Pre-Game Talk: GM 1 | Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames | Wednesday, October 9 | 7:00PM PST | SPAC

[wonton15]

I don't understand the point in keeping Raty around but not playing him. It's one game but...still.

Agreed, and this is a good game to throw him in against a weaker Calgary team, especially with Garland back…

My guess is Tocchet has cold feet and wants to win the first game with less risk.

 

[Vector]

Agreed, and this is a good game to throw him in against a weaker Calgary team, especially with Garland back…

My guess is Tocchet has cold feet and wants to win the first game with less risk.

The next game against the Flyers is probably also not a bad option.

 

[StreetHawk]

I don't understand the point in keeping Raty around but not playing him. It's one game but...still.

Why not send him and the spare D to the A for the first 2 home games then recall the extra guys before the road trip to save a little cap space? Open with 20 healthy players.

 

[Vector]

Why not send him and the spare D to the A for the first 2 home games then recall the extra guys before the road trip to save a little cap space? Open with 20 healthy players.

Yeah, no idea what the reasoning is. I get it if they were going to play him and want him here for the first couple practices. If he doesn't play tomorrow or Friday then it makes no sense.

 

[DimitriL07]

52-0 Van

 

[Vector]

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Finally!! Let’s Go!!

 

[Blue and Green]

Why not send him and the spare D to the A for the first 2 home games then recall the extra guys before the road trip to save a little cap space? Open with 20 healthy players.

The small saving in cap space doesn't seem to justify the downside of the players not being available to practice with the team, having to waive and risk losing Juulsen and Friedman, and likely creating some ill will not only from Raty but possibly also from his teammates by sending him down and cutting his pay by 90%.

 

[StickShift]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843705702466105805

High likelihood our game next Tuesday gets rescheduled—besides the broader devastation to the region, Amelie arena is right on the waterfront and will experience a storm surge if the hurricane does hit the Tampa area.

 

[wonton15]

Can’t emphasize enough how much this makes me happy to hear Joshua is doing well

 

[calnuck]

Hog on the power play and in front of the net? Maybe the 2nd unit will finally have some
Production

 

[StreetHawk]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843705702466105805

High likelihood our game next Tuesday gets rescheduled—besides the broader devastation to the region, Amelie arena is right on the waterfront and will experience a storm surge if the hurricane does hit the Tampa area.

It does suck since we couldn’t be any further from TB and Fla. team barely made it to Buffalo during that blizzard.

And don’t want to tack this game into the end of the season. TB has home games on Sat, Tues and Thurs. making up 3 games later in the year is hard if this storm is that bad.

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

Friedman WAIVED?! NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Friedman >>>>> Juulsen and Forbort.

 

[Vector]

Raty over Bains:
-not sent in stone
-lots of paper stuff
-Bains had a good camp and could come back up; is vying for a position
-won't play tomorrow but could be in Friday

Friedman:
-just numbers
-had a really good camp

Garland:
-hasn't talked to him but had a good practice

Hoglander:
-big part of the team
-was the fittest guy coming into camp
-hockey IQ has definitely gone up
-knows where to go in the neutral zone now
-would put stress on the defence when he would make a bad read

DeBrusk on the PP:
-he's a goal scorer and that will make teams collapse towards the middle which opens up more shots for Pettersson and Hughes
-have to use other options
-adds speed on the break-ins and retrievals

Svejkovsky:
-sat with him a lot this summer and a lot of their philosophies were the same
-he has to help Svejkovsky with the players' mindset and how the players need to be connected
-need to learn how to score off chaos
-were not good at attacking when a team was vulnerable
-the guys love Svejkovsky

Sprong:
-doesn't want Sprong to think so much
-needs to understand who he is on that line and where he needs to go
-DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sprong has three shooters but they need to play different roles such as someone occasionally being the net front presence; share responsibility and Sprong has to learn how to share
-has done a nice job applying the lessons so far

Heinen:
-speed and forechecking will help his line
-Miller can play more aggressively knowing that Heinen is there
-can tell he came from Boston; high hockey IQ
-if you have a good hockey IQ you'll be successful on that line

Opening Night:
-can be over-glorified
-was worried about today and having a good practice

Canucks:
-excited about the depth and internal competition
-the new guys and young guys have really fit in well
-has liked the pace and work ethic

Aggression:
-thinks they will be a more aggressive team
-working on when to take advantage of vulnerable teams
-didn't take advantage of odd-man rushes last season
-working with players on when are the good times to push and pull back
-going to take some time to learn

PP2:
-big thing going into the summer was strengthening the 2nd unit
-likes Hoglander around the net and as a retrieval guy; not a half-wall guy; buzzsaw around the net

Joshua:
-will be skating soon but not sure the exact timeline
-will be on the road trip
-is in a good frame of mind

Hurricanes on the East Coast:
-John Cooper texted Tocchet and told him they are having a tough time
-doesn't know what the weather means for the Canucks road trip

 

[M2Beezy]

Win this to start off the season the right way against a very beatable team. Basically a must win game (sic)

 

[TruGr1t]

There we go. This is the Tocchet line-up I fully expected. Absolutely zero surprises. Suter and Blueger at centre, all vets. Hoglander bumps down when Joshua is back and removes Aman.

