“ When you see Pods in 1v1, it’s dynamite. ” – Canucks Tanner Pearson on rookie Vasily Podkolzin.
Article content
It takes one to know one.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Tanner Pearson was brought up by demanding coach Darryl Sutter as he tried to make a niche for himself on the roster with the Los Angeles Kings workers. And in that sense, veteran Vancouver Canucks left winger can understand what rookie forward Vasily Podkolzin is enduring to win the favor of bench chief Travis Green.
The systems structure must be solid. The eyes and ears must be open and the mouth must remain closed.
Pearson knew all of that when he was given a playoff shot in 2013 after being pulled from the AHL after amassing 32 points (17-15) in 41 games. Sutter knew the best way to find out if the 21-year-old could hold out in the NHL was to throw him to the bottom of the competitive pool.
“My first playoff game on the Shark Tank I didn’t play much, maybe 4:20,” Pearson once recalled. “With Darryl, you have to work for everything you get with him. He doesn’t really care who you are. “
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Pearson’s 25-game audition turned into a 24-game postseason run as the Kings won the Stanley Cup in five games over the New York Rangers, with three difficulties in overtime. It was a fairly quick education toward career longevity.
On Tuesday, Pearson knew that the developmental steps Podkolzin is taking are assisted by a coach who cares about who you are on and off the ice, especially in the transition to a new country, ice surface and language. But you still have to earn ice time.
It’s a different touch than Sutter, who isn’t cut from the warm and inviting training fabric to calmly convince the best of players.
“When he was young, he had to win it over there; if he messes up in zone D, he can sit on the bench for the rest of the game,” Pearson said. “He (Podkolzin) is learning and a different ice surface is big. It’s totally different here because I had a lot of space (KHL) and coming here, everyone is fast and they come up to you quickly. “
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Podkolzin, 20, scored a goal in the first three games of his career as a final sixth to learn a responsible NHL two-way game and provide some offense while clocking in for seven to 10 minutes per game of ice time. .
“I think it’s going to be okay,” added Pearson. “My old junior coach, Dale Hawerchuk, said that watching games is free education and there is no better seat in the house than the bench. He had that to admire (in Los Angeles) with wingers Brownie (Dustin Brown) and (Justin) Williams, guys like that, and Justin was probably one of the best on the wall in the league.
“When you see Pods (Podkolzin) in 1-on-1, it’s dynamite. “He’s a big strong boy and just look at him. It is a unit. So I think that when he understands the different parts of the game, he will be a great player. “
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Has Horvat found the far right?
Pearson and Bo Horvat are like peanut butter and jelly.
They read well from a chemistry perspective and Horvat needs a left winger who does the hard work, is strong on the wall and reaches the net. The captain could also use consistent symmetry on the right side and could have a long run with Conor Garland.
Horvat had a dozen different ends and three dozen different line combinations in 2018-19 and Pearson’s commercial arrival signaled some stability on the left side.
“I like Garland’s game right now and he was a guy that we were trading with and trying to find a place for him,” Green said. “I like how his game has progressed and that’s part of it for sure. I know what I have with Bo and Pearse, and I think our top six have another level ahead of them and they know it too.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“And it’s part of the options we have with Brock (Boeser) as well so he can mix it up a bit.”
Can the power play be balanced?
It’s hard not to give in to a first unit of human advantage that has so much potential.
The Canucks finished 3 of 13 in the power play after their first three games and racked up 20 shots. It’s always tempting to keep PP1 deployed, even if you’re struggling, but PP2 production will be vital this season. With Nils Hoglander, Garland, Pearson and Jack Rathbone, there is a chance a second wave will have an impact.
“It’s a huge threat if you have two units that can do the job,” Pearson said. “Having the confidence to get the second (unit) is something very important.”
OVERTIME: The Canucks have placed forward Nic Petan on exemptions for assignment to the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Boeser has been reactivated.
Reference-theprovince.com