Canucks Q&A: Teddy Blueger is minimize from that abrasive Brad Richardson fabric

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Throughout his one-year reign of error and leisure, former cantankerous Canucks bench boss John Tortorella as soon as labelled Brad Richardson “a whiskey drinker.”

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It wasn’t to recommend the veteran Vancouver fourth-line grinder had a ingesting downside. It was an old-school plaudit for the centre doing the soiled work that seldom finds spotlight reels. Grind. Kill penalties. Win face-offs. Say little. Do rather a lot.

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“Gully (assistant coach Glen Gulutzan) says it,” identified Tortorella. “You could have milk drinkers and you’ve got whiskey drinkers — and I don’t imply that actually that he’s ingesting whiskey — however he’s a professional. He performs onerous and hacks and whacks and does every thing. And the gamers respect him.”

Which brings us to Teddy Blueger, who’s minimize from the identical abrasive fabric.

The Canucks had been amped as much as signal the free-agent centre within the offseason as a result of his pedigree introduced lacking parts to the bottom-six combine — particularly the penalty kill. He’s onerous to play in opposition to, good positionally and has offensive potential. He has solely logged 5 video games after recovering from a preseason ankle damage, however was immediately noticeable.

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Blueger had a recreation excessive seven photographs Monday, arrange a objective and gained seven of 10 attracts throughout a 3-1 win over San Jose.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet guided Richardson in Arizona and understands what Tortorella stated and the way it applies to Blueger.

“I used to be lucky with a younger group in Arizona to have Derek Stepan and Richardson as a result of they actually helped our group id. Teddy has just a little little bit of each in him. He’s a programs man. The place you need a participant to be, he’s there 9 occasions out of 10. One other man who permits me to save lots of Millsy (J.T. Miller) and Petey (Elias Pettrersson) with defensive-zone attracts, which helps with put on and tear.”

Right here’s our weekly Canucks Q&A with the Riga, Latvia native, who moved to North America in 2009 to play highschool hockey:

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Q. How did you land at well-known Shattuck-St. Mary’s program?

A. Again residence, they had been exhibiting a re-run of Pittsburgh taking part in the Wild and did a section with Sidney Crosby about how a lot he loved coming again to Minnesota and what number of guys who performed there at the moment are within the NHL. That’s how we came upon about it. We went for a go to. The general vibe and the match matched up the perfect. We cherished it.

We additionally went to Moscow and I had a few tryouts there and to a few boarding faculties to attempt to discover a higher place to play.

Q. How had been you plus-24 as an AHL rookie, a Wilkes-Barre file?

A. We had a fairly good group, Expectations had been excessive, however we under-achieved within the playoffs. Loads went on to have good NHL careers and play a number of video games (Jake Guentzel, Casey DeSmith, Daniel Sprong.)

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Q. Your first NHL objective was in opposition to the Senators. What do you recall?

A. We put the puck within the nook. Matt Cullen went to get it and handed it again to me and I took a one-timer from prime of the circle that went excessive glove on Anders Nilsson. I’ve bought the puck.

Q. Why no celly of breakaway objective in opposition to Riga bud Elvis Merzlikins?

A. He was going via an evening (7-2 loss) and in video games like that, it’s the way in which you deal with your self. So there was no celebration.

Q. Have been you shocked at being dealt to Vegas on the 2023 deadline?

A. I had no concept, not that I believed I used to be protected. There was a day left (to commerce deadline) and also you’re just a little on edge, however it was a whole shock. I wasn’t anticipating it.

Q. You performed 18 video games, none in remaining. Why is your title on Cup?

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A. I don’t now if I technically certified below the foundations, however they put it on. (The rule is at the very least 41 regular-season video games, or at lest one in remaining).

Q. You took the Cup again residence. What did you eat from trophy bowl?

A. It was borscht. My grandma made it and he or she makes the perfect.

Q. Why signal a one-year, free-agent cope with the Canucks?

A. A mix of issues. An important was a match, the place they see me, the route the group is heading and imaginative and prescient for the group as a complete.

Q. Why recommend DeSmith’s masks pay tribute to ‘The Workplace’?

A. I used to be giving him a tough time as a result of I believed his masks was brutal. I gave him some concepts sort of half-jokingly. It was The Workplace theme and he had Dwight Schrute on the again. He cherished it.

Q. What’s the good off day in a metropolis that has a lot to supply?

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A. We’ve finished the Capilano Suspension Bridge and it was superior. Looks as if there’s a number of outside stuff when it’s good out. We’ve taken the water taxi to Granville Island a few occasions. Simply strolling round and grabbing lunch.

Q. What’s the connection to jersey quantity? Bo Horvat wore No. 53 right here.

A. It was my coaching camp quantity in Pitt. I bought known as up and caught with it.

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