Oct 4, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort (27) and ahead Jake DeBrusk (74) and ahead Daniel Sprong (91) throughout a face-off towards the Edmonton Oilers throughout the second interval at Rogers Area. Obligatory Credit score: Bob Frid-Imagn Photos The Vancouver Canucks hope to construct off their latest success once they open the season towards the visiting Calgary Flames on Wednesday night time.
The Canucks received the Pacific Division final season and, exterior of the COVID-shortened 2019-20 marketing campaign, reached the postseason for the primary time since 2015 and received their first playoff collection since advancing to the Stanley Cup Closing in 2011.
“Playoffs (are) a blast, and it was superior that we had success, and I feel it is solely going to assist us for this yr,” Vancouver proper winger Brock Boeser mentioned.
To complement the core ahead group of J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Boeser, the Canucks introduced in Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen from the Boston Bruins, Kiefer Sherwood from the Nashville Predators and ahead Daniel Sprong from the Detroit Crimson Wings.
To assist strengthen a again finish anchored by Quinn Hughes, Vancouver acquired Derek Forbort from the Bruins and Vincent Desharnais from the Edmonton Oilers.
“It is a variety of velocity, a variety of character. The brand new guys appear to slot in actually nice. Nice guys off the rink as effectively,” Miller mentioned.
DeBrusk must be the largest difference-maker after totaling 19 targets and 21 assists final season.
“I personally do not actually care how I do personally when it comes to statistics. If we’re successful, that is why I am right here, to assist. However in saying that, I really feel like I can add some components to the workforce,” DeBrusk mentioned. “There’s clearly plenty of nice gamers already, however I feel that I may slot in fairly seamlessly. That is why I selected to come back right here.”
The Flames, in the meantime, stay a workforce in transition after lacking the postseason for a second straight yr.
Calgary is already dealing with adversity after dropping final season’s main goal-scorer, Yegor Sharangovich, to a lower-body damage in its closing preseason recreation on Friday. He was positioned on injured reserve on Monday and his restoration timeline is listed as week-to-week.
“There’s little or no expectation being positioned on this workforce proper now,” Flames ahead Blake Coleman mentioned. “It is an thrilling technique to play when there isn’t any stress, no expectations. Contained in the room, we’ve got a a lot completely different view of ourselves than exterior.”
The Flames nonetheless have a number of core gamers up entrance in Coleman, Mikael Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri and defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson.
“We’d like them to be the blokes that exit and lead by instance each time,” Flames coach Ryan Huska mentioned.
The youngest gamers for the Flames can even be anticipated to contribute immediately, specifically Connor Zary, Matt Coronato and 19-year-old Samuel Honzek, who contributed two targets and 5 assists within the preseason.
“We’ve got a variety of younger guys who wish to present they are often good gamers on this league,” Backlund mentioned. “As veterans, we wish to drive this workforce, and we wish to get again to playoffs after lacking two years.”
A key to Calgary’s success might be Huberdeau, a middle who the Flames acquired in a blockbuster commerce with the Florida Panthers two years in the past. Nonetheless, he has not performed to the identical stage in Calgary.
“He modified how he did issues this summer season as a result of he hasn’t been proud of the way in which issues went for a pair years,” Huska mentioned of Huberdeau. “He is come again with a extremely good mindset, and he is in form proper now and that is one thing that we’d like.”
–Subject Stage Media