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Vrbata: "He kind of plays like Sakic", when asked about Jared McCann


TheRussianRocket.

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http://www.theprovince.com/sports/kuzma+jared+mccann+that+sakic+sense+around/11546903/story.html

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Kuzma: Jared McCann has that Sakic sense around the net

11546904.jpg

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford clears the puck while being pressured by Jared McCann Nov. 21.
The Vancouver Canucks rookie has six goals this season.

 

DALLAS — Radim Vrbata hesitated for a moment, with good reason.

The last thing he wanted to do was place pressure on promising rookie Jared McCann by drawing any kind of a parallel with legendary Hall of Fame centre Joe Sakic. But Vrbata went there. He sees so much of Burnaby Joe in the driven 19-year-old McCann, who took the compliment as an honour — not a burden.

“He kind of plays like Sakic,” Vrbata said Thursday. “Nothing fancy, but everything right. When I was in Colorado, Peter Forsberg would dangle by three guys and then dangle again. Joe was always making the simple play and making it look easy, and Jared seems to be the same. I see similarities.

“You can see that he has a sense for those scoring areas. He has the ability to make something happen by just being in the right spot. He thinks the game right and has a great shot.”

When McCann raced down the right boards on Wednesday and feathered a perfect backhand pass into the high slot that Vrbata deposited with a no-hesitation release, it changed the tempo in what would become a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild to open a four-game road trip.

“I’ve always had a shoot-first mentality, and so does he,” said McCann, who had 34 goals and 47 assists with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last season to prove he had a multi-dimensional offensive game. “Whenever I get him the puck, he’s looking to shoot it, and I like that. I like going to the net and trying to create something, or give him a screen. In junior, my coaches were huge on detail and making the right plays at the right time.

“I’m not going to skate through five guys, but I look to make the easy play and work from there.”

For all the adulation McCann has received for six goals, it’s his playmaking ability, willingness to play in traffic and release of a quick and accurate wrist shot that bodes well. Whether it’s the result of using hockey sticks with a heavy shaft for a better release and shooting 200 pucks a day in making his way to the NHL — or being the brunt of sporting challenges from brothers and having the scars to show for having his mettle tested — one thing is crystal clear: McCann plays every game like it’s Game 7, and sometimes he has to be reeled in at the bench.

It’s learned behaviour.

“I’m the youngest in the family, so I always had those times and having the crap beaten out of me by my two older brothers — getting smashed in the forehead a couple of times with hockey sticks,” said McCann. “I have very high standards for myself and I’m just a competitive guy. I’m always going to look to improve and I felt like last game was one of my best of the year.

“But I know I can always be better. The Vrby (Vrbata) goal, I expect that from myself every game, and I want to be a difference-maker every time I step on the ice.”

McCann comes from an athletic family, but it takes more than sporting genes to make it. Today’s young players have amazing speed and skill, but will can separate them. And right from the day when he thought he should have gone higher in the 2014 draft, the 24th selection looks like somebody did their homework. McCann had a chip on his shoulder and used it as motivation. There was mononucleosis, that limited him to 56 games last season. And he was knocked out of the Summer Showcase in Calgary last Aug. 3 — a springboard to Hockey Canada’s final world junior roster selection camp next month — after absorbing a heavy hit to the head and shoulder. He didn’t skate again until late August.

After the setback, McCann didn’t seem to be on the Team Canada radar and wasn’t projected to make the Canucks’ roster. Now, it’s fellow rookie Jake Virtanen who might be loaned to the world junior team — especially when Brandon Sutter returns from injury and perhaps plays wing — and not McCann.

“For us, it’s what is best for the player, and we said that at the start of the year,” said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins. “What gives us the best player three years down the road? So, that’s the choice we’ve got to make, and we’ve got to figure it out.”

As for McCann, his progress since training camp has been exceptional. He went from measured minutes to the power play, playing late in games and in overtime. And by getting better at taking draws — winning five of nine against the Wild — he has become reliable at both ends of the ice to complement his skill set.

How much has he improved?

“A lot,” said Desjardins. “He had a great camp and we were excited about it, but it was all offence. There wasn’t the battle. To be good in this league, you have to battle and be good defensively. And that side has improved.

Now I'm not saying we have the next Joe Sakic......BUT WE HAVE THE NEXT JOE SAKIC ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! :frantic::frantic::frantic: 

 

...honestly though, so nice to see the next core of Canucks being taught with the current group and the young guys being given the recognition and praise they have by the rest of the team/coaches/management. Remember when we drafted McCann, said we'd have a Boston like combo with Horvat-McCann...Horvat being the Bergeron - more of a defensive specialist - and McCann being Krejci - the more offensively gifted.

So far the way they're playing, sure looks like we'll get a version of that and just hope they can keep up with the trajectory and keep developing. A long ways away but man is there definitely something to be excited about....I mean it's a stretch to compare any player to Joe but when comparing the two, there is a similarity in the style of game McCann plays.

Burnaby Joe? More like Stratford Jared :P B)

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4 minutes ago, TheRussianRocket. said:

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/kuzma+jared+mccann+that+sakic+sense+around/11546903/story.html

Now I'm not saying we have the next Joe Sakic......BUT WE HAVE THE NEXT JOE SAKIC ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! :frantic::frantic::frantic: 

 

...honestly though, so nice to see the next core of Canucks being taught with the current group and the young guys being given the recognition and praise they have by the rest of the team/coaches/management. Remember when we drafted McCann, said we'd have a Boston like combo with Horvat-McCann...Horvat being the Bergeron - more of a defensive specialist - and McCann being Krejci - the more offensively gifted.

So far the way they're playing, sure looks like we'll get a version of that and just hope they can keep up with the trajectory and keep developing. A long ways away but man is there definitely something to be excited about....I mean it's a stretch to compare any player to Joe but when comparing the two, there is a similarity in the style of game McCann plays.

Burnaby Joe? More like Stratford Jared :P B)

Not mentioning any names, but I do believe some furry assed (very cute) alien has been making this comparison for a long time.

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This is why Vrbata is captain of the Nashville Predators in CDC PUCK. 

I don't think vrbys comments will put any negative pressure on mccann. He said it well and also from what Jared is saying, seems like they both like playing on the same line. 

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20 minutes ago, smokes said:

I would rather have McCann and his potential.

Love McCann & U might be right as I really love his heart & will to compete. 

But R.Johansen has Elite Skill but I'm starting to think he lacks that will & determination when things aren't going HIS way?....

Bobby Ryan like???

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