I thought he might have actually gone crazy and was going to start Raty at centre over Suter, which is a very unTocchet thing to do.

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

So deep at forward yet Aman still in opening 12. The guy is untouchable lol

Raty over Bains:
-not sent in stone
-lots of paper stuff
-Bains had a good camp and could come back up; is vying for a position
-won't play tomorrow but could be in tomorrow

Friedman:
-just numbers
-had a really good camp

Garland:
-hasn't talked to him but had a good practice

Hoglander:
-big part of the team
-was the fittest guy coming into camp
-hockey IQ has definitely gone up
-knows where to go in the neutral zone now
-would put stress on the defence when he would make a bad read

DeBrusk on the PP:
-he's a goal scorer and that will make teams collapse towards the middle which opens up more shots for Pettersson and Hughes
-have to use other options
-adds speed on the break-ins and retrievals

Svejkovsky:
-sat with him a lot this summer and a lot of their philosophies were the same
-he has to help Svejkovsky with the players' mindset and how the players need to be connected
-need to learn how to score off chaos
-were not good at attacking when a team was vulnerable
-the guys love Svejkovsky

Sprong:
-doesn't want Sprong to think so much
-needs to understand who he is on that line and where he needs to go
-DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sprong has three shooters but they need to play different roles such as someone occasionally being the net front presence; share responsibility and Sprong has to learn how to share
-has done a nice job applying the lessons so far

Heinen:
-speed and forechecking will help his line
-Miller can play more aggressively knowing that Heinen is there
-can tell he came from Boston; high hockey IQ
-if you have a good hockey IQ you'll be successful on that line

Opening Night:
-can be over-glorified
-was worried about today and having a good practice

Canucks:
-excited about the depth and internal competition
-the new guys and young guys have really fit in well
-has liked the pace and work ethic

Aggression:
-thinks they will be a more aggressive team
-working on when to take advantage of vulnerable teams
-didn't take advantage of odd-man rushes last season
-working with players on when are the good times to push and pull back
-going to take some time to learn

PP2:
-big thing going into the summer was strengthening the 2nd unit
-likes Hoglander around the net and as a retrieval guy; not a half-wall guy; buzzsaw around the net

Joshua:
-will be skating soon but not sure the exact timeline
-will be on the road trip
-is in a good frame of mind

Hurricanes on the East Coast:
-John Cooper texted Tocchet and told him they are having a tough time
-doesn't know what the weather means for the Canucks road trip

Won't play tomorrow but could be in tomorrow.

Ok...

 

[Vector]

So deep at forward yet Aman still in opening 12. The guy is untouchable lol


Won't play tomorrow but could be in tomorrow.

Ok...

Ah damn it...

 

[TruGr1t]

I am confused by Tocchet’s effusive Hoglander praise when he replaced him with Sprong (who he doesn’t even seem to really like) on the Pettersson line, and looks poised to play Hoglander on the 4th line when Joshua is back.

I see no other interpretation than Tocchet thinks Hoglander is real good for a fourth liner.

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

I am confused by Tocchet’s effusive Hoglander praise when he replaced him with Sprong (who he doesn’t even seem to really like) on the Pettersson line, and looks poised to play Hoglander on the 4th line when Joshua is back.

I see no other interpretation than Tocchet thinks Hoglander is real good for a fourth liner.

Could be more that Sprong suits a scoring role more than an energy line/bottom 6er. Hoglander can do both.

 

[TruGr1t]

Could be more that Sprong suits a scoring role more than an energy line/bottom 6er. Hoglander can do both.

I think it’s hilarious because the way Tocchet is talking it sounds like he doesn’t like Sprong and Hoglander is a great player, but his line-up is not saying that.

Hoglander “big part of the team” plays on the fourth line with no special teams usage.

 

[ephmrl]

I think it’s hilarious because the way Tocchet is talking it sounds like he doesn’t like Sprong and Hoglander is a great player, but his line-up is not saying that.

Hoglander “big part of the team” plays on the fourth line with no special teams usage.

He’s on PP2

 

[TruGr1t]

He’s on PP2

In practice, for basically the first time ever, it’s Tocchet so we’ll see if that even sticks.

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

I think it’s hilarious because the way Tocchet is talking it sounds like he doesn’t like Sprong and Hoglander is a great player, but his line-up is not saying that.

Hoglander “big part of the team” plays on the fourth line with no special teams usage.

Arguably better to play with Blueger and Garland than Pettersson sometimes...

He’s on PP2

I wanna be on your pp, too.

 

[sting101]

I am confused by Tocchet’s effusive Hoglander praise when he replaced him with Sprong (who he doesn’t even seem to really like) on the Pettersson line, and looks poised to play Hoglander on the 4th line when Joshua is back.

I see no other interpretation than Tocchet thinks Hoglander is real good for a fourth liner.

I see it as an opportunity for Sprong early. If he stumbles and isn't reading off 40 and Debrusk he will be demoted and Hoglander will be there once Joshua comes back. Also Joshua may start on the 4th line to get his legs. Has shown to be a little of a slow starter prior so that buys Tocc time to ease him in. And of course this is IF we stay healthy on the top3 lines which is hard to do.

The carrot will dangle for Sprong and Hoglander all season me thinks if were mostly healthy