easier when things are going your way. But we just don’t come here to put in time. It (culture) starts right now and Danny is not going to let it change — it’s on his watch.”
And it’s not just the kids like Jake Virtanen and Jared McCann who need to understand the message — even though the Canucks iced seven rookies and had nine regulars sidelined Saturday by injury. Linden Vey and Emerson Etem have been with other organizations and the restricted free agents should be as wary an anybody that there are no career guarantees. Flashes of effort or a wavering battle level won’t cut it here or anywhere else.
Rookies get some rope. Veterans don’t.
“Sometimes you think you’re fooling people, but the league will catch you,” Desjardins cautioned. “Instead of being a $4-million guy, you’re a $2-million and instead of a $2-million guy to $1-million, you’re out of the league.”
Daniel Sedin took a half-step back Monday. The winger recalled when at age 19, he was still playing back home, but he wasn’t going to let birth certificates let young players off the hook.
He expects rookies to work on and off the ice, no matter what day, week or month. It’s how they practise and prepare for games, how hard they work in the gym and learn from the hard lessons of trying to win with a decimated lineup.
“It can’t be acceptable to be out of the playoffs and just play for fun — or whatever. You’ve got to have more pride.”
— Alex Burrows
“You forget that they (rookies) are 19 years old, but we expect so much from them because we see it here and there,” Daniel said. “I look back. Where was I when I was 19? Back in Sweden. But there’s still a maturity level that needs to be there on a daily basis. We’ll take the mistakes as long as they put the work in every day, from each and every guy.”
Virtanen was on the second power-play unit Monday and was doubled over after taking two hard shots in the slot to the upper thigh area. It’s that net-front presence he needs to understand and that you have to battle, even in practice. And in games, those mere seconds of coasting on any shift can result in being scored upon or taking a lazy penalty. So taking a couple for the team Monday was noticeable and appreciated.
“Love it — just got to live for it,” joked Virtanen, who has seven goals in 46 games. “It’s good. And he (Daniel) is absolutely right. The last push here, guys have to still battle. And we want to win. We don’t want our identity to be a losing one.
“And the Sedins want to win. They want to be known when their careers are over that they were guys who never quit.”
It’s been a tougher transition for McCann. After scoring five goals in his first nine games, the centre has just eight in 61 games. He has to develop strength to play harder and longer in traffic or be more efficient in the faceoff circle, where he has just a 34.7-per-cent success rate.
But he can work on all that every day, according to Daniel.
“You take it to heart,” McCann said. “The young guys, we have to win battles and we can’t use our age as an excuse. He’s just pushing us to be better, and we haven’t earned anything. The Sedins are perfect role models and I know they’re going to rub off on me and push me to be better.”
Maybe Burrows put it best. Hockey is fun, but it’s also a demanding job.
“It can’t be acceptable to be out of the playoffs and just play for fun — or whatever. You’ve got to have more pride. This is real. It affects a lot of lives and you’ve got make sure that every time you put that jersey on, you give it all you’ve got.
“I totally agree with Danny and I back his comments 100 per cent. It’s so hard to win in this league if you don’t have 20 guys committed.”
That’s why Burrows has often been with the Sedins. It takes a certain skill set — and a certain understanding of their cycle game — to be effective. Burrows referenced games in Philadelphia and Los Angeles this season when he saw spot duty on the top line. And while any winger would love to punch that lottery ticket and be a constant consideration to be aligned with the Sedins, Burrows understands the big picture. That goes a long way in the room and for the guy behind the bench.
“I’ve always been a big supporter of whatever the coach feels is the best, I’m all for it,” Burrows stressed. “I never go in there and say I should be in there or not.”