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 hasn91裸聊视频檛 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 DeSmith91裸聊视频檚 makeup and how it would impact his ability to transform from a back-up to the starter for the next few weeks, Tocchet91裸聊视频檚 answer had the media contingent chuckling.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 well-liked. I91裸聊视频檝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 don91裸聊视频檛 know why. I91裸聊视频檝e had some goalies where I91裸聊视频檓 not a big fan of the guy. I91裸聊视频檓 not saying I kind of veered out of the way but when you like a goalie, you91裸聊视频檒l really dive in (front of a shot),91裸聊视频� said Tocchet drawing some laughs from the assembled media. 91裸聊视频淭hose guys love Casey. So you91裸聊视频檒l see a lot of guys willing to block shots 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淒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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 play a ton or all the time. He91裸聊视频檚 a great guy. I think that comes into play. Then the guy dumps it in because he likes him. I don91裸聊视频檛 know if that makes sense,91裸聊视频� said Tocchet as the media chuckled.
91裸聊视频淪o if a guy doesn91裸聊视频檛 dump it in tomorrow and it91裸聊视频檚 a three-on-one you91裸聊视频檙e going to say he doesn91裸聊视频檛 like the guy.91裸聊视频�
All kidding aside, losing a Vezina Trophy candidate in Demko is no joke but perhaps Tocchet91裸聊视频檚 mood gave us some perspective on how he91裸聊视频檚 feeling about Demko91裸聊视频檚 injury and the confidence that he has in DeSmith.
The official word from Tocchet on Demko91裸聊视频檚 injury is 91裸聊视频渓ower-body, week-to-week91裸聊视频� but Canucks Nation biggest fear 91裸聊视频� that Demko wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be ready for the playoffs 91裸聊视频� wasn91裸聊视频檛 even on the head coach91裸聊视频檚 radar.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not worried about that at all,91裸聊视频� answered Tocchet, adding that the upcoming time off for Demko was actually a positive given his workload this season.
As for DeSmith, this isn91裸聊视频檛 the first time he91裸聊视频檚 been called upon to be the number one goalie and those previous experiences with the Pittsburgh Penguins give him full confidence moving forward.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e done this a couple of times in my career just filling in for injury and getting the net for a little while. I91裸聊视频檝e always enjoyed the experience and had some good success in the past when I91裸聊视频檝e had the net for a couple of weeks, so I91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to it. I have my job to do and I91裸聊视频檓 just a very small part of the big picture, so I try to worry about my little part and not the big picture,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚 remember last year when we called him up, the second and third game you could see the improvement in Silovs so I think it91裸聊视频檚 good that he gets a taste of it up here,91裸聊视频� said Tocchet.
Despite Silov91裸聊视频檚 success this season, this is DeSmith91裸聊视频檚 time.
91裸聊视频淎s of now, we91裸聊视频檙e just going game-to-game. Casey91裸聊视频檚 definitely going to get the next two games and we91裸聊视频檒l go from there. I think Casey deserves the chance to get the ball and take it,91裸聊视频� explained Tocchet.
OVERTIME
* DeSmith says the biggest adjustment he91裸聊视频檚 going to have to make in his new role is how he handles practice time. 91裸聊视频淧ractices are a little different. I91裸聊视频檒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,91裸聊视频� said DeSmith.
* Tocchet believes a big key for the club91裸聊视频檚 improved play as of late has been the ability to take away the opposition91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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