Canucks fan mailbag: Workforce depth, did Tocchet be taught one thing in Calgary, and Höglander's position

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There may be nothing like coaching camp and the primary few video games of pre-season to start out warming a hockey fan’s hot-stove juices.

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On the finish of each week from now via the tip of the Vancouver Canucks’ 2023-24 NHL season, we will likely be taking your questions and providing you with our greatest solutions.

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Right here is spherical one:

Jeff Stevens (by way of X/Twitter): “Is the crew’s depth adequate?”

Is a crew’s depth ever adequate?

Canucks President Jim Rutherford nodded towards this at his season-opening information convention final week. He stated if all the things goes proper, the Canucks are a playoff crew.

Then he acknowledged that it’s fairly arduous to have all the things go proper, that he would somewhat his crew be ready the place they’ll take in some blows to their plans.

In different phrases, even the boss has worries in regards to the crew’s depth.

All that stated, what’s depth anyway? Most groups would battle to lose one among their high centres or their high defenceman for any vital period of time. If Thatcher Demko have been to be injured once more, it’s doable that Arturs Šilovs might step into the hole and perhaps even play on the high of his sport … however that’s a giant guess.

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Are the Canucks’ third- and fourth-line gamers higher than final yr’s combine? Most likely? Pius Pius Suter is a giant improve on nearly any possibility they’d final season, in order that’s a step ahead. And there are some fascinating prospects in Abbotsford who might show to be contributors sooner or later within the close to future, comparable to Aatu Räty, Max Sasson and Aidan McDonough. However are they prepared now? That’s robust to say.

This can be a great distance of claiming, “Possibly?”

Ian Achille (by way of Bluesky): “Höglander: Does he set up himself as a everlasting presence?”

He’s trending that means. Coach Rick Tocchet has been a giant fan of Hoglander’s via the primary week of pre-season. Can he maintain his motor? He has a singular job with Pettersson and Andrei Kuzmenko: forecheck, forecheck, forecheck.

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Good factor he has all the time had this intuition.

W. Ron Sweeney (by way of Twitter): “Have been the Canucks shocked that Calgary iced that roster for preseason Sport 1? Any inside second guessing the group the Canucks despatched?”

Requested in regards to the classes from Sunday’s 10-0 loss to Calgary, a sport the place the Flames dressed plenty of their stars and the Canucks despatched what was largely an AHL lineup, Tocchet implied perhaps he ought to have despatched a pair extra front-line gamers, and indicated that he was flying a little bit blind in how robust the Flames’ lineup could be.

“The coaches I do know, they normally share. And a few coaches don’t wish to share. And that’s OK, that’s their prerogative,” he stated. “Generally it’s good to see that type of degree and what it’s going to take. So there’s a superb and unhealthy about it. The optics look unhealthy. However would I do it once more, perhaps shield them a little bit bit extra? I didn’t know.”

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Chester Ming (by way of X/Twitter): “Given everybody (Tocchet and administration) are on comparatively brief contracts, what are odds of home cleansing if this yr goes poorly? If (Elias Pettersson) desires out, would they even be allowed to supervise it?”

Going again to final season, GM Patrik Allvin has acknowledged that this season will likely be absolutely on him and his employees. He is aware of they should make the playoffs. In the event that they don’t, after all there will likely be questions requested, each by followers and media, and in addition by possession. And even when they do make the playoffs, will the general course and even the temper of the group match Elias Pettersson’s long-term ambitions?

Krufrank (by way of X/Twitter): “Who do you suppose sticks as No. 7 defenceman? Hirose or Irwin? Another person?”

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It was a fairly large inform on Tuesday when Tocchet cut up his group into two units of probables, with one group clearly the NHL group and one group clearly the AHL group. Each Akito Hirose and Matt Irwin have been with the AHL group, whereas Guillaume Brisebois and Christian Wolanin have been with the NHL group.

Wolanin’s means to contribute on the ability play is a powerful level of distinction in comparison with his friends, and Tocchet is a giant fan of Brisebois’ “hockey IQ.” It’s fairly clear that Brisebois’ good character will carry him a great distance too. He appears well-suited to the No. 7 position, a participant who gained’t go well with up fairly often however must be able to play at a second’s discover.

Ken Hogan (by way of X/Twitter): “What have you ever seen in scrimmage and practices which will tackle the horrendous PK from final yr? As a result of if it isn’t mounted, it’ll be yet one more lengthy season.”

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The disastrous PK has been a narrative two years working. Stopping cross-ice passes is a precedence to repair for this group. Pius Suter is a powerful penalty killer. Teddy Blueger has had success on the PK too. And so has Ian Cole.

However for those who’re on the lookout for one thing particular, how about Carson Soucy placing his puck-disruption expertise on show Wednesday in Edmonton, the place the Canucks misplaced 2-1 in time beyond regulation. Greater than as soon as he used his lengthy attain to knock the puck off an Oiler stick. It’s a giant talent he has and it’s one of many causes the Canucks signed him.

Dan (by way of X/Twitter): “Would having a devoted observe facility actually increase knowledgeable ice hockey crew ‘to a different degree,’ or would issues keep the identical?”

It might definitely add to the gamers’ sense of tradition for them to have a everlasting facility. Unsure that’s quantifiable, after all.

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Yolo Pinyato (by way of Bluesky): “Except they’re the ’78 Canadiens, there are doubtless not 13 forwards in coaching camp higher than Dakota Joshua.”

There have been a pair clues that Tocchet gave away about Joshua on Tuesday when the rugged winger appeared with the AHL group somewhat than the NHL group.

He talked about that Joshua, who additionally began slowly final season however gained himself an everyday position and the center of the followers too, who named him unsung hero final season, wanted to choose it up.

There was additionally proof in his reply that Tocchet wasn’t proud of Joshua’s health testing. Regardless of the purpose, Tocchet was clearly sending a message to a participant whose sport is meant to set the tone for the remainder of the crew.

After Wednesday’s sport, Tocchet had optimistic issues to say about Joshua.

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“I assumed he was transferring his toes tonight,” stated Tocchet. “It’s a step in the precise course and he’s received to maintain chipping away. A very good effort and now it’s consistency. I’m glad he responded.”

Ocean Park Nancy (by way of Bluesky): “Do you suppose Jack Studnicka will make the crew out of camp?”

Earlier than coaching camp, I’d have stated no. Studnicka received quite a lot of alternative final yr however hardly ever rose above the remainder. And once you don’t kill penalties or play on the ability play, you at the least want to point out one thing at five-on-five.

However because the begin of camp, Tocchet says he has been impressed.

And on Tuesday, the coach laid it out fairly clearly what he desires to see from Studnicka, together with Nils Åman, who have been lined up with Blueger as a doable fourth line.

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“They appear quick on the market and so they appear to be they’ll test,” he stated. If they are often accountable as a gaggle, they current an intriguing possibility, Tocchet stated.

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