ake DeBrusk had a bit of an unfamiliar feeling as he prepared to hit the ice with his Vancouver Canucks teammates Thursday 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚t was actually pretty nerve wracking. I was a little nervous going out there,91裸聊视频� DeBrusk said after the Canucks91裸聊视频� first day of training camp in Penticton, B.C.
91裸聊视频淚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.91裸聊视频�
DeBrusk inked a seven-year, US$38.5-million deal with the Canucks when the league91裸聊视频檚 free agent market opened on July 1, and was quickly pencilled in as a linemate for Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 star centre, Elias Pettersson.
The duo skated together in drills on Thursday, and DeBrusk was excited about the result.
91裸聊视频淚 think I91裸聊视频檝e seen a lot of really wicked plays by (Pettersson),91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd I91裸聊视频檓 sort of still catching up a little bit, but I91裸聊视频檓 starting to figure some of it out, I think. Any time you have a player like that that91裸聊视频檚 so dynamic, you want to just be consistent for him and just have someone that he can rely on.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 skilful, but then works hard,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淗e plays the body and goes to the dirty areas. But I think it91裸聊视频檚 the combination of physical play and smartness.91裸聊视频�
Developing chemistry takes time both on the ice and away from the rink, Pettersson added.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just hanging out,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲hen you91裸聊视频檙e, I guess, good at hockey, you just figure it out on the ice. And we91裸聊视频檒l continue taking steps every day. I91裸聊视频檓 just excited to get going.91裸聊视频�
DeBrusk is among a handful of new additions to Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 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 Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 understand why they were so hard to play against last year,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why I91裸聊视频檓 here, to get better,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of small details I can add to my game. I91裸聊视频檓 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.91裸聊视频�
Transitioning to a new team has been smooth so far, Desharnais said.
91裸聊视频淚 feel like I91裸聊视频檓 part of the team already,91裸聊视频� he said, adding that he91裸聊视频檚 spent much of the last week and a half hanging out with his new teammates away from the rink. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 very excited to start travelling, to start playing games because you get even closer.91裸聊视频�
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.
Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 veteran players have done a good job of making the recent additions feel welcome, he said.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been on other teams where it takes you a while, maybe it91裸聊视频檚 not as close,91裸聊视频� the coach said. 91裸聊视频淏ut this team, whoever comes in here, it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频楬ey, you91裸聊视频檙e welcome91裸聊视频� and they91裸聊视频檙e hanging together. So I credit those guys for that environment.91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
