Pressure.
ItB次元官网网址檚 something NHL players and coaches have to live with game in and game out.
That pressure, though, comes in various forms.
Most people associate pressure with the big-name players. Whether itB次元官网网址檚 Thatcher Demko making the big save for the Vancouver Canucks in a critical moment of the game or Elias Pettersson producing offense, itB次元官网网址檚 always there.
But there are other forms of pressure that players have to face.
For Canucks defenceman Noah Juulsen, itB次元官网网址檚 just about maintaining your spot in the lineup. A couple of bad games and Juulsen might be in the press box. A couple of bad weeks and he might be in Abbotsford playing for the Canucks AHL farm team.
One individual who has felt that type of pressure is Canucks color analyst Dave Tomlinson.
Tomlinson spent four seasons shuffling between the NHL and the minors with the Toronto, Winnipeg and Florida organizations in the early 1990s and knows what itB次元官网网址檚 like to be on the bubble.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to check in on yourself on every single shift and thatB次元官网网址檚 really stressful. ItB次元官网网址檚 an area of the game where if you are a four or five-year veteran, itB次元官网网址檚 not their concern anymore. They know what they need to do and they find a way to do it. But when youB次元官网网址檙e a player whoB次元官网网址檚 trying to solidify your spot in the lineup knowing that itB次元官网网址檚 no secret theyB次元官网网址檝e been looking for upgrades at your positionB次元官网网址ell you just feel like every day youB次元官网网址檙e under the microscope - even in practice - and you have to really find a way to calm your nerves and just play through it,B次元官网网址� explained Tomlinson.
Now entering his seventh season as a pro, Juulsen is still trying to establish himself as an NHL regular. A first-round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens in 2015, the Surrey-born, Abbotsford-raised 26-year-old is still trying to gain permanent employment.
B次元官网网址淔or me, itB次元官网网址檚 just about going day-to-day. Obviously, you canB次元官网网址檛 get too far ahead of yourself. You canB次元官网网址檛 dwell on the past. Whatever has happened, has happened. I think for me, itB次元官网网址檚 just enjoying every day. ItB次元官网网址檚 just about having fun out there and being the best player that you can be,B次元官网网址� noted Juulsen, whose career-high in games played in an NHL season is the 23 he compiled during his rookie year with the Habs.
Juulsen played in the first three games of this season, then came out of the lineup for the next 11 games before being re-inserted on Nov. 12 in Montreal. He hasnB次元官网网址檛 come out since.
B次元官网网址淗e struggled early and sat out a lot of games. For him, itB次元官网网址檚 about consistency and being able to make the right play under pressure. I think heB次元官网网址檚 getting better at that. HeB次元官网网址檚 doing a good job on the PK when weB次元官网网址檝e asked him to. I think heB次元官网网址檚 just chipping away at his game to be a consistent defenceman you can rely on every day. ThatB次元官网网址檚 really what it comes down to,B次元官网网址� said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
Tomlinson believes Juulsen has the tools to be an everyday NHL defenceman who can bring a physical element to the game but it all boils down to doing the little things right.
B次元官网网址淭he tricky part for a guy like him to stand out is that he has to do things that donB次元官网网址檛 really get noticed by the general public but do get noticed by the coaching staff. So thereB次元官网网址檚 probably an inner battle of a guy wanting to do everything right and not wanting to make a mistake,B次元官网网址� noted Tomlinson.
B次元官网网址淎nd yet thatB次元官网网址檚 a hard way to play because youB次元官网网址檙e putting so much pressure on yourself to make the right play every single time that you tend to overthink things rather than just making the play thatB次元官网网址檚 right in front of you. And I think that the more chances you get to prove yourself, the more you get to calm your mind down and just play on instinct. And heB次元官网网址檚 a guy that I think is in that part right now where heB次元官网网址檚 played enough games that he understands what he needs to do.B次元官网网址�
According to Tomlinson, todayB次元官网网址檚 players get way more feedback when it comes to developing their skills.
B次元官网网址淭en years ago, the coach only talked to you when you made a mistake or when youB次元官网网址檙e getting sent down. Now they talk with you throughout practice on how you can improve. When youB次元官网网址檝e got Adam Foote, who sees the game really well from the defensive end, and when youB次元官网网址檝e got Sergei Gonchar, who knows the offensive side of playing defense, no player is slipping through the cracks anymore,B次元官网网址� explained Tomlinson.
B次元官网网址淭hese players will always be coached up and itB次元官网网址檚 up to them to make those necessary adjustments or changes that the coaching staff gives them. What weB次元官网网址檝e seen so far under Rick Tocchet is that they make sure theyB次元官网网址檙e in contact and in touch with every player every couple of days. No player feels like heB次元官网网址檚 not been told what his role is. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the benefit to this new way of coaching these players, and for a guy like Noah Juulsen, he would get that feedback.B次元官网网址�
As for Juulsen, itB次元官网网址檚 just about sticking to the basics.
B次元官网网址淔or me, itB次元官网网址檚 just about keeping it simple. Play a simple game and be physical when a hitB次元官网网址檚 there - maybe spark the guys a little bit with it and then go from there. Obviously, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to have those big turnovers and things like that. I think itB次元官网网址檚 just keeping it simple.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been the biggest thing for me.B次元官网网址�
OVERTIME
The Canucks defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-0 on Thursday night and continued their trend of alternating wins and losses in the past 10 games. The club got goals from Nils Hoglander and Teddy Blueger while Casey DeSmith made 26 saves to record his first shutout of the season. DeSmithB次元官网网址檚 shutout was the first by a Canuck backup goalie since October 24, 2017 when Anders Nilsson shutout the Wild in Minnesota.
The Canucks didnB次元官网网址檛 record their first shot of the game until 6:42 remained in the first period while the Wild recorded ten shots during that span.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 look at the shot clock like you guys do. I look at chances. Yeah, they had the puck a lot but I thought we were OK. Early on we were sleeping a little bit, but in the second and the third we played or game,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said afterwards.
The organization honored firefighters on Tuesday night and announced its B次元官网网址楾eam 43B次元官网网址� initiative with CanucksB次元官网网址� defenceman Quinn Hughes, who is donating four tickets to every home game to first responders in B.C.
Retiring soccer legend Christine Sinclair was recognized in pre-game ceremonies as well.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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