Popular Post The Arrogant Worms Posted July 21, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 21, 2023 https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-how-new-trainer-new-outlook-could-produce-best-version-of-brock-boeser What a beauty. That’s what onlookers said five years ago when Brock Boeser turned the annual free-wheeling Da Beauty League summer tournament in Edina, Minn. into his personal playground. The Vancouver Canucks winger piled up 34 points (16-18) in nine games during the seven-week event, where the accent is on fun and not the forecheck and on scoring and not defending. Not exactly a recipe to prep for the NHL grind, but a welcome respite from training for those who have ties to the State of Hockey. Boeser’s rookie 2017-18 season was cut short by a back injury in March when he was on pace for 38 goals. He finished with 29 to place second in Calder Trophy balloting, and the following Da Beauty League was a test for his back. Fast forward and the back is no longer a concern, but his fitness is now the focus. Boeser isn’t participating in this edition of Da Beauty League that started July 11 so he can concentrate on conditioning. And with Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet placing an off-season premium on players reaching peak fitness, the winger has a new trainer that his bench boss is familiar with. That will help monitor his progress and provide Boeser with resolve to reward the franchise for sticking with a player who looked like he needed a change of scenery and was the focus of constant trade rumours. His agent had permission to broker a deal and his days seemed numbered. “Honestly, it was worse when all those trades were happening five days before the deadline,” Boeser said in a revealing mid-March interview with Postmedia. “I thought that’s kind of when teams were making their moves, and when it really affected me was right before that Dallas game (5-4 OT win Feb. 27). “I had a terrible game (minus-2, no shots, 15:01). I couldn’t get dialled in and that’s when it affected me the most, and I was pretty stressed and really thought about (a trade). (Management) had expressed they liked the way I had been playing under (Tocchet). Just a sigh of relief.” Boeser had 18 goals and 55 points this season — one point short of a career high — and an encouraging 28 points (9-19) in 36 games after Tocchet supplanted the fired Bruce Boudreau in late January. In his final 11 games, Boeser had nine points (5-4), scored in three consecutive games, had a trio of five-shot outings and one with six shots. Kind of like old times for the 26-year-old. “The only thing he has to work on is his defensive game and make sure he invests in other parts,” said Tocchet. “If you have a high hockey I.Q., you look faster because the feet will follow. And Brock is a smart guy.” If Boeser can strengthen his stride and battle level — and avoid another injury, surgery and setback like the hand injury in training camp — there’s reason for optimism. Tocchet relentlessly banged the compete drum and it rang in Boeser’s ears. He started to win wall battles, but needs to be visible on the forecheck, which requires better bursts of speed to maintain game pace and strength with the puck. A clear head will also help, especially after grieving the loss of his father at age 61 to cancer and dementia in May of 2022. “Definitely, some mental stuff that I’m still working through on a personal level,” Boeser admitted. “I have a guy outside our team that I’ve been working with — kind of a life (coach) guy. With the things I’ve gone through, and last year while still trying to play, it was really hard. “I’m just trying to get back to my true self and being the player I was before. And get back to that mindset of coming to the rink and getting better every day. Scoring goals and having that confidence. “I really felt that I’ve lost that over the last couple of years, just dealing with stuff, and I’m just trying to find that swagger. It’s important to make sure you’re good mentally.” Add a physical component and the two years remaining on his contract at an annual $6.65-million US salary cap hit might not seem so daunting for the financially challenged club. Tocchet alluded to that potential in a Vancast podcast appearance earlier this month. “Brock is an interesting guy because I know there’s another level there,” said Tocchet. “If he plays a really good game without the puck, all that other stuff is going to come. He told me he’s going to be in stronger shape to play in traffic and come out of the corner with the puck. “If he gets to another level, he could be a force for us. He has to play a little more predictable and know where to go. I saw him chase down a loose puck for an empty-net goal. I’ve never seen a faster guy. So, it’s there.” And so is renewed confidence. Can Boeser be a consistent 30-goal guy? “I know I can be, 1,000 per cent,” he stressed. “I can be one of the top guys here, and that’s my mindset is to prove what I can be.” 4 1 1 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJockitch Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 I hope so. Brock looked like an assassin as a rookie. Great guy that I hope succeeds in what likely is his last 2 year in Vancouver. Always seems like there is something around him, though not his fault. Hopefully his life settles in and it helps his consistency. Last year it was the slow fly by with a little elbow wave instead of engaging. Early in the year he was embarrassingly disengaged. That is on him. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 I still have full confidence in Boeser becoming a 30 goal guy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gawdzukes Posted July 21, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) He comes off as overly cocky in this interview. I would only be 946% confident myself. Edited July 21, 2023 by Gawdzukes 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptKirk888 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Gawdzukes said: He comes off as overly cocky in this interview. Myself, I would only be 946% confident myself. Yea, like get ahold of yourself Brock. He’s always been a bit brassy, am I right? Edited July 21, 2023 by CaptKirk888 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzukes Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 1 minute ago, CaptKirk888 said: Yea, like greet ahold of yourself Brock. He’s always been a bit brassy, am I right? Ha ha. In all seriousness I am rooting for Brock. Would love to see him rediscover his game and make a big impact this season. