Overanalyzing the scrimmages and line rushes of an NHL training camp can be a fool’s errand. And that’s probably why CanucksArmy’s asked me to do it.
The Canucks are five days away from suiting up for their first preseason match with the Seattle Kraken, and we’re already seeing some line combos spring to the forefront in Penticton. With the team’s marketing department already advertising Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes being in the lineup for Wednesday’s tilt with the Calgary Flames in Abbotsford, that, in all likelihood, leaves them out of the running to play Seattle the day before.
But as we’ll talk about in today’s notebook, another developing top six line is likely carrying the baton first next week, while names both new and old are battling to fill out the rest of the lineup card. Here’s some key takeaways from Friday’s action at the SOEC.
Sprong first impressions
It’s early days, but one of the newest Canucks forwards seem to be fitting in just fine in the early scrimmages and flooding the nets with pucks.
Daniel Sprong is certainly making the most of his early opportunities with Pius Suter and Arshdeep Bains, with after two days together seems like the favourite to start the year as the new look fourth line.
Not to be outdone, Kiefer Sherwood also wowed with a nifty goal while skating on Group B’s third unit with Max Sasson and Phil Di Guiseppe.
Danton Heinen taking the reins
If Jonathan Lekkerimäki getting a second day with Pettersson and DeBrusk is hinting at Rick Tocchet’s first line plans, then Danton Heinen getting another spin with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser is a big clue for the second line strategy too.
Boeser hinted to as much when speaking to the media after practice, mentioning that they’ll “hopefully play that first preseason game with him and see how it goes.”
As far as the messaging goes from the two established players to their new linemate? Simplicity is the name of the game. “We’re pretty black and white about how we want to play and what we do in the offensive zone,” Boeser said. “But I think Danton’s a really smart player. I’ve played against him since college so I think his hockey IQ’s there, he works hard and I think he’ll fit in well.”
Teddy Gram
We had a surprise guest join Group C on the ice today!
Teddy Blueger dawned a green non-contact jersey as he continues his recovery from an offseason surgery on his lower body. While he didn’t skate with the main groups, he’s expected to be back with them by next week.
Aside from him being on the ice today, the real story are those ugly shoulder yokes on the new Fanatics practice jerseys. The seemingly random colour change makes them look like a suit jacket tailored by someone on Fiverr.
The Hardest Worker Award goes to…
Nils Höglander, who has all the potential to be the ideal Rick Tocchet system player.
Yes, he’s a smaller winger whose play in his own end aren’t his main skills. But his head coach can see the amount of potential he has to fit into the lineup just through two days of practice.
“I think Höglander has been outstanding the last two days, the way his effort, I think he won the skating test,” Tocchet said. “He looks good out there, so he’s got a chance to fill one of those spots… that’s what I want to see. Can he sustain it?
“Then in the exhibition games, can he do the stuff he’s doing in practice and making the right reads?”
It’s just a matter of putting it all together.
A nice moment to end on
The Canucks have been seemingly so allergic to signing local boys over the last decade that it’s easy to forget how important it is for the ones that do get to put the sweater on. After Arshdeep Bains last year and Heinen this season, that tide finally seems to be turning. I hope we get more stories like this one in the future.
