Rick Tocchet may have lost his starting goaltender in Thatcher Demko for three-to-four weeks with an apparent knee injury but the Canucks head coach certainly hasn害羞草研究所檛 lost his sense of humor.
During his media availability session after a morning practice at Rogers Arena on Tuesday, Tocchet was in an engaging mood when it came to the topic of goaltending in general.
When asked by this agent about goalie Casey DeSmith害羞草研究所檚 makeup and how it would impact his ability to transform from a back-up to the starter for the next few weeks, Tocchet害羞草研究所檚 answer had the media contingent chuckling.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 well-liked. I害羞草研究所檝e been in the league some 40 years or whatever, but when you like the goalie, you tend to block more shots for the guy. I don害羞草研究所檛 know why. I害羞草研究所檝e had some goalies where I害羞草研究所檓 not a big fan of the guy. I害羞草研究所檓 not saying I kind of veered out of the way but when you like a goalie, you害羞草研究所檒l really dive in (front of a shot),害羞草研究所� said Tocchet drawing some laughs from the assembled media. 害羞草研究所淭hose guys love Casey. So you害羞草研究所檒l see a lot of guys willing to block shots 害羞草研究所� like they do for Demmer
Then a few minutes later when asked if the team would be a little bit more cognizant about the defensive side of the game with DeSmith in goal, Tocchet came up with some more material.
害羞草研究所淒o I want to put him in a bad situation by turning the puck over and they get a three-on-one? I think those guys are conscious of that. Casey has done a lot for us. He doesn害羞草研究所檛 play a ton or all the time. He害羞草研究所檚 a great guy. I think that comes into play. Then the guy dumps it in because he likes him. I don害羞草研究所檛 know if that makes sense,害羞草研究所� said Tocchet as the media chuckled.
害羞草研究所淪o if a guy doesn害羞草研究所檛 dump it in tomorrow and it害羞草研究所檚 a three-on-one you害羞草研究所檙e going to say he doesn害羞草研究所檛 like the guy.害羞草研究所�
All kidding aside, losing a Vezina Trophy candidate in Demko is no joke but perhaps Tocchet害羞草研究所檚 mood gave us some perspective on how he害羞草研究所檚 feeling about Demko害羞草研究所檚 injury and the confidence that he has in DeSmith.
The official word from Tocchet on Demko害羞草研究所檚 injury is 害羞草研究所渓ower-body, week-to-week害羞草研究所� but Canucks Nation biggest fear 害羞草研究所� that Demko wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be ready for the playoffs 害羞草研究所� wasn害羞草研究所檛 even on the head coach害羞草研究所檚 radar.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not worried about that at all,害羞草研究所� answered Tocchet, adding that the upcoming time off for Demko was actually a positive given his workload this season.
As for DeSmith, this isn害羞草研究所檛 the first time he害羞草研究所檚 been called upon to be the number one goalie and those previous experiences with the Pittsburgh Penguins give him full confidence moving forward.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e done this a couple of times in my career just filling in for injury and getting the net for a little while. I害羞草研究所檝e always enjoyed the experience and had some good success in the past when I害羞草研究所檝e had the net for a couple of weeks, so I害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to it. I have my job to do and I害羞草研究所檓 just a very small part of the big picture, so I try to worry about my little part and not the big picture,害羞草研究所� DeSmith said.
With Demko out of the lineup, the Canucks have summoned Arturs Silovs from their AHL farm team in Abbotsford where the 22-year-old Latvian was enjoying a solid season posting a 2.74 GAA to go along with a .907 save percentage in 32 games.
害羞草研究所淚 remember last year when we called him up, the second and third game you could see the improvement in Silovs so I think it害羞草研究所檚 good that he gets a taste of it up here,害羞草研究所� said Tocchet.
Despite Silov害羞草研究所檚 success this season, this is DeSmith害羞草研究所檚 time.
害羞草研究所淎s of now, we害羞草研究所檙e just going game-to-game. Casey害羞草研究所檚 definitely going to get the next two games and we害羞草研究所檒l go from there. I think Casey deserves the chance to get the ball and take it,害羞草研究所� explained Tocchet.
OVERTIME
* DeSmith says the biggest adjustment he害羞草研究所檚 going to have to make in his new role is how he handles practice time. 害羞草研究所淧ractices are a little different. I害羞草研究所檒l get a couple of more sessions in with Clarkie (goaltending coach Ian Clark) than maybe I would normally. Then not staying on after (practice) as much, getting your work done before practice, going through practice, getting off and then taking care of the body a little bit,害羞草研究所� said DeSmith.
* Tocchet believes a big key for the club害羞草研究所檚 improved play as of late has been the ability to take away the opposition害羞草研究所檚 speed through the neutral zone. The coaching staff made a video presentation to the players about four games ago and it seems to have resonated with the group.
* Defenseman Tyler Myers, who has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for either the game against Colorado tonight at Rogers Arena or when the Washington Capitals visit on Saturday.
* The organization announced a contract extension for Abbotsford general manager Ryan Johnson and that he has also been promoted to Assistant General Manager with Vancouver. The Canucks also announced contract extensions for Assistant General Managers Cammi Granato and 脡milie Castonguay.
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.
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