ake DeBrusk had a bit of an unfamiliar feeling as he prepared to hit the ice with his Vancouver Canucks teammates Thursday 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚t was actually pretty nerve wracking. I was a little nervous going out there,含羞草研究社� DeBrusk said after the Canucks含羞草研究社� first day of training camp in Penticton, B.C.

含羞草研究社淚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.含羞草研究社�

DeBrusk inked a seven-year, US$38.5-million deal with the Canucks when the league含羞草研究社檚 free agent market opened on July 1, and was quickly pencilled in as a linemate for Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 star centre, Elias Pettersson.

The duo skated together in drills on Thursday, and DeBrusk was excited about the result.

含羞草研究社淚 think I含羞草研究社檝e seen a lot of really wicked plays by (Pettersson),含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd I含羞草研究社檓 sort of still catching up a little bit, but I含羞草研究社檓 starting to figure some of it out, I think. Any time you have a player like that that含羞草研究社檚 so dynamic, you want to just be consistent for him and just have someone that he can rely on.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 skilful, but then works hard,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淗e plays the body and goes to the dirty areas. But I think it含羞草研究社檚 the combination of physical play and smartness.含羞草研究社�

Developing chemistry takes time both on the ice and away from the rink, Pettersson added.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just hanging out,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲hen you含羞草研究社檙e, I guess, good at hockey, you just figure it out on the ice. And we含羞草研究社檒l continue taking steps every day. I含羞草研究社檓 just excited to get going.含羞草研究社�

DeBrusk is among a handful of new additions to Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚 understand why they were so hard to play against last year,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 why I含羞草研究社檓 here, to get better,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 think there含羞草研究社檚 a lot of small details I can add to my game. I含羞草研究社檓 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.含羞草研究社�

Transitioning to a new team has been smooth so far, Desharnais said.

含羞草研究社淚 feel like I含羞草研究社檓 part of the team already,含羞草研究社� he said, adding that he含羞草研究社檚 spent much of the last week and a half hanging out with his new teammates away from the rink. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 very excited to start travelling, to start playing games because you get even closer.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 veteran players have done a good job of making the recent additions feel welcome, he said.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been on other teams where it takes you a while, maybe it含羞草研究社檚 not as close,含羞草研究社� the coach said. 含羞草研究社淏ut this team, whoever comes in here, it含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社楬ey, you含羞草研究社檙e welcome含羞草研究社� and they含羞草研究社檙e hanging together. So I credit those guys for that environment.含羞草研究社�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press