Bigturk8 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 http://www.tsn.ca/vey-hopes-off-season-work-leads-to-bounce-back-year-with-canucks-1.332448 Vey hopes off-season work leads to bounce-back year with Canucks By Frank Seravalli Comments (2) Linden Vey, Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images Frank Seravalli TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Follow|Archive Days after the Canucks’ season ended earlier than anyone in Vancouver had hoped it would, rookie Linden Vey sat down with team president Trevor Linden for his exit interview. Vey told Linden that, in a strange way, he was glad the Canucks’ playoff run was over - and it wasn’t because he sat as a healthy scratch for five of the six first-round games against the Calgary Flames. “I didn’t wish for us to be out, it wasn’t anything like that,” Vey said. “I just knew that meant I would get the summer that I needed. Sitting out, I already had a lot of time to look at where things went wrong. I was really honest. My preparation last summer wasn’t what it needed to be.” Last summer, Vey was deep in the Kings' long run to the Stanley Cup as a black ace. He practised every day until Los Angeles won the Cup on June 13. By the time he finally made it back to Saskatoon, his home base, it was June 25. Three days later he was blindsided by a trade to the Canucks, dealt for a second-round pick. “You take 10 days or 15 days off to relax after a long season, then you turn around and it’s mid-July. The summer was almost over,” Vey said. “I’m not making excuses. “The season [with the Canucks] didn't go the way I wanted. I came in with big expectations to put up numbers. It was a big learning curve.” Now, Vey is in the middle of what he calls “the biggest summer of my life.” That isn’t hyperbole. Vey turned 24 on Friday. The Canucks parted ways with forward Shawn Matthias, who chipped in 18 goals last season, putting more minutes up for grabs on Willie Desjardins’ top three lines. Vey will battle with wunderkind Bo Horvat in training camp for Vancouver’s third-line centre role. Horvat, now 20, made more with less rope than Vey last season despite playing approximately 150 fewer minutes. In 68 games, Horvat tallied 13 goals and 25 points, compared to Vey’s 10 goals and 24 points in 75 games. Nearly 123 of those additional minutes of ice time for Vey came with the man advantage. Horvat saw just 17 minutes all season on Vancouver’s talented power play, which finished ninth in the NHL. Vey said his biggest issue last season had nothing to do with adjusting to the NHL’s pace of play, a hurdle many young players struggle with. Instead, it was that his game lacked consistency. Vey was nearly a point-per-game player in his last two AHL seasons with the Manchester Monarchs. “I’ve always been a fairly skilled guy wherever I’ve played. I could afford to take nights off in other leagues and maybe still put up numbers,” Vey admitted. “In this league, you need to be willing to bring your ‘A’ game every night, or at least nine out of 10 nights. You look at our team in Vancouver; we bring it every day, in practice and in games. That’s why they’ve been able to be successful for so long.” If the Canucks are going to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs next season in a much deeper Pacific Division, they’ll need more from both Vey and Horvat - two players who can help fill out a top-heavy, veteran lineup. Anaheim and Calgary are now the class of the division. The Kings view last April’s near–miss of the postseason as more anomaly than anything else, and the Oilers appear to finally be headed in the right direction. That doesn’t even include the new-look Sharks, who will be playing a different style under Peter DeBoer and have added Martin Jones in net. Vey was back in Vancouver this week, a departure from his normal summer routine. He wanted to be front and centre with the Canucks training staff, eager to put in the extra work required. He was in the gym with teammates Chris Higgins and Sven Baertschi on Thursday. Vey will soon be heading back to Saskatoon, but he plans to return to Vancouver for a three-week training session with Canucks strength and conditioning coach Roger Takahashi in August. “I’ve already worked the hardest I ever have in a summer,” Vey said. “In every league I’ve played in, I made a big jump in my second season. I’m not so much worried about the points, but I want to get my game to the point where I’m a factor. Last season, I wasn't the same player that got me to the NHL.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Good luck to him. But I still don't see where he will eventually fit into the lineup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Vey is not the problem, heading forward Sbisa is. If anyone needs a bounce back season it's Lucas Sbisa! Vey needs to work on his forechecking (strength) and speed, but overall he is a decent player because he does have hockey iq and potential. The reason you guys hated him was because of Willie, hopefully this year Willie makes him prove himself before granting him powerplay time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asian player Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 It looks like he may find a tweener role for the next couple years but he doesn't play a roll that other guys can't fill. We have guys bigger, faster, better defensively, more