The Vancouver Canucks shot up the NHL standings last year, but don't expect them to slow down – on the ice, that is. Rick Tocchet [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MTc2NTEyMDIwMzI1Nzg3/usatsi_23044998_168400847_lowres.jpg] Rick Tocchet After their breakout 2023-24 NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks will try to stay a step ahead of their opposition. “We want to play a really fast brand,” said reigning coach of the year Rick Tocchet on Wednesday, as Canucks management met with the media before on-ice sessions kick off on Thursday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, B.C. “Especially the first two days of camp, I really want to stress a transition game,” Tocchet said. “A lot of regroups. A lot of odd-man rushes. Just a lot of speed.” The club’s three key free-agent forward acquisitions are all known for their good wheels. Jake DeBrusk is pencilled in [https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/pacific/vancouver-canucks-projected-lineup-and-depth-chart] to start on the left side of Elias Pettersson's line, while Danton Heinen and Kiefer Sherwood are both tenacious forecheckers who are strong on their skates and can hold down a role on either wing. Beyond Pettersson and DeBrusk and the proven pairing of J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser, Tocchet warned not to read too much into his Day 1 combinations. That’s partly by necessity, as Vancouver will be opening camp without two-thirds of the high-energy third line that wreaked havoc on opponents last season. On Tuesday, Dakota Joshua released a statement [https://thehockeynews.com/news/canucks-dakota-joshua-says-he-had-cancerous-growth-removed-from-testicle] explaining that he is out of action while he recovers from surgery to treat testicular cancer. GM Patrik Allvin announced Wednesday that Teddy Blueger is also expected to miss about a week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/canucks-gm-patrik-allvin-provides-injury-updates-as-vancouver-prepares-to-open-their-2024-training-camp] of training camp after undergoing a minor lower-body procedure while declining to offer a timeline for Joshua's return. As for Thatcher Demko, whose status has been much discussed over the last few weeks, Allvin said the Vezina Trophy runner-up would address the media himself on Thursday. At this time last year, team president Jim Rutherford projected [https://thehockeynews.com/news/canucks-intend-to-get-better-next-season-but-more-improvement-is-far-from-guaranteed] the Canucks could be a playoff team “if everything goes right.” They managed their Pacific Division title despite some bumps in the road, including Demko’s knee problem and a hand injury that sidelined Joshua for 18 games. “I’ll say the same thing — everything has to go right,” Rutherford echoed on Wednesday when asked about his expectations for this year. A 1992 Stanley Cup winner as a player and a two-time winner as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tocchet is stressing that after last season’s success, the road ahead gets tougher, not easier. “We made strides, and I commend the players,” he said. “To get to the next plateau, higher expectations, it's going to be hard [https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/jim-rutherford-patrik-allvin-and-rick-tocchet-speak-ahead-of-canucks-training-camp]. We know that.” During the summer, Tocchet made some tweaks to his coaching staff. Former skills guru Yogi Svejkovsky was promoted to an assistant coach role after Mike Yeo moved on to the Ottawa Senators, and Daniel and Henrik Sedin are taking on bigger day-to-day roles on the ice both in Vancouver and with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks. Blueline masterminds Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar are back, as are Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek in player development. Former Canuck Manny Malhotra has also replaced Jeremy Colliton as the coach in Abbotsford, and Justin Pogge has come in as the AHL goalie coach after Marko Torenius' promotion to the big club. “If you look at the coaching staff — a bunch of teachers out there,” Tocchet said. “We have a bunch of groups, where a player can go to any group and get some good feedback.” That staff has carefully planned out the camp drills that are intended to fine-tune the fast-paced playing style that Tocchet hopes will be his team's calling card. On the ice, he wants his core players to lead the way. “I really want to see our leaders, especially from the first drill, take over and start the pace,” he said. “I think last year, they did a pretty good job. I think there's another level there.” Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
