Hunter Shinkaruk | C/W

[elvis15]

Maybe Shinkaruk did the guy a favour and cross-checked the ugly out of him.

Maybe, yikes!

It was a pretty decent crosscheck, but hardly anything I'd think would have done any lasting damage.

[UFCanuck]

Show-and-tell time for Canucks

The head coach can’t pronounce his last name yet, but Hunter Shinkaruk, a first-round draft choice, has already been noticed by John Tortorella.

It is an unusual training camp for the Vancouver Canucks, starting with the new bench boss. But, more so, it is the first time in Mike Gillis’s stint as general manager that rookies have a real shot to make the team, as Vancouver aims to inject some young blood into an aging lineup – in part because of the salary cap but as much for the need of the oomph of youth.

Shinkaruk, an 18-year-old who was the Canucks’ second first-round draft pick (No.24) in June, is among a group of young men who have never played in the NHL but could crack the opening-night lineup in October. Nicklas Jensen, a 20-year-old winger who was a 2011 first-round pick, likely has the best shot, with Swedish Hockey League and AHL experience, as well as two NHL games last year.

But Shinkaruk produced an immediate impression Thursday, during on-ice fitness sessions, a series of tests under Tortorella reputed to be one of the tougher preseason regimens in the league.

“I see him scooting around the ice. You know, it piques my interest,” Tortorella said of the 5-foot-10, 181-pound forward, while conceding, “I don’t even know how to pronounce his name yet.”

The Canucks have not been a team open to rookies for several reasons, led by the fact it has picked at the bottom of the first round for years and the philosophy of management is similar to the Detroit Red Wings, where young players develop their game in junior or the minors, rather than rush to the NHL.

This is why Jensen probably has the best shot to make the team and Shinkaruk will get a good look but has a lesser chance to claim a roster spot.

“There are a lot of different things that come into play,” said Tortorella, who was fired by the New York Rangers in the off-season, then hired to replace Alain Vigneault in Vancouver. “I want to give the kids a long look, because I think our organization needs to instill some youth. Having said that, we do not want to hurt their development either.”

While it is Shinkaruk’s first camp, he already has had ice time with some of the best players in the league. His trainer is Andy O’Brien, with whom Shinkaruk connected at the Edge School in Calgary, a specialized sports academy. O’Brien is the long-time trainer of Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, among others.

In the summer, Shinkaruk found himself at a camp in Halifax, with the likes of Crosby, John Tavares and Jason Spezza.

“I kind of had to pinch myself when I was on a 2-on-1 with Crosby,” Shinkaruk said.

The left winger turns 19 in October, six games into the Canucks season, and produced 177 points (86 goals) in over 130 games in his last two WHL seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He knows the competition he is up against but feels poised.

“When I’m out on that ice, I absolutely feel ready.”

Two other young prospects – Bo Horvat and Brendan Gaunce – are also in race and, if they produce, could fill a gaping hole at third- and fourth-line centre. But Gaunce, a first-round pick in 2102 (No. 26), does appear ready, and Horvat, the No. 9 pick this year – acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the Cory Schneider trade – would probably benefit from another year of major junior. (His London Knights will play host to the 2014 Memorial Cup.)

“You have to come into camp and think everyone’s equal, because you have to get a spot somehow from someone,” Gaunce said after he hacked his way through Tortorella’s skating drills.

In the absence of a surge from Horvat or Gaunce, the Canucks have journeymen veterans Brad Richardson and Mike Santorelli, signed in the summer, as potential centres, as well as second-year player Jordan Schroeder, who is coming off shoulder surgery.

For the rookies, it is about show-not-tell, Ryan Kesler said. The second-line centre recalled his own rookie camp in 2003-04, when he felt he should have made the team as a 19-year-old. He didn’t, but did play, after a stint in the minors, 28 games for the Canucks that season.

“You’re nervous going in,” Kesler said. “I was going in playing against some of my idols growing, like [Trevor] Linden and [Todd] Bertuzzi. As camp goes on you become more confident that you can make the team.”

Advice from former Canucks GM Brian Burke sticks with him.

“I still remember Burkey telling me, ‘Shut up and play.’ That means rookies don’t say a word. Go out and do your job.”

http://m.theglobeand...rvice=mobile#!/

[jigsaw99]

Maybe Shinkaruk did the guy a favour and cross-checked the ugly out of him.

a face only a mother could love

[LeanBeef]

Very impressive in the o zone today. Had the speed and hands. Just needs to work on strength and positioning when chasing the puck. If he learns how to get inside positioning like Burr he would be very effective.

