‘He has all of the capabilities and he now is aware of how arduous it’s to excel (within the playoffs) and that’s actually particular. He’s going to be an awesome defenceman for us’ – Cole on Soucy
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There are two requirements when approaching Ian Cole for perception.
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You want a while, and your recorder ought to to be totally charged.
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The partaking Vancouver Canucks defenceman is a brand new voice of purpose within the locker room as a result of the well-travelled and two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins is old style.
He will get it. He is aware of what you’re searching for — and is aware of to can the cliches and get to the guts of the matter.
And when the subject is the upcoming return of Carson Soucy, his former Minnesota Wild blueline companion, who has missed 22 video games with an ankle fracture, he lights up like a pinball machine.
“I’d like to pump Carson’s tires. It’s my favorite factor to do, truly,” the 34-year-old Cole instructed Postmedia with a hearty snort. “He was my D-partner for a full yr. I like Souce. He’s my man.”
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When Soucy returns throughout a seven-game highway journey that opens Thursday in St. Louis, he’ll give head coach Rick Tocchet one other huge physique — 6-foot-5, 208 kilos — to assist anchor the again finish. It’s a should for the second half of the NHL season when the grind will get tougher and playoff positioning turns into extra intense.
And the postseason? Nicely, that’s one other story. Cole is aware of it’s important to expertise it to know the enormity of the problem.
“You’ll be able to discuss it, however by no means actually totally perceive it till you do it,” he harassed. “You’ll be able to all the time say it’s the identical sport and nothing modifications, however the whole lot is quicker and issues extra. Not solely do it is advisable be clear, it must be intense on a regular basis.
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“You’ll be able to’t sleepwalk by video games. The one method is to do it and understand it. Final yr, that run that the Kraken had within the playoffs, you may see how properly Soucy performed inside all of it and it was nice.
“He has all of the capabilities and he now is aware of how arduous it’s to excel, and that’s actually particular. He’s going to be an awesome defenceman for us.”
Soucy, 29, is predicted to kill penalties, block photographs, be arduous to play towards, and transfer the puck. Final season, he was at his finest in a 3rd pairing with Justin Schultz when it mattered essentially the most. A surprising first-round, seven-game playoff upset of defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche is the place Soucy discovered his sport.
“I simply form of acquired again to it and was bodily and taking part in confidently and becoming a member of the frenzy after I might,” he recalled.
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Cole believes what works in a pairing wth Soucy is familiarity and symmetry.
“Everybody says communication is essential, and it’s, nevertheless it’s actually arduous to speak on the ice,” harassed Cole. “And when you learn one factor, and your companion reads one thing else, you then’re not going to have the ability to change anyone’s thoughts.
“It’s extra of a affirmation. What you want is 2 guys who see a play and be on identical web page on the identical time, after which there’s communication. It cements the choice.
“When guys begin to have chemistry, they see the play and are pondering the identical factor. We had an awesome chemistry and noticed the performs and got here to the identical conclusions immediately. You simply construct it. Soucy is implausible. Very good, defends arduous, could make performs and has a variety of instruments within the field.
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“He has taken experiences and advanced into a good higher defenceman than after I performed with him.”
By deploying Quinn Hughes with Filip Hronek, Nikita Zadorov and Tyler Myers, and Cole with Soucy, it would enable Tocchet to fit in Noah Juulsen when wanted and now have Mark Friedman in reserve.
“Cole has been by the grind with a variety of playoffs video games (116), and he’s very good,” mentioned Tocchet, who added Tuesday’s win over the Ottawa Senators might issue into who comes out when Soucy goes again in. “That’s the world we reside in. A full-strength crew — and for some guys, it’s game-to-game and a few get longer ropes.
“Juulsen is taking part in properly. If he’s a mistake-free man, which he has been principally the final 10 or 12 video games, and is an efficient PK (penalty kill) man, then he’s making an excellent case to remain within the lineup. We’ll have a tricky choice with when Soucy comes again in as a result of whoever goes out is an efficient defenceman. It’s an excellent drawback to have.”
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As for Soucy, Tocchet noticed how he dealt with strain in 13 video games earlier than being harm Nov. 12 in Montreal.
“I choose gamers who can play beneath strain,” mentioned Tocchet. “Earlier than he acquired damage, we had some strain video games on the highway and he was coming. He has some sneaky offence and is a very good man within the room. Even in conferences, he’ll say one thing and everyone will go, ‘Yeah.’
“He’s very considerate and a very good (free agent) pick-up for us. He’s not a boisterous man, however says the correct issues on the proper time.”
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