VANCOUVER — More popular than the 50/50 draw and fantasy football pools is the name-the-uninvested-Canucks game that Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet spawned Saturday night.
Who doesn’t love intrigue, gossip and potential conflict within thier favorite hockey team? Or somebody else’s?
“Let’s face facts, we have four or five guys, they’re struggling,” tocchet told reporters after the canucks flat-lined again on home ice and lost 5-1 to the Boston Bruins. “They’re struggling to get emotionally invested in the game.”
On Sunday, after a brisk practice that featured some battle drills, Tocchet expanded the betting field by saying “there could be a couple othre guys” beyond the original four or five he didn’t name the night before.
So, when you’re getting to six or seven skaters deep in a National hockey League team, you’re talking about at least one-third of the lineup. The parlay payout will be astronomical for whoever guesses right on everyone.
About the only place no one should be guessing is inside the canucks dressing room.Because the players know.
The low-hanging fruit is headlined by Elias pettersson (two shots,no points,14:49 of average ice time the last two games). pettersson even saeid after Saturday’s loss: “I’ve got to be better. I’m not happy with my performance today.”
Further down the lineup, wingers nils Hoglander (no points in 19 games) and Danton Heinen (one point in 12) will be on Tocchet’s list.
There are others, of course, but we’re going to stop guessing as coaches see things that most of us miss.
“Well, they know now,” Tocchet said Sunday. “I mean, that’s what you’re hoping, that when guys go home, they’re like, ’Hey, man, I had a tough night, and I’m going to do something about it.’ (If they’re) driving home saying ‘it wasn’t me’… then you’re in trouble. We have no problem here,you know,talking to players. Sometimes guys aren’t going to have their A-game. We understand that. But some guys were just not engaged.
“We don’t have the team to have three or four or five passengers. We just don’t have it. Edmonton,they can have four or five guys sleeping,and they’ve got guys that can win the game for him. We are a team that needs everybody to play. That was kind of the most disheartening thing yesterday is, you know, we had some guys that weren’t ready.”
Whoever the Hoglander and Heinen equivalents are on the Oilers,they could sleep all season and it wouldn’t matter much until playoff time provided that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were doing what they do.
“We need all our guys going every single night,” Canucks winger Brock Boeser said. “There’s been times I’ve been one of those guys that hasn’t been engaged; it happens to everyone. But you’ve got to make sure it’s not a consistent thing. I think that’s the biggest thing — making sure whoever it is,you kind of pull them in in practice (and talk). I think that stuff’s important.
“I think that’s kind of our tough thing right now… to make sure we’re bringing it every night.Yesterday you could just see, we were losing puck battles. When we’re at our best, we’re physically engaged and yesterday just wasn’t good enough. We’ve got to figure out why we’re so inconsistent, but that’s why I talk about practice. That’s where you can build that consistency.”
Tocchet said coaches “got the point across” during practice.
Most of the players we spoke with on Sunday were unaware what tocchet told the media post-game, but not surprised by the summary of his comments.
“I don’t think Rick’s intention is to call guys out via the media,” goalie Thatcher demko said. ”If anything, he might be even more colourful in our team meetings.I don’t think he’s going and telling you guys one thing and then holding back on us.
“People know he’s honest, he’s blunt when he needs to be. That’s why he’s got so much respect in here. His message gets received. That’s always been the case. He expresses his concerns (and) we hear it as players. We understand it. It’s warranted. I think it’s on us to kind of get out of this right now as far as the consistency. (But) it’s a long season, man. I think we’ll be alright.”
Tocchet’s boss certainly isn’t panicking. On Hockey Night in Canada’s “After Hours” segment with host Scott Oake on saturday, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said Tocchet “does a terrific job.”
“He’s been dealt a different hand this year than he was last year. He’s had a lot more things to deal with, and I beleive he’s done a really good job. And he’ll figure this out.
“We worked together in Pittsburgh, so I knew him really well. He handled some of the tougher situations in Pittsburgh.He handled those for (head coach) Mike Sullivan. and we knew how he coached as a head coach because we watched him when he was in Arizona. He communicates really well with the players when players are struggling or there are issues. He’s a guy that can sort that out.”
This doesn’t mean there won’t be changes. but they will be on the players’ bench,not behind it.
With Game 30 for the canucks Monday at home against the Colorado Avalanche, Rutherford said his hockey-operations staff has to start making decisions about this year’s team and what changes are needed.
“nobody needs to panic,” senior defenceman Tyler Myers said Sunday. “Do we want to get more consistent within our game? Without a doubt. focusing on the things that will get you to that point, should be the focus. There’s a lot of good things,and we’re not far off,and we’ve just got to keep coming to the rink and talking to each other and working in practice. We’ve shown that we can play a really solid game. We’ve just got to get our minds to the point where we do it more often.”
Myers acknowledged that accountability is paramount to the solution.
