ake DeBrusk had a bit of an unfamiliar feeling as he prepared to hit the ice with his Vancouver Canucks teammates Thursday B次元官网网址� butterflies.
The 27-year-old winger is no stranger to NHL training camps, but after seven seasons with the Boston Bruins, Thursday marked his first time skating with a new team.
B次元官网网址淚t was actually pretty nerve wracking. I was a little nervous going out there,B次元官网网址� DeBrusk said after the CanucksB次元官网网址� first day of training camp in Penticton, B.C.
B次元官网网址淚t kind of caught me off guard, actually. But it was good. The guys are competing and it was fast out there. Trying to get chemistry and things like that, so it was exciting.B次元官网网址�
DeBrusk inked a seven-year, US$38.5-million deal with the Canucks when the leagueB次元官网网址檚 free agent market opened on July 1, and was quickly pencilled in as a linemate for VancouverB次元官网网址檚 star centre, Elias Pettersson.
The duo skated together in drills on Thursday, and DeBrusk was excited about the result.
B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檝e seen a lot of really wicked plays by (Pettersson),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檓 sort of still catching up a little bit, but IB次元官网网址檓 starting to figure some of it out, I think. Any time you have a player like that thatB次元官网网址檚 so dynamic, you want to just be consistent for him and just have someone that he can rely on.B次元官网网址�
DeBrusk, who put up 19 goals and 21 assists in 80 games for the Bruins last season, brings speed and tenacity to the Canucks, Pettersson said.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 skilful, but then works hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗e plays the body and goes to the dirty areas. But I think itB次元官网网址檚 the combination of physical play and smartness.B次元官网网址�
Developing chemistry takes time both on the ice and away from the rink, Pettersson added.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just hanging out,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e, I guess, good at hockey, you just figure it out on the ice. And weB次元官网网址檒l continue taking steps every day. IB次元官网网址檓 just excited to get going.B次元官网网址�
DeBrusk is among a handful of new additions to VancouverB次元官网网址檚 roster.
The Canucks also added forwards Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood and Daniel Sprong, and defencemen Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais in free agency.
Desharnais was already familiar with VancouverB次元官网网址檚 playing style, having had a close-up look as a member of the Edmonton Oilers squad that eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs in a gritty, seven-game second-round series in May.
The first day of training camp provided new insight for the six-foot-seven, 226-pound blue liner, however.
B次元官网网址淚 understand why they were so hard to play against last year,B次元官网网址� he said with a laugh.
While Desharnais contributed a goal, 10 assists and 54 penalty minutes to the Oilers last season, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has said he believes the 28-year-old from Laval, Que., has more to give.
Desharnais agreed.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why IB次元官网网址檓 here, to get better,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of small details I can add to my game. IB次元官网网址檓 a late bloomer, and I want to keep learning, I want to keep improving myself, and every day to get a better mindset every day. Every morning, I just try to get better.B次元官网网址�
Transitioning to a new team has been smooth so far, Desharnais said.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 part of the team already,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that heB次元官网网址檚 spent much of the last week and a half hanging out with his new teammates away from the rink. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very excited to start travelling, to start playing games because you get even closer.B次元官网网址�
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet knows better than most what it takes for a player to settle in with a new locker room, having played for six different teams over the course of 18 seasons in the NHL.
VancouverB次元官网网址檚 veteran players have done a good job of making the recent additions feel welcome, he said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been on other teams where it takes you a while, maybe itB次元官网网址檚 not as close,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淏ut this team, whoever comes in here, itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楬ey, youB次元官网网址檙e welcomeB次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e hanging together. So I credit those guys for that environment.B次元官网网址�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
