ake DeBrusk had a bit of an unfamiliar feeling as he prepared to hit the ice with his Vancouver Canucks teammates Thursday 香蕉视频直播� butterflies.
The 27-year-old winger is no stranger to NHL training camps, but after seven seasons with the Boston Bruins, Thursday marked his first time skating with a new team.
香蕉视频直播淚t was actually pretty nerve wracking. I was a little nervous going out there,香蕉视频直播� DeBrusk said after the Canucks香蕉视频直播� first day of training camp in Penticton, B.C.
香蕉视频直播淚t kind of caught me off guard, actually. But it was good. The guys are competing and it was fast out there. Trying to get chemistry and things like that, so it was exciting.香蕉视频直播�
DeBrusk inked a seven-year, US$38.5-million deal with the Canucks when the league香蕉视频直播檚 free agent market opened on July 1, and was quickly pencilled in as a linemate for Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 star centre, Elias Pettersson.
The duo skated together in drills on Thursday, and DeBrusk was excited about the result.
香蕉视频直播淚 think I香蕉视频直播檝e seen a lot of really wicked plays by (Pettersson),香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I香蕉视频直播檓 sort of still catching up a little bit, but I香蕉视频直播檓 starting to figure some of it out, I think. Any time you have a player like that that香蕉视频直播檚 so dynamic, you want to just be consistent for him and just have someone that he can rely on.香蕉视频直播�
DeBrusk, who put up 19 goals and 21 assists in 80 games for the Bruins last season, brings speed and tenacity to the Canucks, Pettersson said.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 skilful, but then works hard,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淗e plays the body and goes to the dirty areas. But I think it香蕉视频直播檚 the combination of physical play and smartness.香蕉视频直播�
Developing chemistry takes time both on the ice and away from the rink, Pettersson added.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just hanging out,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you香蕉视频直播檙e, I guess, good at hockey, you just figure it out on the ice. And we香蕉视频直播檒l continue taking steps every day. I香蕉视频直播檓 just excited to get going.香蕉视频直播�
DeBrusk is among a handful of new additions to Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 roster.
The Canucks also added forwards Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood and Daniel Sprong, and defencemen Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais in free agency.
Desharnais was already familiar with Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 playing style, having had a close-up look as a member of the Edmonton Oilers squad that eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs in a gritty, seven-game second-round series in May.
The first day of training camp provided new insight for the six-foot-seven, 226-pound blue liner, however.
香蕉视频直播淚 understand why they were so hard to play against last year,香蕉视频直播� he said with a laugh.
While Desharnais contributed a goal, 10 assists and 54 penalty minutes to the Oilers last season, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has said he believes the 28-year-old from Laval, Que., has more to give.
Desharnais agreed.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 why I香蕉视频直播檓 here, to get better,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of small details I can add to my game. I香蕉视频直播檓 a late bloomer, and I want to keep learning, I want to keep improving myself, and every day to get a better mindset every day. Every morning, I just try to get better.香蕉视频直播�
Transitioning to a new team has been smooth so far, Desharnais said.
香蕉视频直播淚 feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 part of the team already,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding that he香蕉视频直播檚 spent much of the last week and a half hanging out with his new teammates away from the rink. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very excited to start travelling, to start playing games because you get even closer.香蕉视频直播�
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet knows better than most what it takes for a player to settle in with a new locker room, having played for six different teams over the course of 18 seasons in the NHL.
Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 veteran players have done a good job of making the recent additions feel welcome, he said.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been on other teams where it takes you a while, maybe it香蕉视频直播檚 not as close,香蕉视频直播� the coach said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut this team, whoever comes in here, it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播楬ey, you香蕉视频直播檙e welcome香蕉视频直播� and they香蕉视频直播檙e hanging together. So I credit those guys for that environment.香蕉视频直播�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