“You need your leadership group to handle that, to help out,” Tocchet said.”Obviously, that’s a big part of it
Table of Contents
- 1. Navigating Adversity: Team Reevaluates Roles After Defeat
- 2. Coaching Shakeup Follows Weekend Setback
- 3. Tocchet’s Coaching Ideology: Accountability and Partnership
- 4. Canucks Shake Up Forward Lines
- 5. Canucks Defensive Pairings Set, Lankinen Questionable for Monday
- 6. Lankinen’s Status Uncertain
- 7. Canucks Defensive Pairings Set, Lankinen Questionable for Monday
- 8. Lankinen’s Status Uncertain
Coaching Shakeup Follows Weekend Setback
After a tough loss on Saturday, the team’s head coach, Rick Tocchet, is implementing changes to shake things up. Sunday’s practice saw a reorganization of both forward lines and defensive pairings, signaling a shift in strategy. The specific changes to the lineup remain undisclosed. However, the move suggests Tocchet is actively seeking solutions to improve the team’s performance.Tocchet’s Coaching Ideology: Accountability and Partnership
Head coach rick Tocchet believes in a coaching style built on accountability and a strong partnership between himself and his players. “You’ve got to make yourself accountable,” Tocchet stated. He further emphasized holding players accountable through decisions like ice time allocation, ensuring everyone understands the consequences of their actions on the ice. Tocchet makes it clear that his approach isn’t about constant yelling and harsh criticism. “You don’t want to be a coach that keeps yelling and screaming and being a hardass all the time. It’s got to be a partnership,” he explained. This philosophy suggests a more collaborative surroundings where players feel respected and motivated to improve. Acknowledging the team’s challenges this season, Tocchet remains optimistic about their ability to adapt and overcome adversity. He expressed confidence in the team’s capacity to identify issues and make the necessary adjustments to improve performance.Canucks Shake Up Forward Lines
The Vancouver Canucks have announced some notable changes to their forward lines ahead of their next matchup. The top line remains unchanged, with Conor Garland, J.T. Miller,and Boeser continuing to lead the offensive charge. However, there’s some excitement brewing on the second line, where rookie Max Sasson has earned a promotion. He’ll now skate alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, a trio that promises to be both dynamic and dangerous. Kiefer Sherwood takes on the responsibility of centering the third line, flanked by Pius Suter and Heinen. The fourth line sees Dakota Joshua move down,joining forces with Teddy Blueger and Hoglander.Canucks Defensive Pairings Set, Lankinen Questionable for Monday
Vancouver Canucks head coach rick Tocchet has unveiled his defensive lineup for the upcoming game, with three distinct pairings taking to the ice. Leading the charge will be the dynamic duo of Quinn Hughes and Noah Juulsen. This pairing combines Hughes’ offensive prowess with Juulsen’s defensive strength, creating a perhaps formidable force on the blue line. Joining them are Carson Soucy and Myers, offering a blend of physicality and puck-moving ability. Rounding out the defensive pairings is the experienced duo of Derek Forbort and Mark Friedman, known for their tenacity and defensive responsibility.Lankinen’s Status Uncertain
In addition to the defensive lineup, Tocchet also addressed the status of goaltender Kevin Lankinen. The netminder is currently battling an illness and may be sidelined for Monday’s game. “Kevin is battling a bug that may keep him out of Monday’s game,” Tocchet stated.Canucks Defensive Pairings Set, Lankinen Questionable for Monday
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has unveiled his defensive lineup for the upcoming game, with three distinct pairings taking to the ice. Leading the charge will be the dynamic duo of Quinn Hughes and noah Juulsen. This pairing combines Hughes’ offensive prowess with Juulsen’s defensive strength, creating a potentially formidable force on the blue line. Joining them are Carson Soucy and Myers, offering a blend of physicality and puck-moving ability. Rounding out the defensive pairings is the experienced duo of Derek Forbort and Mark Friedman, known for their tenacity and defensive responsibility.Lankinen’s Status Uncertain
Along with the defensive lineup, Tocchet also addressed the status of goaltender Kevin Lankinen. The netminder is currently battling an illness and may be sidelined for Monday’s game. “Kevin is battling a bug that may keep him out of Monday’s game,” Tocchet stated.This appears to be a sports article focusing on the Vancouver Canucks hockey team and their recent struggles.Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
**Canucks Facing Inconsistencies:**
* The Canucks are dealing with inconsistency in their performance, leading to frustrating losses.
* Coach Rick Tocchet is blunt and direct in his evaluation, stating that the team’s lack of physical engagement and puck battles in recent games was unacceptable.
**Tocchet’s Coaching Philosophy:**
* Tocchet emphasizes accountability. He believes in holding players responsible for their actions on the ice through decisions like ice time allocation.
* His approach is not solely about criticism. He seeks to establish a partnership with the players, fostering trust and open interaction.
**Team Response:**
* Players acknowledge the need for improvement and recognize Tocchet’s honesty.
* They understand the importance of consistency and are committed to working together to overcome this challenge.
**Changes on the Horizon:**
* Tocchet has begun making changes, shaking up lines and defensive pairings to find better combinations.
* While specific lineup changes are not revealed, the article suggests a shift in strategy to address the team’s weaknesses.
**Leadership Positivity:**
* Despite the setbacks, the Canucks are displaying a positive attitude, refusing to panic and focusing on solutions.
* They are confident in their ability to learn from these experiences and emerge as a stronger team.
Let me know if you’d like me to analyze any specific aspect of the article further!
