The race for top 6 (Juolevi/Stecher)

[Rush17]

found this article this morning. I was going to post it in the training camp post but I feel this one deserves it's on.  I made the title of the post up to summarize some of the story. check it out. 

 

http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/stecher-juolevi-may-be-closer-to-nhl-than-you-think-taller-too

 

can someone please copy and paste the article I'm on my cell I'm unable to do so.

[Cromeslab]

WHISTLER – Troy Stecher is bigger than you think. He may be better, too.

Through two days of the Vancouver Canucks’ old-school training camp — three groups, three marathon practices spanning nearly seven hours of daily ice time — the team’s new-school defencemen have looked comfortable among NHL players.

Stecher practised Saturday for a second straight day alongside No. 1 defenceman Alex Edler, while fifth-overall draft pick Olli Juolevi skated again with veteran Chris Tanev.

It says something about the organization’s regard for Stecher, 22, and Juolevi, 18, that the rookies have been placed in the care of the Canucks’ best defencemen. Edler and Tanev, two quiet, cerebral players who will form Vancouver’s first pairing on defence when the season opens Oct. 15, even took the kids out for dinner Friday night.

“They’re doing everything they can to make us feel comfortable and help us out,” Stecher said.

Juolevi added: “I really respected that; that was awesome. It’s pretty cool when you’re actually playing with NHL guys. I like playing with Chris and I think we’re actually pretty similar players. We fit together well on the ice and I’m trying to stay there.”

So is Stecher.

For those handicapping competition on the Canucks’ crowded blue-line, experienced pros Nikita Tryamkin, Alex Biega and Andrey Pedan are battling for the seventh and eighth spots.

But Stecher, a college free agent from Richmond and the University of North Dakota, and Helsinki’s Juolevi believe they have a chance, too.

It seems extraordinarily unlikely that either will make the NHL roster in his first season of professional hockey. Then again, Ben Hutton came to training camp a year ago with less notoriety than either Stecher or Juolevi and not only made the Canucks, but played his way into the top four.

Anything is possible. And no team would want either young defencemen if he didn’t think he could play in the NHL.

“I think both of them are close enough that they should come with that attitude,” coach Willie Desjardins said. “Sometimes if you’re a young guy just out of junior, realistically you’re not going to make the team. Juolevi is a young guy, but he’s a high-end guy. If I was in their spot I would have their attitude. They’re not in over their heads, for sure.

“What I can see at camp, they’re both right there. They both compete hard, they’re both smart.”

Troy Stecher, right, hopes to duplicate Ben Hutton’s feat of making the Canucks last season.

And Stecher is taller than listed. The Canucks’ camp guide lists him as five-foot-eight. He says he’s actually five-foot-10. On the ice and off, he passes the eyeball test.

“No, I’m not five-foot-eight,” he said. “I don’t know where that came from, but I’m not concerned about it. I’m focussed on coming here and working hard to make this team.

“Throughout my career, I’ve never really rushed anything. I’ve always kind of taken things slow and made sure I progressed at a good rate where I felt comfortable. It’s no different here. Obviously, I want to make the roster. It is another step, so there’s going to be some adjustments to my game that I have to make. But that’s what training camp is for – to find out what works and what doesn’t work.

“It’s been my dream my whole life to make the Canucks, and I’m not going to let anyone stand in my way.”

Reminded that the race on defence is supposed to be between Tryamkin, Biega and Pedan, Stecher said: “People can have different players slotted at different positions, but at the end of the day it’s management and the coaching staff that makes the call.”

What complicates the call on Juolevi is that, while the American Hockey League is a good development option for Stecher, the teenager can return only to his junior club in London, Ont., if he doesn’t make the NHL. And the Canucks, with nine incumbent defencemen and only eight roster spots, don’t appear to have the luxury of giving Juolevi the 10-game NHL audition available to underage players.

“I’m not here just for being a fan,” Juolevi said. “I’m playing hockey and want to do my best and show how good I am. I’m a Vancouver Canucks player and my job is to make the roster. Why not?”

Dorsett, Tyramkin get testy at training camp

WHISTLER – One player gave up seven inches and 40 pounds to other, and yet Derek Dorsett versus Nikita Tryamkin would have seemed like a fair fight. If only this were 1996.

The Vancouver Canucks’ biggest player (6-7, 230-pound Tryamkin) and most abrasive one (6-0, 190-pound Dorsett) clashed during a drill near the end of Saturday’s training-camp marathon and barked at one another all the way to the benches. And that was the end of it.

“I think at one time, maybe we’d want fights, we’d want to see things,” coach Willie Desjardins said. “But it has evolved … and you’re not going to make our team because you win a fight. (But) we need more battle – more of that where guys are pushing each other. When you push guys, you get upset. You just do because you’re battling hard. If you don’t win the battle, you’re upset. We don’t want fights, but that battle part is good to see.”

The best outlet for those battling for jobs will be the lone scrimmage of training camp, this morning at Meadow Park Sports Centre. The four-day camp ends with another triple-header of practices Monday, one day before the Canucks’ National Hockey League pre-season begins with a game in San Jose.

Canucks Training Camp Schedule

All practices and scrimmages at Meadow Park Sports Centre in Whistler.  

Sept. 25 – Starting at 10 a.m.

Sept. 26 – Starting at 8:30 a.m. 

