Green believes younger wingers address Canucks’ need for speed
DENVER First Sven Baertschi, then Derrick Pouliot and now Brendan Leipsic.
A junior coaching familiarity with the trio makes it easy to wonder if Travis Green’s fingerprints were all over an NHL deadline deal Monday that brought Leipsic — his former small, speedy and highscoring winger in Portland — to the Vancouver Canucks from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenceman Philip Holm.
After all, Green knows what he’s got in Baertschi, knows what he can still get out of Pouliot and sees an upside in the 23-year-old Leipsic, who has played just 40 career games split between Las Vegas and Toronto.
“I know Leipsic but it (trade) doesn’t revolve around me,” said Green.
“Speed and skill are areas we need and he knows that. I played a small role, to be honest. I give (general manager) Jim Benning my opinion, and if we’re not on the same page, then it’s not going to work. I talked briefly about Leipsic yesterday (Sunday) and they went ahead and did the deal.”
It was one of two moves that brought the Canucks three players but no draft picks.
Unrestricted free agent Thomas Vanek was sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Tyler Motte, 22, and the well-travelled Jussi Jokinen, 34, who’s also a UFA. And because no picks were acquired in the transactions, the moves received mixed reviews, because draft picks are the rebuild’s currency.
“It’s easy from the outside to say just acquire draft picks,” said Green.
“A lot of people thought we’d get a higher draft pick for Vanek. Jim did a good job. We’re looking for young guys who can play. The league is so fast and competitive, you have to be able to make plays at a high speed and get to places, in order to win puck battles.
“Leipsic is a high-energy guy and hopefully he can become a fulltime NHL player. Part of it is age and learning the pro game. Part of it is opportunity, and Toronto and Las Vegas are pretty deep with the skill level. Sometimes you don’t get the opportunity.”
Leipsic has 16 points (3-13) in the NHL and he’s no different than other hot juniors. He had 120 points (49-71) in the 2012-13 WHL season and 20- and 18-goals seasons in the AHL. But the 2012 third-round pick of the Nashville Predators has yet to ice a complete game. He played 44 games as a fourth-liner with the Golden Knights this season.
“I work hard,” Leipsic told TSN 1040 radio. “I’m an energy guy and feel I’ve got pretty good skill to make plays.
“With more confidence, maybe there’s a bigger role and my offensive game will come around. I have to prove I can play without the puck and gain the trust of Travis again.”
The final 20 games will be an audition time to see if Leipsic can take his game to another level and to see if Motte, whom the organization chased two years ago, is more than a minor leaguer and capable of more than 10 AHL goals.
In 64 career games with Chicago and Columbus, Motte had 12 points (7-5).
With his compete mantra, Green is going to find out a lot about his new players and those who might be deemed movable. The Canucks have just six picks in the June draft, and the only way to add more may mean making bolder moves.
“New guys are going to get their chance and it’s a healthy thing to have an internal competition — it’s always good,” said Baertschi. “We’re going to see who’s ready to go for next year and who’s ready to make an impact, because we definitely need a better season.
“Leipsic has a great personality and he’s a funny guy to have around. He really put in the work the last few years and really competes. It’s a great acquisition.”
How all this affects the future of Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who said how the club shapes up will play a role in their career decision, remains to be seen. Another season of transition might be tough for the twins to take, because they’re playing well and the club is still struggling.
And whether he was just talking like a dutiful captain, Henrik did say this much about what occurred on Monday.
“People talk about getting picks back (in trades), but we’re getting players who have played in this league and we like what they can do,” he said.
“It gives us something moving forward, and a lot of times that’s better than getting picks. Picks are good, but it’s like a lottery. Now you get players you’ve seen.”
OVERTIME
This will be Jokinen’s fourth team this season and Green said he’s anxious to talk to the winger to see where he’s at mentally, and discuss what role he may play. The Canucks have also done the paperwork to make Nikolay Goldobin and Motte eligible for the AHL playoffs. They’ll stay with the Canucks for now and will be options to move between the NHL and AHL before joining the Utica Comets for the post-season.