Canucks News & Rumours: Chytil Injured, Pettersson, Sherwood, Garland, Raty, 3-0 Road Trip & More

Canucks News & Rumours: Chytil Injured, Pettersson, Sherwood, Garland, Raty, 3-0 Road Trip & More

Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode of the Hockey Writers News and Rumors. We got another Canucks episode today and I’m joined by Matthew Zur. Uh here to talk about the Canucks. Um things have turned around since last last time we talked. Um so let’s just kind of get right into it. So obviously against the Washington Capitals, there were two pretty big losses to the roster. Um Philip Pedle and Jonathan Lairaki, they both went out with injury. Uh do you want to start with Philip Pedle? What did you First question is what did you think about uh the hit on Filipedo from Tom Wilson? Well, I in my opinion it was late. Um I don’t know if it warranted a five-minute major. It didn’t actually get anything. Uh he was put in the box. They reviewed it for the fiveminute major, but then decided it was a good hockey hit and uh got no penalty at all. U but Heedle left the game. They didn’t say it was concussion. it looked like an apparent, you know, of course they’re going to check him out. Uh he left, he didn’t look very good. He didn’t get knocked unconscious or anything like that, but he left in his own power, but didn’t look very good. The thing is, uh with anyone that gets concussions as many times as Heedle has, just a little bit of a jarring. And of course, Tom Wilson hits hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s dirty or it seems like his hits always look uh not the best, but he was just hit hard. Um, I thought it was just a little bit late. It probably should have got an interference penalty. Um, but it’s the thing about Heedle is just it’s so tough whenever he gets hit in just or it jars his head. You don’t know. And I just hope that it’s, you know, fingers crossed it’s not something that’s the last concussion he gets and he has to, you know, it’s a worst case scenario, but any of them could be that, which is unfortunate. Um, and he has started the season so well, too. He has has three goals already. Um looks almost every game he looked really good. Um it’s unfortunate he has to be injured, but hopefully it’s not for very long. We’ll find out probably the next couple days if uh if it’s anything serious. Um and of course with concussion protocol, you always have to go through the 24 hours and if they you’re not good, you resets the clock. It can become a really tough timeline. So, I’m hoping he’s not out for very long because I you you just hate seeing him get hit like that and it just it just has to be him, of course, that gets hit. But, we’ll see if he’s okay. Yeah. And so, um Jonathan Laramaki, he he’s also been kind of playing an important role with the Canucks. Um so, what do you what do you have to say about his his injury? Well, one thing I I didn’t really see when he got injured, but it’s, you know, from reports it was a shoulder injury. Um, so again, that is pro hopefully it’s not too major, but the thing is he left and they didn’t come back and when he’s, you know, ruled out of a game, it’s it’s something that they’re going to have to check out. So, I’m hoping it’s not too bad. He he’s been a healthy scratch. Uh, I think it was the last couple games he hasn’t been in the lineup because they reunited the Abbottzford line uh that won the Calder Cup or helped win helped win Abbotts for the Calder Cup, their top line. And it’s funny because they’re the Canucks’s fourth line right now. Um chemistry is great for the and they’ve had played really well. Um that’s why Lair Macki hasn’t been in the lineup and it’s tough with him because I was going to say if he didn’t get injured. I was going to have a segment on here talking about he should be sent down to the AHL. He’s not going to play, but it looks like he might not play because he’s injured. Um but yeah, Brock Besser took a personal leave of absence. So that’s why Leer Mackey played today. Um, and he left early, so he wasn’t really able to replace Besser. So, I’m hoping that’s not very serious. It was just kind of precaution. Just keep him out and see what it is. But, yeah, he could play a big role depending on how long Besser’s out. Probably not going to be very long. Uh, personal, you never know what it is. They never really say until he’s back. And they may not even say at all. Um, but he probably won’t be out too long and now Lacromaki won’t be the guy replacing him. So, I’m hoping it’s not too serious, right? Um, so speaking of the top guys, um, kind of how they’re playing, Elias Person, you were not happy with his performances last week when we talked. Um, things have changed