Preseason schedule

Sept. 27 – at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. (TSN 1040)

Sept. 28 – vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m. (SN1, TSN 1040)

Sept. 30 – at Calgary, 6 p.m. (SN1, TSN 1040)

Oct. 2 – vs. San Jose, 5 p.m. (SN360, TSN 1040)

Oct. 3 – vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. (SN1, TSN 1040)

Oct. 6 – vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. (SN360, TSN 1040)

Oct. 8 – at Edmonton, 4 p.m. (SN360, TSN 1040)

 

[Rush17]

thanks for posting crome.

[Cromeslab]

No worries,it's a good article,good read.This is why we don't need Trouba folks.

[NEON.KNEE]

I like where the Canuck's D is at...Exciting... The whole team in fact.  I love where the Canucks are headed

[Warhippy]

No to Juolevi doing anything moroe than pre-season.

[mpt]

So the 27th game isn't going to be televised?

[Odd.]

11 minutes ago, mpt said:

So the 27th game isn't going to be televised?

I think last year the first game wasn't televised either

[Hairy Kneel]

Joulevi looked youngish in his approach at the Youngstars toutnament. Let him develop for a couple years. When he's ready he'll be a blue chipper we can utilize. Too crowded back there as it is. He shouldn't take it as a slight on his overall play.

[Crabcakes]

Keeping in mind that Benning wants a physical D paired with a skilled offensive D, one of them must be a puck mover, transition guy.

 

So Stecher would have a realistic shot at 4th pair.  However, they may send him to Utica anyways to get the playing time early on.  7/8 D could sit for a month before somebody gets dinged up.

 

I like that he's coming on strong because Larsen won't be able to coast his way into the line up either.

 

Thanks for posting article OP

[Fanuck]

OJ can still learn a lot in London.  It won't harm  (or slow) his development one bit if he goes there - which I feel would be best in this situation. He'd be the undisputed #1 D on a very good team and he'd play first pairing minutes in every conceivable situation.

 

Give him time to mature mentally and physically,  let him learn how to dominate his opponents - he's the future of this D-core,  he shouldn't be rushed. 

[Positive Canuck]

After watching Virtanen and McCann last year i would say DO NOT RUSH the kid, especially consider he's playing D where mistakes are picked out of your net.

[Rush17]

23 minutes ago, Fanuck said:

OJ can still learn a lot in London.  It won't harm  (or slow) his development one bit if he goes there - which I feel would be best in this situation. He'd be the undisputed #1 D on a very good team and he'd play first pairing minutes in every conceivable situation.

 

Give him time to mature mentally and physically,  let him learn how to dominate his opponents - he's the future of this D-core,  he shouldn't be rushed. 

I think that's a fair comments. I think he will get a few pre season games in. should be fun to watch.  Maybe he and stech will blow our minds who knows. 

 

London is a great program though so either way he will be in good hands.

[Rush17]

30 minutes ago, Crabcakes said:

Keeping in mind that Benning wants a physical D paired with a skilled offensive D, one of them must be a puck mover, transition guy.

 

So Stecher would have a realistic shot at 4th pair.  However, they may send him to Utica anyways to get the playing time early on.  7/8 D could sit for a month before somebody gets dinged up.

 

I like that he's coming on strong because Larsen won't be able to coast his way into the line up either.

 

Thanks for posting article OP

I'd love to see stecher play some this season.  I think the type of d he is would greatly benefit our squad.  he might have a hard time cracking roster for a call up though. tanev and guddy are workhorses and can play through most minor aliments.  Maybe if Larsson falls or they wanna rest tanev or guddy will see him.

 

no problem glad to share it. love to have these types of discussions on our exciting up and comers. :D

[Ghostsof1915]

57 minutes ago, Warhippy said:

No to Juolevi doing anything moroe than pre-season.

What's wrong with 3-4 games in Regular Season then send him down if he's earned it? 

[Ryanstorm]

Time will tell..if Hutton can do it why not leave it as a possibility.

[aGENT]

1 hour ago, Warhippy said:

No to Juolevi doing anything moroe than pre-season.

While I agree that's by FAR the most likely (and prudent) outcome, if the kid comes out looking like a seasoned Lidstrom, he clearly stays. 

 

Edit: To clarify, I just don't care for absolutes 

 

24 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

What's wrong with 3-4 games in Regular Season then send him down if he's earned it? 

Unnecessary loss of depth on waivers to accommodate him. That's what. 

[elvis15]

30 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

What's wrong with 3-4 games in Regular Season then send him down if he's earned it? 

Waivers. Waivers is what's wrong, since for him to be on the opening day roster for a few games, it'd mean another player would have to be sent down. We're already having to send down one of Biega and Pedan, and the other would have to go as well (or perhaps someone else) just to give Juolevi those handful of games.

[bobbyg43]

No to OJ burning ELC he should go to Jr this is not the same team as last year..

[Rush17]

21 minutes ago, J.R. said:

While I agree that's by FAR the most likely (and prudent) outcome, if the kid comes out looking like a seasoned Lidstrom, he clearly stays. 

 

Edit: To clarify, I just don't care for absolutes 

 

Unnecessary loss of depth on waivers to accommodate him. That's what. 

to be fair.  would Corrado even be in our top 6 heading into this season?  he would probably be battling for a spare spot and there's a good chance we may have not have stecher if Larsen Subban and Corrado were all on the right side battling for one spot.