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSVII Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 I love brock but this is our annual 'This could be Boeser's best year yet' article of the off season. Hope we see it this year! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DeNiro Posted July 21, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 21, 2023 Not gonna go into the season with high expectations. Not cause I don’t believe he can do it I just feel like it sets him up for a letdown. If he can score 30 and be a 60-70 point guy great. But if he can be a 20 goal 50-60 point guy that can just be better defensively and win more battles that’s good too. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 Always thought his wrist became a problem after he got injured and he was playing gingerly to avoid aggravating it? In any case, even if he's not a sniper but a net positive two-way force in the mold of a Sam Reinhart (Jack of all trades, 60+ point, 30+ goal scorer, plays both PP and PK and also strong at playmaking) I think we'd have a very strong asset on our hands, like we always knew he was. Building around him, Petey, Miller and Kuzmenko up front makes for a very strong foundation in my books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Biestra Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 36 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said: I still have full confidence in Boeser becoming a 30 goal guy 30 goal Boeser is a mythical creature like 80 point Petr Klima and >20 goal Jim Sandlak. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) I've said it before and I'll say it again: Boeser is going to do MUCH better this offseason. Everyone including himself knew what he needed to work on. These are the things that most, if not all of us, have never had to deal with, especially in such a compressed period of time 1) High level stress, including fan/media criticism 2) A well-loved family member dying in front of you. I'm sure there were lots and lots of discussions about whether he should live or die. That is f**king soul-sucking. This includes the COVID scare. 3) Personal expectations and reality 4) Two major injuries, one of which was potentially career ending. His famous wrist shot is no longer the same as before. And I wouldn't surprised if there were more than these factors. Edited July 21, 2023 by Dazzle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 People talk about his goal of 30G. I think he'll be one of the candidates for a big breakout season across the league. Not to compare him to guys like Robertson, but look how some young guys just suddenly take a massive jump one year. Brock has been pretty consistently mediocre for a while but surely things are lining up, and he was IMO (all homer-ism aside) one of our best players in the last 20 games of the season, pretty much a PPG scorer. I'm predicting 37G 41A for Brock next season. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EP Phone Home Posted July 21, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 21, 2023 1 minute ago, DownUndaCanuck said: People talk about his goal of 30G. I think he'll be one of the candidates for a big breakout season across the league. Not to compare him to guys like Robertson, but look how some young guys just suddenly take a massive jump one year. Brock has been pretty consistently mediocre for a while but surely things are lining up, and he was IMO (all homer-ism aside) one of our best players in the last 20 games of the season, pretty much a PPG scorer. I'm predicting 37G 41A for Brock next season. You are predicting the BrocketMan come back tour is on foot! Get your tickets now! 4 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzukes Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 49 minutes ago, DownUndaCanuck said: I'm predicting 37G 41A for Brock next season. Holy Sh--p Shit That's a lot! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said: 30 goal Boeser is a mythical creature like 80 point Petr Klima and >20 goal Jim Sandlak. So is bigfoot but doesn't keep me from hiking with both eyes open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BPA Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 I think some posters are gonna have a stroke if Boeser is still on the team and doing well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gawdzukes Posted July 21, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 21, 2023 9 minutes ago, BPA said: I think some posters are gonna have a stroke if Boeser is still on the team and doing well. Who is rhymes with "Steady Cheddar? 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Tocchet,(no shrinking violet, as Don C used to say) has an interesting approach with motivation. Since he was such a talented & nasty mf'er, I bet most worthwhile players like what he's selling. Appears there's plenty belief & buy-in. There's risk involved, as with hc's like Torts, for example. Some players flourish, but others can wear down & get dinged up. Sure hope Brock gets a full season to show his stuff. The (still) young guy has talent, character & charisma in spades. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Crossbar Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 When it comes to Brock's season, all the fence sitters from the Happy Hronek thread be like ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuck1991 Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 love the guy but i think ever since his rookie season he has been just an average NHLer. He had enough 2nd chances here. Time to move on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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