a little bit. Um, so Elise Person, he’s starting to find his game. What do you What do you think about his last week? Well, I mean, especially the last couple games, he’s been he’s looking more like the Person. You look at the stat line, it’s like, oh, it still doesn’t look very good. He’s looked more like the Person from the LA, you know, couple years ago. He’s making plays. He’s confident in his puck, you know, with the puck. He’s starting to shoot a lot more. You’re looking at the goal he scored today against the Capitals. Snipe top corner. That’s a confident shot from Person and that got him going. He’s also playing really well defensively. Um not just not just good position, but he’s laying out for block shots. blocked two shots against the Capitals in the final minute. Uh Alex Ovetchkin shots uh two and that’s I mean that’s laying your out your body in the last minute of the game holding on to a lead. Um he’s trusted by Adam Foot defensively. Um and he’s working a lot harder and I said I questioned his work ethic uh in the last um news and rumors and he’s showing a lot more of that work ethic. I we’re fighting for pucks, fighting around the net. I he’s looking like he cares and that’s what I wanted to see. And he and you know eventually those chances that he got the c the Chicago Blackhawks game he should have had a hattick. I mean I don’t know how many chances he had where it just went off the heel of his stick. He wasn’t in the right just didn’t hit off him in the crease. It just when luck starts going for him, he’ll start getting the goals and and he just has to keep working on getting the chances. eventually they’ll start going in and I’m starting to see him more of that elite type Patterson and I I really like it. So, um hopefully it continues and yeah, he’s been a lot better. Yeah. And I mean they need that. Um if the Canucks want to have any success has to start with Elias Patterson starting to play well. Yeah. Uh so moving on to Atuachi. Uh he is a healthy scratch as of late. Um, obviously he was a very highly touted prospect at one point and has kind of fell down the draft and then was traded um from the Islanders, but Atu Ratu is a healthy scratch. Philip Pedle could be out long term. Um, he’s had the concussion issues in the past. Do you think that this is an opportunity for Ratu to take over it? It is. I mean, the thing is he’s he probably will insert right onto that second line. Um, with De Bras changing a bunch, but second line center, his the wingers might change. Um, Vander Kane’s kind of flipped between the top first line and second line last few. Um, but he’ll probably slide in as a second line center. um which is basically what he did when Heedle went out last season uh la you know late last season and he started playing the way that we wanted the Canucks wanted to see from him when they acquired him in the Bo Horvat trade. U I think his ceiling is a second line center. He’s great on faceoffs. He’s he’s big. He’s strong on the forche. Um I just didn’t like that he’s been sitting out the last couple games because he’s the best faceoff man on the Conucks. Um, and I mean, yeah, he wasn’t producing. He only had an assist. I he played the first four games, but then they reunited the Abbottzford line and then Teddy Bluger came back into the lineup against the Blackhawks. So, that’s kind of that what pushed him out of the lineup. So, I mean, and Sassin has scored the LA scored the previous two games. They don’t want to take him out. So, I guess Ratchet was just the odd man out. I guess it wasn’t because of how bad he was playing or anything like that, but I just feel like he needs to be playing as a young guy. Um, can’t be sent down to the miners because he has to clear waiverss. Um, and of course, the team will probably claim him. It’s this is a guy that could potentially fill in as a third line center on most teams. So, I mean, I I don’t think Kuck’s going to risk that. So, he’s either healthy scratch or he’s in the lineup. And I think he’s just more valuable with, you know, not sitting in the press box. So I I I think he should be playing now with Hedo injured. He probably will miss the next game, I’m assuming. So Ratu will be back in and he’s going to have a huge opportunity to force basically say I’m not leaving the lineup. Yeah. And I mean he’s only 22. He’s one of the youngest players that is not waiver exempt. Um, and he’s one of the most talented kind of bubble players that like you look at all the names that were on waiverss in the training camps and preseason. He would have been claimed no m like guaranteed. Um, he’s just start like over the last two seasons, he’s really found his offensive touch. Uh, in the AHL, he does have the