skilled. Regardless, I'm excited to see what he can do next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 based on last year he doesnt project as an effective center in the nhl but as a RW i could see him being an 30-40 point skilled depth guy like jeff tambelinni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Looking forward to see what he brings that is different from last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Good luck to him because he is going to need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I think he'll be given the opportunities that Kassian was never going to get here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuporbust Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I think he'll be given the opportunities that Kassian was never going to get here. I agree. At least he's working for it. Hope he does well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 He scored ten goals as a rookie...that's pretty decent. I don't share the author's definition of 'bounce back year'. Fans would be thrilled if he was one of the Canucks' original draft picks. Instead people will lament the Canucks passing on McKeon, a guy touted as an offensive defenseman that took a step backwards last year. Vey just needs to get stronger in the corners, along the wall, when protecting the puck, and when trying to get the puck back. I'll bet you he comes to camp at 6'0 and 200 pounds and establishes himself as a guy who can play RW or Centre on a fourth line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimberWolf Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Vey just needs to get stronger in the corners, along the wall, when protecting the puck, and when trying to get the puck back. In fairness, that's a pretty big laundry list of deficiencies to overcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 In fairness, that's a pretty big laundry list of deficiencies to overcome. The same problem underlies all those deficiencies, making them easier to overcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 based on last year he doesnt project as an effective center in the nhl but as a RW i could see him being an 30-40 point skilled depth guy like jeff tambelinni I think if he worked hard enough, he could be a better Tambellini. Excited to see what he does this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaguez Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 In fairness, that's a pretty big laundry list of deficiencies to overcome. It's 1 thing. Get stronger. Not a laundry list at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jejejester Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Definitely needs to get stronger. The talent is definitely there, but the conditioning and strength are missing. Hopefully this summer will be a big step forward in the right direction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuktravella Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 hope he has a 50 point season get his value up trade him for a good dman next season cassels should be good to go and possibly mccann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Definitely needs to get stronger. The talent is definitely there, but the conditioning and strength are missing. Hopefully this summer will be a big step forward in the right directionHe either needs to get stronger or faster (preferably both) so he can get off more shots. Right now he's a tweener playmaker who's going to treat the puck like a hand grenade most shifts in this division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theminister Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Because I believe he has the requisite hockey sense and skill, I think that a lot of Vey's future in the NHL will depend greatly upon league trends. If the league opens up a bit more with the ability for skilled players to make plays then I think he will jump up into a decent support scorer that can make those around him better. Naturally, he will need to be able to create time and space for himself so gaining a step and getting stronger are paramount. However, I do see that he thinks the game at a high level so I have no doubt that his touch passes and stick handling will come together sooner than some may think as long as he starts processing at an NHL speed. I haven't ruled out him as a center yet, as some have, as that will also just take some adjustment. It's an extremely complicated position to play as there is a lot of ice to be responsible for. He may never be 'speedy' but I do think his skating is adequate for the role. It may still be more likely he can transition there effectively as his board work will never be dominating. I think in the middle he will have many more chances, and success, with turnovers and stick checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 He needs to get stronger plain and simple. If not have fun bouncing team to team your whole career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollieo Del Fuego Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 In fairness, that's a pretty big laundry list of deficiencies to overcome. ...and the FO circle... if he improves the rest of his game a small improvement in the FO circle may be enough...say 45% or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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