On Friday, the Vancouver Canucks sent Arshdeep Bains back to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks after five games with the big club.
Baynes held his own through some difficult times and earned a spot in the top six and on the power play. Even if he had trouble finding the finish that gave Baynes his first NHL point, he showed a knack for creating scoring opportunities for his linemates. At the same time, Baynes had some difficulty adjusting to the speed of the NHL, getting into penalty trouble and making poor reads of defenses.
“We really love him,” head coach Rick Tocchet said. “The intention was for him to play two or three games.Obviously, if he was fit, he would have made a different decision.
“I thought he handled himself well. We haven’t won, so you want to protect him even in the environment…I think he knows, the next time he When he shows up, he’s going to be much better for it.’Next time, can I do the same thing with that guy? ”
Next up is Vasily Podkolzin, whom the Canucks called up on Sunday, along with veteran defenseman Matt Irwin, who was used as insurance since Tyler Myers is out and Carson Soucy still needs time to return from injury. It turned out to be.
“He just has to play a little bit more recklessly.”
This is a great opportunity for Podkolzin to prove to the Canucks that he can be an impactful NHL forward. In fact, this could very well be his last chance to prove himself against the Canucks, as he only has three games left until the NHL trade deadline. If the Canucks want to add another piece via trade, Podkoltzin could be part of a reverse package.
The Canucks are in desperate need of another winger to round out their top-six group. In an ideal world, Podkolzin would show he can be that winger.
Podkolzin showed potential as a rookie two seasons ago, scoring 14 goals in limited ice time in 2021-22. He looked especially great on the line alongside Elias Pettersson and Nils Höglander. But since then, Podkolzin has struggled.
Last season, Podkoltzin seemed to lack confidence and was constantly in his own head, thinking about what he needed to do and where he needed to go, instead of playing with intuition. . That continued through training camp and the preseason, where he had a chance to play with JT Miller and Brock Boeser, but he squandered it. He struggled to adapt to the demands of Tocchet’s system and was sent to the AHL for the start of the season.
“You just have to be patient with Posey. He just plays a little bit recklessly,” Tocchet said in the summer.
“I think when he’s in a tight spot, he receives the puck and then makes a decision,” he added. “Apparently, he understands that and just wants to make the safe play, whether it’s a chip up on the board when no one is around. is.”
Good start in AHL derailed by concussion
In the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, Podkolzin struggled, scoring five goals and seven points in his first six games. Unfortunately, that’s when he took a dangerous hit and fell off the ice on a stretcher, derailing his season.
When Podkolzin returned to the game a month later, it took him some time to regain his season form. Podkolzin has had some trouble scoring goals this season, scoring just two goals in his last seven games. He currently ranks sixth on the Abbotsford Canucks in scoring, but is second in scoring with 15 goals and 28 points in 44 games.
But where he has made major strides is in his system play. The Canucks are using the same system in Abbotsford as in Vancouver, giving Podkolzin more time to sort out what is needed from an X-and-O standpoint. This has given him confidence in tracking the puck both on the forecheck and in the defensive zone, allowing him to utilize some of the best qualities of his game.
This should make Podkolzin a more capable two-way player at the NHL level and someone Tocchet can trust to play more minutes.
Podkoltzin’s 28 points in 44 games may not inspire much enthusiasm, but it’s similar to Hägglander’s 14 goals and 32 points in 45 games last season at the same age. The important thing for Häglander was that he developed his play away from the puck, and that paid off this season. Podkolzin is expected to make similar progress.
If that happens, Podkolzin could be a legitimate difference-maker for the Canucks. At his best, Podkolzin is a threat on the forecheck and can free the puck no matter who he plays with. On top of that, Podkolzin is an underrated playmaker with the potential to be a net-destroying power forward.
Is Podkolzin ready to break out in the NHL two seasons after his debut?