two-way kind of stuff to like you were talking about the faceoffs and he’s all right defensively. Um, he’s a guy that you don’t want to see sitting. You want you want him to get the reps and you want him to play. Um, and if he can come into Filipedo’s role, like yeah, he great opportunity to thrive. Um, so speaking of other players thriving, uh, Connor Garland and Kefir Sherwood, uh, we talked about them last week on how on their work ethic when we were talking about Person. Um, it’s not just about the work ethic with these guys. Like it’s not just those are hardworking players, kind of like Don Jerry would say. Um, good hardworking Canadian boy. Um, they’re also putting it up the stats. So, um, Kever Sherwood and Connor Garland have been kind of lighting it up lately, especially relative to their expectations. What do you, what do you make of that? Um, are they going to be playing in bigger roles down the line? Well, Sherwood has four goals in six games. He’s leads the Canucks in scoring uh right now above Brock Besser with this goal today. Um, and I mean, he’s being elevated. Well, brought Bessar out of the lineup. He’s actually on the first unit power play and he scored on the power play today too. Um and I we all know we’ve talked about his physicality and the way he scored 19 goals last season. If he continues on this he’s going to blow past that. I don’t see it I you know four goals in six games. I don’t think that’s the pace he’ll be on. What would that be like 57 58 goals like that? Yeah, it’d be insane. Um but I see him approaching that 20 goal mark again. Um, so I mean he’s just a guy that’s just I think found his offensive game in the last couple seasons and uh yeah, he leads the Conucks in goals and Connor Garland uh leads the Conucks in points uh with six a goal and five assists. He just scored his first goal the other day um against I believe it was against the Blackhawks or the Stars. I can’t remember what game that was, but I he did just score his first goal and he of course been one of the best Canucks work ethic wise and just being noticeable in every game. He’s just doing his normal thing. Um but he’s been really good with with playmaking uh last, you know, so far this season. That’s why he leads the Conucks in points. Um, so I mean, but they’re the guys that lead the way and uh, right now with Person not producing at the level that we’re hoping right now, hopefully that that’s changed like we’ve saying earlier. Um, and of course Besser’s still contributing and Heedle is hurt now. So, I mean, these guys are going to have to continue doing that for the Canucks to keep going on. Um, so I mean, but they’re they’re just doing their job and and then some right now and playing both in the top six uh with the injuries. So yeah, I think even from the start when Connor Garland I mean with Kefir Sherwood um it always made sense like that what is it two-year $1.5 million like that was that was a guaranteed positive value contract. um even if he wasn’t scoring the goals, like just his physicality. But with Connor Garland, I feel like it’s always been an uphill battle with him in Vancouver. Um just because he came over in the Ecman Larson trade, that trade in itself didn’t work out super well. Um but Conor Gar each year it seems like he’s getting better and better. Um he’s just he’s such a hardworking guy and that’s what gets him his results. Um, I keep saying that and I know that’s like such a cliche thing to say, but he really is. Connor Garland is the hardest working player in the NHL. Yeah, I I I love him. I’ve I’ve really liked it that he resigned on the extension. And I didn’t like when they were talking about the trade rumors with him, I think a couple seasons ago, um, and said that he requested a trade, which he said he didn’t. Um, and then he resigns long term here. So, he definitely wants to be here and he shows it every game that he wants to be a key player on the Conucks and I’m Yeah. He’s one of their best players and seems like he’s a fixture in the top six right now even with everyone healthy. Yeah. And that’s and that’s important like he he’s developed into one of the guys that you need in your lineup. So, um yeah, good good on him and good for the Canucks um for just kind of seeing everything through. Um cuz yeah, that that that trade wasn’t a pretty one. Um but it it’s worked out pretty well actually. So, um you mentioned when you were talking about um goal scoring, you mentioned the the Stars and the Blackhawks. Um Kucks are on a five-game road trip. Uh they’re starting to shape up. They’re starting to play well. How do you see the next two games going? Um, so they’ve got Pittsburgh and they’ve got Nashville. What do you hope to see