Canucks preach team toughness for tense Canadian division clashes
T
The Province Hockey
'We have a good power play, if there’s going to be a lot of nonsense going on. When the puck finally drops on a compacted NHL season, testosterone levels in an all-Canadian division are going to rise. A proposed 56-game slate means the Vancouver Canucks will face six national rivals at least nine times each and the competitive sparks will fly. Add an extra meeting with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers to meet the schedule total and it could be like pouring gasoline on a fire.
It’s going to be about playing to win and you’ve got to be smart.
I’m confident that our guys are mentally tough and strong and we have players who play the way we want to play — strong on pucks and getting to the net — and we feel good about our group. We still have a lot of experienced players and younger guys to integrate and they’re going to show up and compete.
That’s where rosters expected to expand from 23 to 26 and adding a four-member AHL taxi squad will work to the Canucks’ advantage.
It’s going to be about playing to win and you’ve got to be smart.
I’m confident that our guys are mentally tough and strong and we have players who play the way we want to play — strong on pucks and getting to the net — and we feel good about our group. We still have a lot of experienced players and younger guys to integrate and they’re going to show up and compete.
That’s where rosters expected to expand from 23 to 26 and adding a four-member AHL taxi squad will work to the Canucks’ advantage.