Why Akito Hirose was the selection to fill the Canucks' damage hole

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Once you play only one pre-season sport, you’re not likely anticipating to get the call-up to the large leagues when your group is dealing with an damage disaster.

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And but there was Akito Hirose, taking the morning skate Wednesday and set because the Canucks’ sixth defenceman for his or her season opener versus the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Area.

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With Carson Soucy and Guillaume Brisebois huge query marks, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet might have turned to a veteran defenceman at the moment with AHL Abbotsford.

Christian Wolanin, as an illustration, was solely despatched down on the weekend after enjoying in three pre-season video games, one of many closing cuts from the Canucks’ NHL roster. Wolanin was on the group roster to shut the season final spring and has loads of NHL expertise.

Matt Irwin, signed in the summertime, was despatched down early in camp, however skated in 60 video games for the Washington Capitals final yr.

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As a substitute, the decision was made for Hirose, the slight however expert defenceman the Canucks signed out of faculty final spring. Hirose impressed in a seven-game cameo to shut final season, however was common in coaching camp.

He wouldn’t be the primary participant who made a formidable leap from the NCAA to the NHL however who nonetheless wanted extra time within the American Hockey League to really work out the professional sport earlier than discovering his method again to the NHL.

“I feel I left a little bit bit on the desk,” he stated Wednesday morning about his pre-season. He performed in only one pre-season sport.

Even with the bits of success he had final season, he stated he acknowledged how way more he wanted to do if he had been going to be an NHL common.

He has been probably the greatest gamers on his group all through his life — however when you’re within the NHL, you’re in a battle to show you could be dependable.

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“I’m positive each man on this room has been that man,” he stated. “Now it’s recognizing it’s about what you do on the different finish of the ice.”

And it’s now as much as him to make it laborious for the Canucks’ coaches to ship him again down, he added.

Two issues performed into the choice to deliver Hirose again, regardless of him solely skating in a single pre-season sport: Hirose’s hockey IQ primarily, but in addition some disappointing play from the extra skilled alternate options.

The Oilers, who the Canucks will face once more on Saturday night time in Edmonton, play such a quick sport, such a diverse sport, that Tocchet believes you want brains greater than brawn to be a profitable defender.

“There’s sure setups that they do, you want brains on the market and he has ’em,” the pinnacle coach stated.

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Due to the Soucy and Brisebois damage doubts, the Canucks might have recalled Irwin or Wolanin underneath emergency situations. That may have meant they wouldn’t accrue any time in opposition to their waivers clock — you could be within the NHL for 30 days or 10 video games earlier than it’s a must to be waived once more to be despatched again to the minors. So the collection of Hirose was intentional.

Tocchet made it clear that Irwin and Wolanin didn’t present properly sufficient in pre-season.

“We solely had six exhibition video games. I wished to ensure we had a few of our regulars — that they had 4 months off, so I wished to get them in there, you bought to seek out that candy spot — and couple different guys, we gave them an extended look. We thought they might actually be forward they usually weren’t. And that is type of the place we’re at now,” he stated.

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Tyler Myers, who’s more likely to be partnered with Ian Cole to begin — Noah Juulsen was skating as Hirose’s accomplice on Wednesday morning — stated the younger defenceman’s poise confirmed instantly on the tail finish of final season.

“The very first thing you discover with him is he’s very calm. You recognize, even off the ice, he’s simply very calm particular person. Very poised. And I feel that exhibits in his sport. He’s a wise participant who makes good performs on the race,” Myers stated.

ROSTER JUGGLE — Soucy, who appeared to injure his knee throughout final Friday’s closing pre-season contest versus the Calgary Flames, skated on his personal Wednesday morning, Tocchet revealed. Initially the pinnacle coach stated he believed the rugged blueliner can be out week-to-week, however has urged Soucy’s timeline for a return is hazy. Brisebois stays a query mark, with no readability on what his damage may be nor on his standing. … Ilya Mikheyev continues to be a full participant in apply, however was dominated out for Wednesday’s sport. He was comparatively upbeat after apply, telling a reporter he was “shut” to a return, thought Tocchet was hesitant to decide to a goal on when the speedy winger may go well with up. … Teddy Blueger’s standing stays unknown; he additionally skated on his personal Wednesday morning. If wasn’t capable of go well with up Wednesday night time, the Canucks can be pressured to play a ahead brief as a result of they’re out of cap area. But when they do play a person brief Wednesday, they’d be eligible to recall a ahead from Abbotsford whose cap hit is lower than $850,000 and get full reduction from their cap hit till Blueger or Mikheyev had been able to play once more.

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