out of those two games? Basically more of the same except for falling down two nothing. They did that against the Blackhawks and the Stars back-to-back games. Um, falling down two nothing after the first period and coming back to win both. Um, I mean, you don’t want to do that every night against the Capitals. They didn’t. They actually led the all game. um kind of had to hold on at the end, but that’s I mean you’re 10 forwards uh three games and four nights. There was going to be a point where you’re going to start seeing that fatigue and the Capitals really pushed. Um ended up holding on winning 4-3. Um but I mean I’m really liking their game in the last in the first three games of this road trip. It was going to be a tough one. I thought they were definitely going to lose against the Stars because they were on a winning streak. Uh Capitals again, they were on a winning streak. Four-game winning streak. Canucks snapped that. Um, and the Blackhawks, they they seem to be a tough out early on for a lot of teams and they played pretty well against them, even though they did fall down two nothing at the beginning there. Uh, but the resilience that I really liked in those first two games were that they didn’t just fall down and lose, you know, just the ball just kept rolling downhill and you just couldn’t stop it. uh which happened a lot uh last season where they would fall down and they couldn’t come back. I I don’t remember the stats off the top of my head, but I know that they didn’t have many wins when they were trailing going into the third period. You basically say they’re going to lose if they if they go into the third trailing. Um but I mean the last bunch like against the Stars, they scored four goals in the second period to blow that game, you know, open against a team that’s one of the best in the league. And I mean the Blackhawks didn’t fall down and didn’t score a ton like the Stars, but I again showed that resilience that they could come back in games and that that’s huge uh for a team to come together like that. So I’m really liking that especially and then the depth scoring that they were getting from like we mentioned Sherwood and Garland. Um and the defense has played really well. Tyler Myers has been in he’s like he’s gotten a second wind in the back half of his career here with the Conucks. And I’ve mentioned before of how he’s not been he’s been kind of criticized by the fan base here, he’s always been not been the best defensively. I think that since Adam Foot took over on defense, he’s been one of their best defenseman. And I’ll keep saying that because he’s stepped up as being one of their shutdown guys alongside Marcus Patterson. So, I mean, overall the Conucks game has just been so much better uh since the first two games of the season um where they kind of were up in first three actually where they’re really kind of up and down, but this road trip and they usually a road trip kind of galvanizes a team and especially early on. So, I think this is a good road trip to come and this is a tough one. I you know the three games four nights here by the end of it they’ll be seven and 12 which is just crazy in me for me. Um and they’re playing now the fatigue will stay set in. I I think against the Penguins and the the Predators, it’s going to be interesting to see um how they play, but yeah, really good start. Even if they end three and two, that’s that’s really good. They’re going to finish above 500. Um and that I don’t think anyone really anticipated going in. Well, and I look at the schedule and I wonder like I if this the teams were backwards like I think it’s almost a surefire um three and three and two at this point. Um like at the at the end of a fivegame road trip if you’re playing the stars you’re not going to you’re not going to win that. No. Um but Nashville and Pittsburgh are two very winnable games even on the end of a fivegame road trip. So um yeah, look to see their success out of that. Um, and we will probably see you next week for another episode of the Vancouver Conucks News and Rumors on the Hockey Writers YouTube channel. Uh, make sure to check out all the other episodes, check out all the content on the hockeyriters.com. Leave a like and a comment if you enjoyed the video and we’ll see you next time.

In this edition of the Vancouver Canucks News & Rumours rundown, Jacob Billington and Matthew Zator discuss Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimaki getting injured against the Washington Capitals, Elias Pettersson and the Canucks’ strong road trip so far, Aatu Raty getting back into the lineup, Conor Garland and Kiefer Sherwood leading the offence, and more.

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