October 4, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort (27), ahead Jake DeBrusk (74) and ahead Daniel Si Daniel Sprong (91) throughout the second quarter in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Area. Obligatory Credit score: Bob Frid-Imagn Photographs The Vancouver Canucks look to proceed their latest success of their season opener Wednesday evening in opposition to the visiting Calgary Flames.
The Canucks received the Pacific Division title final season and, outdoors of the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, made the playoffs for the primary time since 2015 and received their first Stanley Cup Remaining since 2011. playoff sequence.
“The playoffs have been a blast and the success we had was superior and I believe it is solely going to assist us this 12 months,” Vancouver proper winger Brock Boeser mentioned.
To complement the core ahead lineup of JT Miller, Elias Pettersson and Boeser, the Canucks added Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen from the Boston Bruins, Kiefer Sherwood from the Nashville Predators and Kiefer Sherwood from the Detroit Crimson Wings. Ahead Daniel Sprang.
To assist bolster a protection anchored by Quinn Hughes, Vancouver acquired Derek Forbot from the Bruins and Vincent Desharnais from the Edmonton Oilers.
“Fairly quick, nice persona. The brand new guys appear to be a great match. The blokes off the ice are nice, too,” Miller mentioned.
DeBrusk, who totaled 19 objectives and 21 assists final season, must be the most important difference-maker.
“I personally do not actually care about how I do statistically. If we win, that is why I am right here to assist. However with that mentioned, I really feel like I can add some components to the group,” DeBrusk mentioned . “Clearly there are a whole lot of nice gamers on the market, however I believe I can slot in seamlessly. That is why I selected to come back right here.”
The Flames, in the meantime, stay a group in transition after lacking the playoffs for the second straight 12 months.
Calgary is already going through adversity after dropping final season’s main scorer Yegor Sharangovich to a lower-body damage in Friday’s last preseason sport. He was positioned on injured reserve Monday and his restoration schedule is listed as week-to-week.
“There are low expectations for this group proper now,” Flames ahead Blake Coleman mentioned. “It is an thrilling technique to play when there is no strain, no expectations. We see ourselves quite a bit in another way within the room than outdoors.”
The Flames nonetheless have a number of core gamers on the entrance line: Coleman, Mikael Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazeem Kadri, in addition to guards Mackenzie Vega and Rasmus Anderson.
“We want them to have the ability to exit and lead by instance each time,” Flames coach Ryan Huska mentioned.
The Flames’ youngest gamers can even contribute instantly in Connor Zarri, Matt Coronato and 19-year-old Samuel Honzek, who had 2 within the preseason. Targets and 5 assists.
“We’ve a whole lot of younger guys who wish to show that they are often good gamers on this league,” Backlund mentioned. “As veterans, we wish to lead this group and we wish to get again to the playoffs after being out for 2 years.”
Key to Calgary’s success might be Huberdeau, the middle the Flames acquired two years in the past in a blockbuster commerce with the Florida Panthers. Nonetheless, he did not produce on the identical stage in Calgary.
“He modified the best way he did issues this summer time as a result of he wasn’t pleased with the state of affairs for a number of years,” Huska mentioned of Huberdeau. “He is coming again with a extremely good mentality and he is in fine condition proper now, which is what we’d like.”
–Scene-level media
