Courtnall reckons Canucks could use another big banger up front
You can survive a lightning strike and even a second electrical discharge.
Geoff Courtnall was twice struck by surprise at the NHL trade deadline — first moving from the Boston Bruins to the Edmonton Oilers and then from the St. Louis Blues to the Vancouver Canucks — and he benefited from those shocks to the system.
Courtnall would capture a Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1988 with a final series sweep of the Bruins. He also got to the seventh game of the league championship with the rejuvenated Canucks in 1994. And in the grind to win it all, he knows nothing has changed in the second season.
Time and space are at a premium and push often leads to shove and scraps ensue. Toughness is a staple that remains relevant today, especially in the playoffs, where will is just as vital as skill.
It's why when a conversation with Courtnall shifted to the current Canucks, and what they should acquire in advance of Friday's trade deadline, he knows there's a constant buzz around top-six wingers like Jake Guentzel, Frank Vatrano and Tyler Toffoli.
“That's easy to say, but that one big physical forward is missing,” suggested Courtnall. “They need a guy who can make that kind of an impact in the playoffs. And it's really been evident in missing Dakota Joshua (hand injury). He has really developed and that line has been fantastic because of his physical ability.
“He takes the body and creates room. They've missed that. Sergio Momesso was like that and reminds me a lot of Dakota. Sergio had great skill, but could really punish guys. And when Joshua is playing like that, he's at his best.”
Momesso had 20, 18, and 14 goals respectively in his three seasons here, plus six playoff goals, 547 penalty minutes and 15 fights.
“You get into seven-game series and you've got to be able to wear guys down,” stressed Courtnall.
It's why Jordan Greenway, 27, an intimidating six-foot-six, 231-pound winger of the Buffalo Sabres, may be a priority at this deadline.
He's big, intimidating, can chip in offensively and commanded a level of Canucks interest when he played for the Minnesota Wild. He also has a year left on his contract at US$3 million.
Here's our weekly Canucks Q&A with the insightful Courtnall:
Q. How has trade deadline changed since you played?
A. Back then, trades just came out of the blue. No one really talked contracts and nobody had guidance or awareness of what the team was thinking, or who they were going to move. Or, if they were going to move anybody. What's interesting now, is the trade deadline actually starts in January. Back then, it started the day before.
Q. How much did the Bruins trade catch you off-guard?
A. I was pretty upset. The previous year, I thought I was going to get traded, and the next year I did. I had 32 goals and Cam (Neely) had 38 and we were playing with (Ken) Linseman. That was the year I least expected it, there was no chance I would get traded.
Q. How did you learn about the Edmonton destination?
A. Cam and I had gone to a Detroit theatre. We were casually walking back to the room and all the guys were in the hotel hallway. They all knew I was traded (along with Bill Ranford and a second-round pick for Andy Moog) before I did.
There were no cellphones. But the red light on our room phone was flashing, which is usually a sign something is going on.
Q. What struck you about joining the vaunted Oilers?
A. I thought I was in great shape. I couldn't believe how hard they practised and the tempo. They trained like a championship team, all of them, and that was the biggest thing with Wayne (Gretzky) and Mark (Messier).
They gave guys a lot of confidence. They went out of their way to make you feel comfortable and that's what great leadership is. You felt like a real part of something special.
Q. The Blues were first overall, so why the trade overhaul?
A. All trades hurt, but that was a shocker. We had four great lines. I played with (Brett) Hull and (Adam) Oates and I had 27 goals. But I knew they were going to make a trade for a defenceman (Garth Butcher plus forward Dan Quinn).
I didn't think they were going to gut the team (Cliff Ronning,
Robert Dirk, Momesso, Courtnall), but I was happy to be traded to Vancouver.
Q. Did you know something was up at the morning skate?
A. We were in Hartford and I got called into the coach's office. There was a line. One after the other. I don't think I was first, maybe it was Cliffy. He was hoping and expected to be traded and was so ecstatic because he was going home.
Q. How sour was the Canucks room when you arrived?
A. It wasn't good. Guys weren't happy here and we were in last place at that time in the division. Cliffy with this skill, and me, and we played with Trevor (Linden).
Sergio was a great player and really physical and brought team toughness. And Dirk was big and tough.
We basically filled all the pieces that they needed.