Pressure.
It含羞草研究社檚 something NHL players and coaches have to live with game in and game out.
That pressure, though, comes in various forms.
Most people associate pressure with the big-name players. Whether it含羞草研究社檚 Thatcher Demko making the big save for the Vancouver Canucks in a critical moment of the game or Elias Pettersson producing offense, it含羞草研究社檚 always there.
But there are other forms of pressure that players have to face.
For Canucks defenceman Noah Juulsen, it含羞草研究社檚 just about maintaining your spot in the lineup. A couple of bad games and Juulsen might be in the press box. A couple of bad weeks and he might be in Abbotsford playing for the Canucks AHL farm team.
One individual who has felt that type of pressure is Canucks color analyst Dave Tomlinson.
Tomlinson spent four seasons shuffling between the NHL and the minors with the Toronto, Winnipeg and Florida organizations in the early 1990s and knows what it含羞草研究社檚 like to be on the bubble.
含羞草研究社淵ou have to check in on yourself on every single shift and that含羞草研究社檚 really stressful. It含羞草研究社檚 an area of the game where if you are a four or five-year veteran, it含羞草研究社檚 not their concern anymore. They know what they need to do and they find a way to do it. But when you含羞草研究社檙e a player who含羞草研究社檚 trying to solidify your spot in the lineup knowing that it含羞草研究社檚 no secret they含羞草研究社檝e been looking for upgrades at your position含羞草研究社ell you just feel like every day you含羞草研究社檙e under the microscope - even in practice - and you have to really find a way to calm your nerves and just play through it,含羞草研究社� explained Tomlinson.
Now entering his seventh season as a pro, Juulsen is still trying to establish himself as an NHL regular. A first-round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens in 2015, the Surrey-born, Abbotsford-raised 26-year-old is still trying to gain permanent employment.
含羞草研究社淔or me, it含羞草研究社檚 just about going day-to-day. Obviously, you can含羞草研究社檛 get too far ahead of yourself. You can含羞草研究社檛 dwell on the past. Whatever has happened, has happened. I think for me, it含羞草研究社檚 just enjoying every day. It含羞草研究社檚 just about having fun out there and being the best player that you can be,含羞草研究社� noted Juulsen, whose career-high in games played in an NHL season is the 23 he compiled during his rookie year with the Habs.
Juulsen played in the first three games of this season, then came out of the lineup for the next 11 games before being re-inserted on Nov. 12 in Montreal. He hasn含羞草研究社檛 come out since.
含羞草研究社淗e struggled early and sat out a lot of games. For him, it含羞草研究社檚 about consistency and being able to make the right play under pressure. I think he含羞草研究社檚 getting better at that. He含羞草研究社檚 doing a good job on the PK when we含羞草研究社檝e asked him to. I think he含羞草研究社檚 just chipping away at his game to be a consistent defenceman you can rely on every day. That含羞草研究社檚 really what it comes down to,含羞草研究社� said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
Tomlinson believes Juulsen has the tools to be an everyday NHL defenceman who can bring a physical element to the game but it all boils down to doing the little things right.
含羞草研究社淭he tricky part for a guy like him to stand out is that he has to do things that don含羞草研究社檛 really get noticed by the general public but do get noticed by the coaching staff. So there含羞草研究社檚 probably an inner battle of a guy wanting to do everything right and not wanting to make a mistake,含羞草研究社� noted Tomlinson.
含羞草研究社淎nd yet that含羞草研究社檚 a hard way to play because you含羞草研究社檙e putting so much pressure on yourself to make the right play every single time that you tend to overthink things rather than just making the play that含羞草研究社檚 right in front of you. And I think that the more chances you get to prove yourself, the more you get to calm your mind down and just play on instinct. And he含羞草研究社檚 a guy that I think is in that part right now where he含羞草研究社檚 played enough games that he understands what he needs to do.含羞草研究社�
According to Tomlinson, today含羞草研究社檚 players get way more feedback when it comes to developing their skills.
含羞草研究社淭en years ago, the coach only talked to you when you made a mistake or when you含羞草研究社檙e getting sent down. Now they talk with you throughout practice on how you can improve. When you含羞草研究社檝e got Adam Foote, who sees the game really well from the defensive end, and when you含羞草研究社檝e got Sergei Gonchar, who knows the offensive side of playing defense, no player is slipping through the cracks anymore,含羞草研究社� explained Tomlinson.
含羞草研究社淭hese players will always be coached up and it含羞草研究社檚 up to them to make those necessary adjustments or changes that the coaching staff gives them. What we含羞草研究社檝e seen so far under Rick Tocchet is that they make sure they含羞草研究社檙e in contact and in touch with every player every couple of days. No player feels like he含羞草研究社檚 not been told what his role is. That含羞草研究社檚 the benefit to this new way of coaching these players, and for a guy like Noah Juulsen, he would get that feedback.含羞草研究社�
As for Juulsen, it含羞草研究社檚 just about sticking to the basics.
含羞草研究社淔or me, it含羞草研究社檚 just about keeping it simple. Play a simple game and be physical when a hit含羞草研究社檚 there - maybe spark the guys a little bit with it and then go from there. Obviously, you don含羞草研究社檛 want to have those big turnovers and things like that. I think it含羞草研究社檚 just keeping it simple.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been the biggest thing for me.含羞草研究社�
OVERTIME
The Canucks defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-0 on Thursday night and continued their trend of alternating wins and losses in the past 10 games. The club got goals from Nils Hoglander and Teddy Blueger while Casey DeSmith made 26 saves to record his first shutout of the season. DeSmith含羞草研究社檚 shutout was the first by a Canuck backup goalie since October 24, 2017 when Anders Nilsson shutout the Wild in Minnesota.
The Canucks didn含羞草研究社檛 record their first shot of the game until 6:42 remained in the first period while the Wild recorded ten shots during that span.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 look at the shot clock like you guys do. I look at chances. Yeah, they had the puck a lot but I thought we were OK. Early on we were sleeping a little bit, but in the second and the third we played or game,含羞草研究社� Tocchet said afterwards.
The organization honored firefighters on Tuesday night and announced its 含羞草研究社楾eam 43含羞草研究社� initiative with Canucks含羞草研究社� defenceman Quinn Hughes, who is donating four tickets to every home game to first responders in B.C.
Retiring soccer legend Christine Sinclair was recognized in pre-game ceremonies as well.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 含羞草研究社渢he Moj含羞草研究社� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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