Is Canucks’ Tanner Pearson poised for more with the core?
Tanner Pearson’s jersey nameplate could read “Streaky Scorer.”
He would probably approve and probably laugh.
The Vancouver Canucks’ winger hasn’t scored in 10 games and has just one goal in his last 15 outings. He also endured a 14-game scoring drought early in the 2019-20 campaign, but finished strong with 21 goals and 45 points in 69 games.
“I don’t think I’ve been playing bad hockey by any means — I actually think it’s been pretty good, but there’s nothing to show for it,” Pearson said Tuesday of his 65 shots and paltry 7.7 per cent shooting percentage. “I’m trying not to be frustrated and let it get the best of me and you think about it more when the team isn’t winning. But I’ve learned to deal with it and not let it creep in.
“When it does, my whole game goes down the drain and I’m going to keep on playing my game. I can’t get away from the net front and whacking pucks and chiseling away. When I signed my last deal (a four-year, US $15-million extension with Los Angeles in 2017), everything was going in that year.
“This year has been the complete opposite, but if you start cheating against top players, you’re going to be screwed.”
And because there are other exhausting elements of his game that don’t command headlines — grunt work along the walls, grind in the crease, tough line matchups and meshing with Bo Horvat to be a responsible and effective duo — the unrestricted free agent is drawing interest from the Canucks for a possible contract extension to be part of a veteran core that could change next season.
“Pearse is a good player,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “And when I say that, it could be very broad. He just does a lot of little things well and things that go unnoticed. He understands certain parts of the rink that you need to pay attention to and excel in. And he’s very team oriented in his game.
“You need a good mix of younger guys who are coming in all the time with the way the cap is set up, but you also need older guys who are good examples for your younger players. And not just on the ice, but off the ice as well to have conversations about how the game is supposed to be played.”
NEXT GAME
Montreal Canadiens (11-6-7) at Vancouver Canucks (12-15-2)
Wednesday:
8 p.m.,
Rogers Arena.
TV: Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650 AM
Pearson could also attract interest before the April 12 trade deadline because of his championship pedigree and ability to handle adversity. He was traded twice and played for three teams in 2018-19 (the Kings, Penguins and Canucks) that would have tested anybody’s mettle. He responded with three goals in his first six games in Pittsburgh, but had just nine in 44 games before being dealt to Vancouver in the Erik Gudbranson swap.
And that’s where it gets interesting.
Pearson turns 29 in August and an expiring $3.75-million salary cap hit would normally command a raise.
However, the flat-cap reality and free-agency uncertainty might work for both parties. Or not. The priority is to reach extensions with restricted free agents Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. How Pearson and four other UFAs work into the mix — Brandon Sutter, Alex Edler, Jordie Benn, Travis Hamonic — will determine how the Canucks chart their future.
If they are indeed two seasons shy of seriously competing for the Stanley Cup, then how will the support system shape up? By that time, all the bad contracts that have handcuffed the Canucks will be gone. How the Canucks adjust to add veteran elements and not overpay or over-commit in contract lengths is vital.
Pearson was 21 when he won the 2014 championship with the Kings. That team had six players north of 30 years of age in Matt Greene (30), Justin Williams (31), Jarret Stoll (31), Marian Gaborik (31), Robyn Regehr (33) and Willie Mitchell (36). How vital is that experience?
“It’s huge,” stressed Pearson. “Look at the teams that have won the past Cups. It’s not young teams winning. They’re good veteran teams who know how to win, and last year what we did in the playoffs was a good learning experience.”
Pearson got an early taste of the post-season in 2013 when recalled from the AHL. The rookie was tossed into the deep end of the competitive pool by coach Darryl Sutter, who has now resurfaced in Calgary for a second stint behind the Flames’ bench.
“My first game in the playoffs in The Shark Tank I didn’t play a lot, maybe 4:20,” recalled Pearson. “With Darryl, you have to work for everything you get with him. He doesn’t really care who you are.”
The Kings cared enough to have a balanced playoff roster. So did the Canucks in 2011.
They had 2-0 and 3-2 series leads against Boston and came within a victory of capturing the franchise’s first Cup because of talent and experience. Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Alex Burrows and Kevin Bieksa were 29 years old. Manny Malhotra was 30, Roberto Luongo 31, Mikael Samulesson 33 and Sami Salo 35.
OVERTIME —
Green said centre
Elias Pettersson
, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, will be sidelined “at least another week” and that will keep
J.T. Miller
in the middle and Pearson on the first power-play unit.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
twitter.com/benkuzma
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