A rollercoaster.
That害羞草研究所檚 how Brock Boeser describes his emotional journey over the last year.
The Vancouver Canucks forward lost his father Duke to cancer on May 27, 2022 which subsequently impacted his on-ice performance. He was almost a healthy scratch against the Arizona Coyotes on Hockey Fights Cancer night on Dec. 3, 2022. The situation snowballed to the point where Boeser and his agent Ben Hankinson were eventually given permission by the organization to explore trade options.
Boeser even admitted in the team害羞草研究所檚 season-ending media availability session that at points he 害羞草研究所榬esented害羞草研究所� the game given the adversity he had gone through.
This off-season, however, Boeser害羞草研究所檚 love for the game was rekindled. He made some tweaks to his off-season workout program and re-dedicated himself to the game.
The results have been shocking.
Not only has Boeser regained his previous form, he害羞草研究所檚 surpassed it.
He now leads the NHL in goals with 17 after his two tallies in the Canucks 3-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. With the pair of goals, Boeser is now two ahead of Tampa Bay害羞草研究所檚 Nikita Kucherov and Florida害羞草研究所檚 Sam Reinhart for tops in the NHL.
害羞草研究所淚t just shows how crazy this league is. There are times when you get low blows and there are times when you have highs. It害羞草研究所檚 a rollercoaster but you have to stay even keel and focus on the process,害羞草研究所� Boeser replied when asked about what has transpired over the last year.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet sees a difference in Boeser害羞草研究所檚 game this year 害羞草研究所� particularly in his own end.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 played better defensively than last year 害羞草研究所� he害羞草研究所檚 conscientious. He害羞草研究所檚 also actually one of our better practice players and I think his practice habits have translated into his game now. Whatever the drill is, it seems like the spots he害羞草研究所檚 going to score goals from害羞草研究所hey害羞草研究所檙e there. The repetitive drills we do in practice害羞草研究所hich he is doing properly害羞草研究所omehow in the game he害羞草研究所檚 getting those chances. He害羞草研究所檚 also going to the net more this year. Now it害羞草研究所檚 about keeping that consistency level. He害羞草研究所檚 raised that bar now we have to keep it there,害羞草研究所� Tocchet noted.
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes says Boeser害羞草研究所檚 hard work has paid off not only in terms of production but in his overall value to the team.
害羞草研究所淚 see a lot in his game. It seems like he害羞草研究所檚 really grown over the last couple of years. He害羞草研究所檚 a man 害羞草研究所� emotionally and physically. He had a great summer of training and put everything he had into it. He came here and he害羞草研究所檚 had a great start to the year. For him now it害羞草研究所檚 just staying consistent which I know he will do. He害羞草研究所檚 been great for us. It害羞草研究所檚 not just the goals - he害羞草研究所檚 been on that matchup line with Millsy (J.T. Miller) and playing on top of guys and it害羞草研究所檚 just been massive for our group,害羞草研究所� says Hughes.
With 17 goals, Boeser only needs one goal to match last year害羞草研究所檚 total of 18. Barring injury, he should eclipse his career-high of 29 goals set in his rookie season of 2017-18.
OVERTIME:
*Elias Pettersson害羞草研究所檚 goal against Anaheim was just his second in ten games. There has been plenty of speculation on whether or not Pettersson is playing hurt but his play in the third period against the Ducks was encouraging as he was his old dominant self. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy with the fact that he害羞草研究所檚 recognized that he has to play better in certain situations. He knows it. I also think sometimes he害羞草研究所檚 reading off other people too much. We talked about it the other day 害羞草研究所� you just go. You do your thing. It害羞草研究所檚 our job to get other people to react off of you. He害羞草研究所檚 just got to be more decisive and play a little quicker through the neutral zone,害羞草研究所� answered Tocchet when asked if he thought Pettersson was staying true to the process.
*Forward Andrei Kuzmenko returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for two games. After the game, Tocchet categorized Kuzmenko害羞草研究所檚 performance as 害羞草研究所極K害羞草研究所�.
*Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev left the game in the third period after taking a shot in the left leg and did not return. Tocchet said afterwards that he should be 害羞草研究所極K害羞草研究所� after X-Rays came back negative.
*Prior the game, the Canucks announced that they traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks for a fifth-round draft pick. The move clears a $4.15 contract off the books and gives the organization some wiggle room in an effort to acquire a defenseman.
*Boeser was at the University of North Dakota the same time as Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira. While Boeser isn害羞草研究所檛 exactly close to the Oliveira these days, he speaks highly of the Bomber running back害羞草研究所檚 character having known him during his time at UND from 2015 to 2017.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 害羞草研究所渢he Moj害羞草研究所� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
