PADDED RESUMES TO START
Jacob Markstrom says he can handle the mental challenge and stiff competition from Anders Nilsson to be the Canucks’ No. 1 man in net
Goaltending is back on the front burner as a focal point of curiosity and concern — and the heat is going to be turned up on Jacob Markstrom.
This is what happens in free agency when mentor Ryan Miller moves on to Anaheim and Anders Nilsson moves from Buffalo to Vancouver. The comfort factor of having a proven confidante in Miller is replaced by reuniting with a former Swedish world junior teammate in Nilsson.
In theory, Markstrom should be more than capable of being the Canucks’ starter. He’s 27 and entering the first season of a three-year, US$11-million contract extension. At times, he played better than Miller last season and at times watched the beleaguered stopper face more than 40 shots on nine occasions, including three times in the final month of a franchise free-fall.
Despite the obvious frustration, Miller maintained an amazing level of professionalism. He was methodical and articulate during pressing post-game scrums. And that’s going to be the challenge for Markstrom in a hockey-mad market where being The Guy means being in the crosshairs.
“I’ve got some pointers,” Markstrom said Tuesday of suggestions from the club’s public relations staff.
“Sometimes, if you don’t like a question, it shows. I’ve got a couple of pointers when dealing with the media that I should be a little nicer, but that (questioning) is part of the game and you’ve got to enjoy it.”
If Markstrom meets expectations, he can talk a blue streak after any outing and nobody will be red-faced because winning is everything. It’s when things go off the rails for any starter that the true test of character comes to the forefront.
It’s easy to be sullen, short and end the scrum. It’s more difficult to own up and try to put everything in perspective.
However, how Markstrom handles the media will be dwarfed by how he will respond after April’s knee surgery. His goals-against average last season (2.63) was better than Miller’s (2.80) and his .910 save percentage was slightly behind Miller’s .914.
Markstrom had stellar outings last season. He had three consecutive wins to start the season, allowed five goals on 73 shots during that stretch. He had a season-high 42 saves in a 3-2 shootout win on Dec. 31 in Edmonton, but also had a bad outing Nov. 15 at Rogers Arena in allowing seven goals on 25 shots against the New York Rangers.
“I’ve been getting better and better and in previous years, I wanted to play more games than I did,” Markstrom said of 23 starts last season after 30 in 2015-16.
“That’s what inspires me to work even harder to get as good as possible. And I’m super excited to work with Anders because it’s about winning hockey games and we’re going to need everybody.”
That’s where it’s going to get interesting.
In a perfect world, Markstrom would log 50 starts, but where the goalie and the team are is far from perfect. There are going to be rough nights in the slow climb back to respectability and bailing out the club on a nightly basis is too much to ask of Markstrom or Nilsson. That can play on anyone’s game and mindset.
“I don’t know if it’s mental,” Markstrom said of the upcoming challenge. “It’s just staying ready. Obviously the mental side is a big part to be prepared day in and day out. But it’s coming to work every day and not much is going to change.
“Like I said in previous years, even if I don’t play, I prepare the same way.”
Markstrom didn’t cite a preferred amount of starts and hasn’t been told of a number, which is understandable. New coach Travis Green wants a competitive camp and pre-season and it will dovetail all the way back to the crease.
The towering 27-year-old Nilsson had a 2.67 GAA and .923 save percentage in going 10-10-4 with the Buffalo Sabres last season. His two-year, $5-million contract buys prospect Thatcher Demko, 21, more development time with the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets.
It’s going to be about who can get the cage and keep it.
“It’s a healthy competition and a good competition like it should be at this level,” stressed Markstrom. “You’ve got Demko knocking at the door and I’m super confident this year. This is what I’ve worked for a long time.”
Green hinted at allowing the pre-season to determine how the net will be shared.
“We think we have two guys who are ready for the challenge to see if they’re No. 1 goalies,” said Green. “I know Jacob well. I had him before (in Utica) and he loves to compete and he’s at a stage where he’s ready for that challenge — so is Nilsson.
“We’re going to find out. It’s good for the organization to have two good goalies, but to sit here and say one guy is going to play this many games, it’s premature to say that.
“That’s what training camp is all about.”