Canucks' coaches have played more than 7,000 games in pros
Is it possible to have too much experience?
At a certain point, the argument goes, you lose sight of innovation, you become stuck in your ways and unable to adapt to change.
In a sport such as professional hockey, being able to adapt to change seems like a pretty obvious thing. At some point, everyone runs out of ideas.
With that in mind, let's turn to this week's fan mailbag, leading off with a query about experience.
How many combined pro games played does our Canucks coaching staff have?
— Daveyboy604, via Twitter
If you include the Sedins, who bounce between Vancouver and Abbotsford but who are on the ice for almost every NHL practice, and skills coach Yogi Svejkovsky, it's an impressive number: 7,426 games across all levels of pro hockey. Rick Tocchet: 1,144, all in NHL Adam Foote: 1,160, including six in the AHL
Sergei Gonchar: 1,564 (NHL, AHL, KHL, Russian league, Soviet league, Spengler Cup, European league)
Mike Yeo: 336 (IHL, AHL) Svejkovsky: 203 (NHL, AHL, IHL, Czech league)
Henrik Sedin: 1,515 (NHL, SHL, Euro)
Daniel Sedin: 1,504 (NHL, SHL, Euro)
Tocchet is ranked third among NHL head coaches with the most games played, behind Rod Brind'amour (1,484) and Luke Richardson (1,417). He is just ahead of Montreal's Martin St. Louis (1,134) and Nashville's Andrew Brunette (1,110).
In terms of NHL games among assistant coaches, Richardson's staff in Chicago comes close to Tocchet's. The four assistants in Chicago played 1,711 NHL games combined. Boston's Jim Montgomery didn't play much in the NHL, but his staff (Joe Sacco, Chris Kelly and Bob Essensa) played more than 2,000 games.
Between Foote and Gonchar alone, the Canucks have the most experienced staff. Gonchar played 1,301 games in the NHL and Foote skated in 1,154 career NHL games, so they really are far and away the leaders in this category.
How on Earth did this go to someone not named Brock Boeser?
— Sadnessper60, via Twitter
Every year, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association is polled for the bulk of the NHL awards. That's a serious task, handing out serious hardware: the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng. But there's one award that stands apart, that is just as serious an award: the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
It's the PHWA'S own award, handed out since 1968. The inaugural awarding came months after
Masterton died from head injuries sustained in a game while playing for the Minnesota North Stars.
Ever since, his memory has been honoured by the trophy, which is voted on each year by the PHWA'S membership. It's to recognize the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
It has been perceived as a comeback player of the year award, but it's not meant to be. It's often been awarded to players who have battled through off-ice challenges, such as a spouse's illness or a personal battle with addiction or other mental illnesses.
Last year's winner was Kris Letang, who performed admirably for the Pittsburgh Penguins despite suffering a stroke early in the season and losing his dad midseason.
This year, the Vancouver chapter of the PHWA nominated Noah Juulsen because of how hard he has worked to make himself into an NHL regular, six seasons after his NHL debut. But more than a few chimed in on social media to ask why no Brock Boeser? He's having a marvellous season, especially notable after what a struggle the last few have been.
He definitely was a candidate — he finished second in voting. But what many may have missed is that Boeser was our nominee last season. His season finished on a high note, a year after losing his dad. He was already ascendant then. Had he won the nomination again, he would have been a good choice.
Hey! Crypto.com Arena's schedule
may be empty in late April, but don't you know that the Lakers and the Clippers are both going to be in the playoffs too?!
— Trevor L. via email
I wrote on the website Thursday about the Canucks' playoff schedule permutations, noting that there are no bookings at the home of the Los Angeles Kings over the two weeks that will feature a potential series against the Canucks. In comparison, the Canucks have some bookings they will have to navigate at Rogers Arena: Justin Timberlake on April 29, 21 Savage on May 1, and Pearl Jam for shows on May 4 and 6.
The Canucks will easily be able to host Games 1 and 2 of the first round between April 20 and 24 or so, with Games 3 and 4 in L.A. (or Nashville or Vegas) going sometime between April 25 and 29. But without a doubt Game 5 will be April 30, between the JT and 21 Savage concerts. Game 7 would then have to be May 3, assuming Pearl Jam doesn't have the arena booked for rehearsal.
My point in writing the explainer for the website was that scheduling in L.A. will be as fungible as can be. Yes, there will be challenges with the Clippers clearly in the playoffs and the Lakers likely in the play-in round, but those are all movable.
The concerts at Rogers Arena are fixed items.