Hoglander wings it with Horvat
Blue-liner Schmidt fits in as both eager participant and camp clown
Time moves fast. And so does the NHL.
With proper time management imperative for the Vancouver Canucks to settle on systems, defensive pairings and line combinations, coach Travis Green accelerated the process Monday at Rogers Arena.
He aligned 20-year-old Nils Hoglander on right wing with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson — not Jake Virtanen or Loui Eriksson. It was: Let's see what the five-foot-nine, 190-pound dynamo can do.
“You can read into it and I know you will,” Green told the media. “It's not just skating and conditioning; we want to see how combos look. We don't have time for young guys to dip their toe in the water. You hope you get a guy who hits the ice and is confident and it doesn't affect him.
“Some might need time and some might fit in right away. We can kind of tell that.”
Hoglander looked comfortable playing against men in the Swedish Hockey League. In his second season with Rogle BK Angelholm, the 2019 second-round NHL draft pick had 14 points (5-9) in 23 games. But it was his ability to battle, create and finish — even stickhandling between his legs for a highlight-reel goal during a run of 14 points in 12 games — that wowed the Canucks.
Horvat was impressed Monday by the latest candidate to play right wing and possibly replace Tyler Toffoli, who opted for free agency.
“No matter who steps up, we have to find chemistry right away because it's a short season and we felt pretty comfortable with Hogs,” the captain said. “Hopefully, we continue to play together.”
As for Hoglander, the quick camp promotion was pleasing and a bit perplexing.
“When I first saw that, I was a little bit nervous,” the slick Swede admitted. “Two really good players and good guys and it was just good to be out there. It helped to have good games in Sweden and I came here with a good confidence. It felt good today.”
What does this mean for Virtanen as a possible top-six fix?
“It will be up to him to decide where he plays — first, second third or fourth line,” Green said. “For us, it's not what's best for Jake. it's what's best for the team and he knows that as well. I'm not worried about finding a good fit (for Horvat). We started this way last year and we'll find out in due time. We probably won't know until a couple of days before the Edmonton game.”
HE'S THE REAL SCHMITTY
Nate Schmidt came as advertised Monday. The key trade acquisition was noticeable in Day 1. He led his group in the infamous bag skate, had some teething problems with systems, and he entertained. No more Zoom and gloom. Schmidt has arrived.
“I think I've warned enough guys,” said a chuckling Braden Holtby, who played with Schmidt in Washington. “It's been awesome. He has shown his energy already and it will be infectious to this group.”
Schmidt, 29, was paired with Alex Edler on Monday and it speaks to his ability to use good speed and smarts to join the rush and make something happen in the offensive zone.
He became expendable when the Golden Knights acquired free agent Alex Pietrangelo. The Canucks gave up a 2022 third-round pick for the left-shot Schmidt, who can play the right side.
As good as his game is, his postcamp session comedy was a close second.
“We were doing some laps and I didn't know guys would stop,” he started. “I almost blew somebody up on the first turnaround. Travis runs a hard practice and he pulled me over to say this is how we do this part of the game. It kind of looked ugly because I went too wide on my first rep because I went too early to buy time for my D partner to close a gap down. You're nervous about how you're going to fit into the room or a new city and it has gone off without a hitch. I've got to make sure I give it ( joking) to the guys in doses because I don't know how much they can handle at first. I didn't know how much to bark and yell today. I didn't want guys to get overwhelmed.”