ake DeBrusk had a bit of an unfamiliar feeling as he prepared to hit the ice with his Vancouver Canucks teammates Thursday 害羞草研究所� butterflies.
The 27-year-old winger is no stranger to NHL training camps, but after seven seasons with the Boston Bruins, Thursday marked his first time skating with a new team.
害羞草研究所淚t was actually pretty nerve wracking. I was a little nervous going out there,害羞草研究所� DeBrusk said after the Canucks害羞草研究所� first day of training camp in Penticton, B.C.
害羞草研究所淚t kind of caught me off guard, actually. But it was good. The guys are competing and it was fast out there. Trying to get chemistry and things like that, so it was exciting.害羞草研究所�
DeBrusk inked a seven-year, US$38.5-million deal with the Canucks when the league害羞草研究所檚 free agent market opened on July 1, and was quickly pencilled in as a linemate for Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 star centre, Elias Pettersson.
The duo skated together in drills on Thursday, and DeBrusk was excited about the result.
害羞草研究所淚 think I害羞草研究所檝e seen a lot of really wicked plays by (Pettersson),害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd I害羞草研究所檓 sort of still catching up a little bit, but I害羞草研究所檓 starting to figure some of it out, I think. Any time you have a player like that that害羞草研究所檚 so dynamic, you want to just be consistent for him and just have someone that he can rely on.害羞草研究所�
DeBrusk, who put up 19 goals and 21 assists in 80 games for the Bruins last season, brings speed and tenacity to the Canucks, Pettersson said.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 skilful, but then works hard,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淗e plays the body and goes to the dirty areas. But I think it害羞草研究所檚 the combination of physical play and smartness.害羞草研究所�
Developing chemistry takes time both on the ice and away from the rink, Pettersson added.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just hanging out,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e, I guess, good at hockey, you just figure it out on the ice. And we害羞草研究所檒l continue taking steps every day. I害羞草研究所檓 just excited to get going.害羞草研究所�
DeBrusk is among a handful of new additions to Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 roster.
The Canucks also added forwards Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood and Daniel Sprong, and defencemen Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais in free agency.
Desharnais was already familiar with Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 playing style, having had a close-up look as a member of the Edmonton Oilers squad that eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs in a gritty, seven-game second-round series in May.
The first day of training camp provided new insight for the six-foot-seven, 226-pound blue liner, however.
害羞草研究所淚 understand why they were so hard to play against last year,害羞草研究所� he said with a laugh.
While Desharnais contributed a goal, 10 assists and 54 penalty minutes to the Oilers last season, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has said he believes the 28-year-old from Laval, Que., has more to give.
Desharnais agreed.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why I害羞草研究所檓 here, to get better,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 think there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of small details I can add to my game. I害羞草研究所檓 a late bloomer, and I want to keep learning, I want to keep improving myself, and every day to get a better mindset every day. Every morning, I just try to get better.害羞草研究所�
Transitioning to a new team has been smooth so far, Desharnais said.
害羞草研究所淚 feel like I害羞草研究所檓 part of the team already,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that he害羞草研究所檚 spent much of the last week and a half hanging out with his new teammates away from the rink. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very excited to start travelling, to start playing games because you get even closer.害羞草研究所�
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet knows better than most what it takes for a player to settle in with a new locker room, having played for six different teams over the course of 18 seasons in the NHL.
Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 veteran players have done a good job of making the recent additions feel welcome, he said.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been on other teams where it takes you a while, maybe it害羞草研究所檚 not as close,害羞草研究所� the coach said. 害羞草研究所淏ut this team, whoever comes in here, it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所楬ey, you害羞草研究所檙e welcome害羞草研究所� and they害羞草研究所檙e hanging together. So I credit those guys for that environment.害羞草研究所�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
