Canucks notebook: Chiasson could beat PTO odds, Pearson with Horvat, skateboarding takes its toll

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Do you remember Jack Skille?

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In 2016, he authored one of the great lines to try to beat the odds and land a spot on the Vancouver Canucks roster after being awarded a pro test.

“I’m willing to chew on the rope to be here,” the winger promised before earning a fourth row spot and a $ 700,000 one-year two-way deal.

Five years later, right winger Alex Chiasson knows he doesn’t have to chew to get the most out of his PTO. He has registered 564 games with five NHL clubs and amassed 202 points (101-101) as a versatile forward.

Not only does he have the 6-foot-4, 208-pound body and working body to be in fourth-line form, especially with Tyler Motte recovering from off-season upper body surgery and the uncertainty over who will patrol the Side. Right: The timing is perfect for Chiasson, 30, to provide a powerful, physical veteran presence.

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Chiasson has scored 42 goals for the Edmonton Oilers in the past three seasons and 16 entered the highly productive power play because he is difficult to block and is adept at filtering goalkeepers. He had 22 goals in 2018-19, and even thought he wasn’t wearing a letter in Edmonton, he was part of the leadership group. That’s what happens when you win a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.

If Motte is a long-term loss, the Canucks could trade speedy Matthew Highmore to the left side. Then it would be Brandon Sutter in the middle and Chiasson against Zack MacEwen and rookie Will Lockwood for the right-side spot.

You have to think that Chiasson likes those odds. After accepting the PTO on Wednesday, he flew to Vancouver from Dallas that night and then made it to Abbotsford so as not to miss Day 1.

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“It was important for me to be here on time and to start with the group and to get to know everyone,” Chiasson said. “I’ve been on this (PTO) trail (twice) before and I know I have to earn a spot. I’m entering my 10th year in the league and it’s fair to say that this isn’t the ideal scenario, but if you ask people who know me, they know that I had to earn it and that playing in the league is a privilege. .

“I have a lot to offer and I want to be part of the cake. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t think there was a chance to get a contract. I think I have built a good resume.

“One thing in this process was being on a team that could be successful, and being in Edmonton the last three years, I thought Vancouver was a difficult team to play against and they have added some key pieces.”

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Canucks coach Travis Green said Chiasson ticks a lot of boxes.

“He’s a fourth-row player, a bigger body and a net front in the power game, he’s won and understands what it takes to win,” he said. “He has a lot of passion for the game and we have a young group of forwards. There will have to be some voices in the older boys room. We’ll see where that goes with Chiasson. “

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Pearson returns with Horvat

It’s early, but Green has always liked his offensive duos and on Thursday Tanner Pearson lined up with Bo Horvat and MacEwen.

For those hoping it will be Nils Hoglander for more rhythm on the left side, he was with Nic Petan and Brock Boeser in the absence of Elias Pettersson on his contract extension impasse. And there was also some intrigue with JT Miller between Conor Garland and rookie Vasily Podkolzin, who taunted with a shot that outscored goalkeeper Mike DiPietro.

“Developing chemistry from day one will be important to us,” Horvat said. “Pearse and I work well together and we know where the other is going to be. It’s good to have it from the beginning. “

Said Green: “Could there be some of these lines in the camp? Maybe. I don’t take them out of a hat and drop them on the table. There is a reason for it. Could Pearse play with Bo? There’s a good chance and I wanted to see Miller and Garland together. Hoglander plays from left to right, and we’ll see where Podkolzin fits in.

“That’s why you have the training ground,” he said.

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OVERTIME: The annual tradition of a post-session bag skate was especially tough on newcomers Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jason Dickinson. Ekman-Larsson, who was paired with Tucker Poolman on Thursday, was on his knees at the end of his skating, and Dickinson struggled and followed his group. Green said, “You do it for a reason. You learn a lot about what a boy has done over the summer. It’s a tough skate and new players struggle more with it. The guys who have been here know what’s coming. “

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