Teddy Blueger's work in the bottom six has helped turn the Vancouver Canucks from playoff hopefuls into Stanely Cup contenders.
Teddy Blueger's work in the bottom six has helped turn the Vancouver Canucks from playoff hopefuls into Stanely Cup contenders.
The Vancouver Canucks are having one of their best statistical seasons in franchise history. They have tied their win total from 2022-23 through 60 games and could take home their third Presidents' Trophy in franchise history. While regular season success is an impressive accomplishment, the group remains focused on the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup.
One of the reasons the Canucks have had such a successful regular season is the play of depth players like Teddy Blueger. A Stanley Cup champion with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, he has helped bring stability to the bottom six and the penalty kill. While the team looks bound for the playoffs, as he explains, the focus remains on the day-to-day results and continually improving their game so they can be ready for a long postseason run.
"No, not really at all," said Blueger. "I think there's still a long way to go. I think we've done a good job all year focusing on, just like, the next game, whatever's in front of us, regardless of who we're playing against when we're away. That's not something we've talked about or, you know, however many points we're going to need or whatnot. We just keep going, try and build our game. It's not like we're trying to get to a certain number of point totals. We're just trying to get better and keep playing the right way. And you know, like, last time, it was a great character win for us. It's like a situation where we're down two with less than 10 minutes but find a way to come back and win. So that's the kind of stuff we're looking for more than just necessarily a point threshold or barriers like that."
Vancouver has done a great job this season building a team with depth at every position. 13 players on the roster are over 20 points already, with ten having surpassed the double-digit mark for goals. As Blueger describes, having depth that can produce on a nightly basis helps build confidence within the team and will be crucial come playoff time.
"For sure. I think that's what you need, and I think you know, you look at last year, Vegas had a lot of depth, everyone was playing, the minutes were fairly evenly split up throughout the games. I think we kind of have a similar setup as far as that goes, you know, rolling four lines. I think everyone can get the job done, but it doesn't put the pressure on certain guys to step up on any given night. Obviously, it feels good for everyone to score, so when everyone's contributing, I think that builds confidence."
On top of the leadership in the room, the Canucks have done an excellent job of surrounding the players with Stanley Cup winners and Hockey Hall of Famers. Having former players on the coaching staff like Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Adam Foote, Sergei Gonchar, and Rick Tocchet, who all played over 1,000 NHL games, has been valuable as they can provide first-hand advice to the players. As Blueger explains, the coaching staff has been instrumental in their success this season as players are engaged and ready to listen to whatever advice they may have.
"I think that's huge. They've got a lot of wisdom and knowledge to share and a lot to teach us. I think guys have been very receptive to what they've been telling us, and you know, that just through their career. They command a lot of respect. They've been through it all themselves, so I think it's, you know, relatable in that sense. So I think it's been great for us."
Vancouver's success this year can also be attributed to how close the players have gotten. Whether it is putting their body on the line or standing up for each other, the players are willing to do whatever it takes to win. As Blueger explains, the players will keep fighting not just to reward the fans but also to reward each other for all the hard work that has been put in this season.
"Obviously, the fans have been great, and we feed off that energy, and we love that, and we hope they keep bringing that, but I think, you know, we love playing together, and we got a great group here inside the room. Some great relationships and it's a fun group to be around. I think we just want to keep playing for each other, and as far as rewarding the fans, I mean, I don't know if that adds extra motivation. I mean, I think we do want to do that, but the main focus is on the guys in this room."
Based on the season so far, it is safe to say Blueger has been one of the best free-agent additions to this organization over the past decade. He has exceeded expectations and has played a significant role in the Canucks ascent to the top of the Western Conference this season. If he and the rest of Vancouver's roster can continue to improve daily, there is little doubt that they will be a tough out come playoff time.
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