A-WRISTED DEVELOPMENT ON DEFENCE
Erik Gudbranson is finished discussing his injury-shortened season. He’s healthy and determined to help the Canucks rebound
Peace of mind and a piece of the action — that’s all Erik Gudbranson wants after a nightmare NHL season.
The Vancouver Canucks defenceman struggled from the outset last year and was shut down after 30 games by a wonky right wrist that required surgery Dec. 23 in New York. With zero contract leverage, a one-year, show-us US$3.5-million extension — the same amount the 25-year-old restricted free agent played for last season — was welcomed like a ray of sunshine during the Lower Mainland’s monsoon season.
If that isn’t enough incentive to reward management’s faith, Gudbranson is also paired with freeagent acquisition Michael Del Zotto in training camp and the pair looked cohesive Thursday during a scrimmage at Rogers Arena.
Gudbranson even tested the wrist when he had to push Markus Granlund off the puck during an endboards battle. It was notable.
Last year, Gudbranson jammed his wrist in the pre-season and the rigours of aggressive play and blocking shots only worsened his condition.
“The biggest thing is to get it out of your mind — it’s not even a concern,” the 6-5, 216-pound Gudbranson said.
“I’ve met with a bunch of hand surgeons post-surgery and everybody thinks it looks phenomenal. With that understanding, it’s just going out there and forgetting about it.
“To be honest, it hasn’t even crossed my mind since I’ve been at camp. I just want to write off last year and get my game back. I was cleared for contact at the end of the season and everything we did (in rehab) was incremental.
“You don’t want to start pounding anything. I took some time with the heavy bag — not throwing punches, but pushing it around a bit to see how it feels.”
Getting a feel for playing with Del Zotto is as imperative as an uptempo system that could fit Gudbranson’s game. Travis Green’s plan means less time in your own zone and quicker puck movements — and less time for opposition forwards to get on top and challenge blue-liners.
“We played with a little bit of grey area last year and Greener has come in and taken that out,” Gudbranson said. “It’s simple: Once you have the puck, you know where to put it and if there’s a guy open, you know where to go. It’s very meticulous and very quick and actually relatively simple. It’s a good north-south game.”
There’s no guarantee Gudbranson and Del Zotto will be paired on opening night, but Green is clearly intrigued by a big, stay-at-home defenceman who can hit and move the puck. That should allow Del Zotto to join rushes in odd-man situations to help the Canucks be less predictable in their breakouts and have better and easier zone entries.
“I like (the pairing) in practice and I didn’t mind it in the game,” Green said. “Two guys who have played in the league a while, and it kind of makes sense and I like the look of both guys. It’s a fit, and that’s why they’re together right now, but that could change in a week quite easily.”
For his part, the 27-year-old Del Zotto found the transition to pairing with a former Ontario Hockey League foe to be effortless.
It could be because the newcomer is as quick to grasp systems as he is getting up the ice, or the fact that he seems to take everything in stride.
Del Zotto’s outgoing personality can only help to balance the seriousness of Gudbranson’s resolve to have a rebound season.
“I’m rarely serious,” Del Zotto said with a chuckle. “You’ll see a smile on my face all the time. I talk a lot on the ice and I’m pretty loud. We’re just trying to gain a little chemistry and know where each other will be and be each other’s eyes.
“I thought we had a good day. We moved the puck well and had some good breakouts together. Playing with pace, that’s today’s game — but you’ve got to know where guys are going to be.”
Where the Canucks will be on the back end on opening night is open to debate.
It’s easy to assume Green could stick with pairings from last season, with Alex Edler with Troy Stecher and Ben Hutton with Gudbranson, and put Del Zotto with Chris Tanev.
But those two can move the puck and there’s more than just passing interest where Philip Holm, Alex Biega, Patrick Wiercioch, Evan McEneny and Jordan Subban work into the back-end mix and in what league Olli Juolevi plays.
Run all that and other additions by Gudbranson and there could be a perfect scenario unfolding.
A solid season could bring the Ottawa native a long-term contract extension, because he doesn’t want to go to the open market, even if it’s more lucrative: He’s a Van man.
“They brought some good players in and there’s good young talent coming up,” he said.
“There’s a very bright future in Vancouver and that’s certainly enticing. And everybody knows this is one of the top five cities in the world and I’d say No. 1 in North America for sure.”