The Vancouver Canucks got a taste of playoff hockey last season B次元官网网址� now theyB次元官网网址檙e hungry for more.

Battling through two gritty post-season matchups is an experience the team will draw on as it heads into a new campaign, said right-winger Brock Boeser.

B次元官网网址淧layoffs is a blast, and it was awesome that we had success,B次元官网网址� he said at training camp in Penticton, B.C. B次元官网网址淎nd I think itB次元官网网址檚 only going to help us for this year.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks finished the 2023-24 regular season atop the Pacific Division with a 50-23-9 record and, in April, Vancouver hosted its first playoff game since 2015.

After dispatching the Nashville Predators in six, the Canucks met the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. Both teams slugged through a seven-game series where Edmonton emerged victorious.

Vancouver made strides last year, but head coach Rick Tocchet has challenged his players to up their game once again this season.

B次元官网网址淭o get to the next plateau, thereB次元官网网址檚 higher expectations and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e know that.B次元官网网址�

It was a busy summer for the Canucks front office as general manager Patrik Allvin tinkered with the lineup in free agency.

Instead of signing key midseason acquisitions Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to big deals, Allvin inked left-winger Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year, US$38.5-million contract.

Lindholm and Zadorov both landed with DeBruskB次元官网网址檚 former team, the Boston Bruins, while Vancouver said goodbye to backup goalie Casey DeSmith, veteran blue liner Ian Cole and depth forwards Sam Lafferty and Ilya Mikheyev.

DeBrusk, who had 19 goals and 21 assists for Boston last season, is expected to line up with star centre Elias Pettersson and provide the star centre with some offensive assistance.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a role DeBrusk relishes.

B次元官网网址淚 personally donB次元官网网址檛 really care how I do personally in terms of statistics. If weB次元官网网址檙e winning, thatB次元官网网址檚 why IB次元官网网址檓 here, to help. But in saying that, I feel like I can add some elements to the team,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 obviously lots of great players already, but I think that I could fit in pretty seamlessly. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why I chose to come here.B次元官网网址�

Allvin also signed left-wingers Danton Heinen (Boston) and Kiefer Sherwood (Nashville), and bruising defencemen Derek Forbort (Boston) and Vincent Desharnais (Edmonton). He rounded out the additions with sniper Daniel Sprong (Detroit Red Wings) and goalie Kevin Lankinen (Nashville).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of speed, a lot of character. The new guys seem to fit in really great. Great guys off the rink as well,B次元官网网址� said Canucks centre J.T. Miller.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all very eager to learn. They all played on good teams prior to this. So they know the expectation and I think thereB次元官网网址檚 a sense of excitement in the group right now.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver will be without one major player to start the season.

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko announced ahead of training camp that heB次元官网网址檚 working his way back from a muscle injury in his knee. No date has been set for an expected return.

Tocchet said he plans to have rookie netminder Arturs Silovs in goal when the Canucks open their season against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Latvian got ample experience with high-pressure play last spring when he was elevated from VancouverB次元官网网址檚 third-string goalie to starter in a matter of days during the playoffs. In 10 post-season appearances, he posted a 5-5 record with a .898 save percentage, a 2.91 goals-against average and a shutout.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e put (Silovs) in some tough spots and heB次元官网网址檚 done a nice job for us,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said.

BOESERB次元官网网址橲 BACK

After putting up a career-high 40 goals and 33 assists in the regular season, Boeser continued to star in the playoffs with seven goals and five assists.

The 27-year-old forward then missed Game 7 of the second-round series after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg. The injury kept him from contact training through part of the summer, but he came into training camp fully healthy and eager to play.

PETTERSSONB次元官网网址橲 PRODUCTION

Pettersson is likely to be back in the spotlight as the eight-year, US$92.8-million extension he signed in March comes into effect.

The 25-year-old Swede had 32 goals and 55 assists last season, down from the 102-point campaign he logged the year before. Pettersson struggled to produce in the playoffs, too, contributing a goal and five assists over 13 appearances.

He revealed at the end of the season that heB次元官网网址檇 been dealing with tendinitis in his knee. Pettersson has since said the ailment was resolved over the summer.

HONING HARDWARE

Tocchet took home the Jack Adams award as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top coach last season, while Canucks captain Quinn Hughes won the Norris Trophy as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 best defenceman. Hughes led all NHL blue liners in scoring with 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists).

MISSING HOME

Canucks fans wonB次元官网网址檛 get a chance to watch their team play in Vancouver for nearly a month midseason.

After hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 8, the Canucks will go a full three-and-a-half weeks before playing another home game against the Anaheim Ducks on March 5.

In between, thereB次元官网网址檒l be international hockey with the 4 Nations Face Off in Montreal and Boston before Vancouver heads out on a five-game road swing through the Western Conference.