Bigger, stronger Boeser focused on solid start
WHISTLER Brock Boeser had the right response to a tough question on Monday.
When the Vancouver Canucks right winger was asked if he could follow up 29 goals in 62 games last NHL season with 50 goals this coming campaign, the Calder Trophy finalist put that lofty plateau in perspective.
“Anyone would take 50; that’s super hard to do,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t think of that at all. I’m more focused on getting back to my style of game. I feel better than I did last year. I was pretty sore the first week (of camp) and to be able to get through the testing and high-paced practices and scrimmages has been good.
“I’m excited to just play coming off an injury, to get my confidence back and play the game I want to and hopefully put a few in.”
While 50 goals appear unrealistic — Alex Ovechkin led all snipers last season with 49 and just eight others reached the 40-goal plateau — here’s something to consider. Boeser was on pace for 38 goals before his season ended on March 5 with a back injury. He also laboured with a wonky wrist that required off-season maintenance.
Boeser dominated the Minnesota-based summer Beauty League with 34 points (16-18) in nine games and added 10 pounds of muscle. It should help him get off to a fast start and maybe allow him to join the 40-goal club.
But 50? Ovechkin hit that mark in 2015-16.
“It’s going to be tougher for guys to outmuscle me from pucks,” he said. “I feel stronger when I’m muscling some of the older guys off. The key for me is to show up in the first game and hopefully pick up where I left off and go into the game and not worry about injuries.”
Canucks coach Travis Green isn’t looking to reinvent Boeser’s game. He wants production to prop up the league’s 26th-ranked offence and keep the power play in the top 10.
“To be consistent and do it year after year is what the great goal scorers do,” said Green. “He doesn’t have to prove it to me, he has to prove it to himself and his teammates, and that happens over time.”
HORVAT APPLAUDS BARKOV
Bo Horvat admires Aleksander Barkov.
The hulking 23-year-old Florida Panthers centre who led his club with 78 points (27-51) last season was named captain on Monday. Management cited his leadership on and off the ice — and his place in an emerging core — to go younger with a younger face of the franchise.
Horvat, 23, is in the Canucks conversation to supplant the retired Henrik Sedin as captain, but the club could also appoint three alternates.
Either way, Barkov is part of an emerging leadership trend in the NHL.
“They have a lot of great veterans and Barks is one of my favourites,” said Horvat. “He’s extremely talented and big and strong and controls the games — one of the harder guys to play against and he deserves that (captaincy).
“He plays hard at both ends, plays the penalty kill and power play, and is a complete centre. That’s what I want to be.” OVERTIME: Nikolay Goldobin had three goals in Monday’s scrimmage. Called a “cherry-picker” by his peers (waiting at the opposition blue-line for long lead passes), his pace and release have been noticeable.
“I was just doing my job with the Sweden guys (Elias Pettersson, Jonathan Dahlen). They’re really skilled and we bring a lot.”