The Vancouver Canucks held their 21st annual Dice and Ice event Thursday evening in support of the Canucks for Kids Fund.
Canucks Central was live on location with Satiar Shah and Dan Riccio and sat down with Head Coach Rick Tocchet to discuss the current state of the team.
From the start of their conversation, Tocchet indicated he was determined to stay the course and implement his brand of hockey.
“We got to stick to the plan, (we) might have to get kicked in the teeth a little bit right now,” said Tocchet. “But in the long run, I think that’s the way we got to go and I’m all in on that.”
Tocchet has a long-term vision for this franchise that runs parallel with management when it comes to playing a more defensive and structured brand of hockey while straying away from the high-scoring affairs we’ve seen as of late.
“We can’t win games six to five and four to five,” continued Tocchet. “We have to change that mentality. We got to change that with, obviously, the penalty kill and I’m evaluating right now. I don’t know who can do what, you know, can this guy penalty kill or whatever. And we’re trying to do systems on the fly. You know, no excuse. I think we had our fourth practice today, like good practice today. So that sort of stuff and players are starting to understand my terminology and the way I want to play.”
Tocchet has emphasize the importance of bringing intensity to each practice.
“I’m a big practice guy and for the best teams practice, your best players practise hardest, and you know (Quinn Hughes) and (Elias Pettersson) and (J.T.) Miller and those type of guys,” he said. “They practise at a high level, and the other guys got to follow, so that’s my big goal right now.”
“I remember coaching in Pittsburgh, with Crosby and Letang, they would go at it with vengeance in front of the net because they were challenges, and I want to get that here. You know, I want (Elias Pettersson) going in front of the net and (Quinn Hughes) taking his stick and boxing him out. Like that’s the only way that you’re going to get better, and then when the games come, it’s natural. It’s like brushing your teeth and morning, right? I know exactly what to do.”
Along with that intensity, Tocchet wants this team to talk more and be loud on the ice, especially in the defensive zone as new systems are constantly being implemented.
“I find this seems like a quiet team,” said Tocchet.
“I’m a big communicator, and it’s amazing, a half a second in this game, what it does. So, if you were talking to your guys on the ice, when you could tell the guy, I got him, and I go with conviction and urgency, you can get out there and flex out on the guy. And whether you block the shot, or you know, (get) stick on puck, but if you’re late, that’s what happens, right? You’re a little late because nobody’s communicated. And both guys look at each other, but that’s going to take time. I mean, that’s just habits, and you know, that’s kind of what we’re trying to do now.”
More practices await the Canucks, where they will have opportunities to continue to learn the new systems, build new habits and bring the intensity that Tocchet is asking for before they play the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.
Canucks Central airs Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet 650.
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