[Joel Heyman]

a face only a mother could love

a face only a mother could love

Or a puckbunny

[Canuck Surfer]

a face only a mother could love

Hawkeye Pierce (or was it Honeycut?); "if my dog had your face, I'd shave his butt and teach him to walk backwards?"

[Canuck Surfer]

Just saw this post by the way from one of the HockeyBuzz.com writers for starting line up tonight:

Here are the Canucks lines - credit to Ben Kuzma and Cam Tucker - as well as some thoughts on what we may see tonight.

Alex Burrows - Ryan Kesler - Hunter Shinkaruk

Nicklas Jensen - Brendan Gaunce - Pascal Pelltier

Tom Sestito - Bo Horvat - Dale Weise

Darren Archinald - Kellan Lain - Zach Hamill

Dan Hamhuis - Frankie Corrado

Yannick Weber - Henrik Tommernes

Alex Biega - Andrew Alberts

Eddie Lack

Joe Cannata

Lets go Hunter!

I would not have picked that combo, but it looks awfully exciting considering how dangerous an offensive player Shinkaruk is!

Edit; and I personally believe (and Jensen may have an inside track) that we have a bigger opening for one of our young guns at wing, than we do (presuming Schroeder has a line up spot) for a center.

[Honeydew]

Dat Snipe Goal !!!!!!!!!!

[BoKnows53]

Emile Poirier >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Shinkaruk

[Ihatetomatoes]

Great game by Shrink!

Looks to have the most NHL ready game out of all our prospects judging by the first game againt proper NHL competiton. Great skating, great hands and he's got the tenacity to battle in the corners and win some battles. Too bad he's few years off being physically mature enough but wow was I impressed. Not afraid at all to mix it up with the big boys, kids got heart.

[UFCanuck]

Shinkaruk and Jensen both have flashy styles and Gaunce/Horvat are both 2 solid swiss knife type players.

Has the makings of two really solid pairings.

[DeNiro]

Emile Poirier <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Shinkaruk

Couldn't agree more.

[Donky]

Shinkaruk and Jensen both have flashy styles and Gaunce/Horvat are both 2 solid swiss knife type players.

Has the makings of two really solid pairings.

Agree. We have a bunch of young guys that are on the verge and Hunter showed a ton of potential tonight. That goal was a very high quality snipe.

[Phamda]

Shinkaruk and Jensen both have flashy styles and Gaunce/Horvat are both 2 solid swiss knife type players.

Has the makings of two really solid pairings.

Totally agree but I think Jensen is trying really hard to be a solid two way guy. It's been mentioned before but I really see him developing into a Hossa type guy.

[Tangelos]

Too bad he's few years off being physically mature enough but wow was I impressed. Not afraid at all to mix it up with the big boys, kids got heart.

I don't buy it. RNH was barely 170 when he stepped into the league. 5'11 at 180 is not that small

[Plum]

Shinkaruk was one of the better players tonight, he was surprisngly forechecking hard. Could see him hustling hard, playing with Kesler and Burrows probably encouraged him to work even harder since he wanted to keep up with the big boys. Liked his game but he needs to work on patience, this isn't junior where it is fast paced especially on the PP he forced alot of passes and shot when it wasn't needed.

[Guest Gumballthechewy]

I don't buy it. RNH was barely 170 when he stepped into the league. 5'11 at 180 is not that small

There no doubt about it, that's small! Not tiny but not that big either.

It's not to small to make an impact at the NHL level though. Nothin wrong with being small as long as you're skilled.

Having bigger guys look out for you doesn't hurt either.

[Phamda]

Shinkaruk was one of the better players tonight, he was surprisngly forechecking hard. Could see him hustling hard, playing with Kesler and Burrows probably encouraged him to work even harder since he wanted to keep up with the big boys. Liked his game but he needs to work on patience, this isn't junior where it is fast paced especially on the PP he forced alot of passes and shot when it wasn't needed.

I felt the opposite. his decisions were too slow to start the game. He waits with the puck before charging forward on shots thus getting blocked or holding onto the puck at the blue line after holding it thinking of where to go and what to do.

[Butters Stoch]

This kid is a lot further along than I thought. He won't be on the team this year just because he needs to add on more muscle but I could see him making a strong push for the team a year from now.

[Plum]

I felt the opposite. his decisions were too slow to start the game. He waits with the puck before charging forward on shots thus getting blocked or holding onto the puck at the blue line after holding it thinking of where to go and what to do.

I think that comes with experience and developing his game. Probably a bit overwhelmed that he is playing in the big leagues. I saw a bit of what you said.