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含羞草研究社檛 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含羞草研究社檚 makeup and how it would impact his ability to transform from a back-up to the starter for the next few weeks, Tocchet含羞草研究社檚 answer had the media contingent chuckling.
含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 well-liked. I含羞草研究社檝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含羞草研究社檛 know why. I含羞草研究社檝e had some goalies where I含羞草研究社檓 not a big fan of the guy. I含羞草研究社檓 not saying I kind of veered out of the way but when you like a goalie, you含羞草研究社檒l really dive in (front of a shot),含羞草研究社� said Tocchet drawing some laughs from the assembled media. 含羞草研究社淭hose guys love Casey. So you含羞草研究社檒l see a lot of guys willing to block shots 含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淒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含羞草研究社檛 play a ton or all the time. He含羞草研究社檚 a great guy. I think that comes into play. Then the guy dumps it in because he likes him. I don含羞草研究社檛 know if that makes sense,含羞草研究社� said Tocchet as the media chuckled.
含羞草研究社淪o if a guy doesn含羞草研究社檛 dump it in tomorrow and it含羞草研究社檚 a three-on-one you含羞草研究社檙e going to say he doesn含羞草研究社檛 like the guy.含羞草研究社�
All kidding aside, losing a Vezina Trophy candidate in Demko is no joke but perhaps Tocchet含羞草研究社檚 mood gave us some perspective on how he含羞草研究社檚 feeling about Demko含羞草研究社檚 injury and the confidence that he has in DeSmith.
The official word from Tocchet on Demko含羞草研究社檚 injury is 含羞草研究社渓ower-body, week-to-week含羞草研究社� but Canucks Nation biggest fear 含羞草研究社� that Demko wouldn含羞草研究社檛 be ready for the playoffs 含羞草研究社� wasn含羞草研究社檛 even on the head coach含羞草研究社檚 radar.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not worried about that at all,含羞草研究社� answered Tocchet, adding that the upcoming time off for Demko was actually a positive given his workload this season.
As for DeSmith, this isn含羞草研究社檛 the first time he含羞草研究社檚 been called upon to be the number one goalie and those previous experiences with the Pittsburgh Penguins give him full confidence moving forward.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e done this a couple of times in my career just filling in for injury and getting the net for a little while. I含羞草研究社檝e always enjoyed the experience and had some good success in the past when I含羞草研究社檝e had the net for a couple of weeks, so I含羞草研究社檓 looking forward to it. I have my job to do and I含羞草研究社檓 just a very small part of the big picture, so I try to worry about my little part and not the big picture,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淚 remember last year when we called him up, the second and third game you could see the improvement in Silovs so I think it含羞草研究社檚 good that he gets a taste of it up here,含羞草研究社� said Tocchet.
Despite Silov含羞草研究社檚 success this season, this is DeSmith含羞草研究社檚 time.
含羞草研究社淎s of now, we含羞草研究社檙e just going game-to-game. Casey含羞草研究社檚 definitely going to get the next two games and we含羞草研究社檒l go from there. I think Casey deserves the chance to get the ball and take it,含羞草研究社� explained Tocchet.
OVERTIME
* DeSmith says the biggest adjustment he含羞草研究社檚 going to have to make in his new role is how he handles practice time. 含羞草研究社淧ractices are a little different. I含羞草研究社檒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,含羞草研究社� said DeSmith.
* Tocchet believes a big key for the club含羞草研究社檚 improved play as of late has been the ability to take away the opposition含羞草研究社檚 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 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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