Canucks 3, Kraken 1: Sammy Blais doesn't move meter, pugnacious Vilmer Alriksson earns plaudits

Article content

In respect of Sammy Blais attempting to make the most of a professional tryout with the Vancouver Canucks, we go to the ‘Way Back Machine’ to retrieve a timeless quote.

Article content

Jack Skille, 29, was amped up about a PTO to beat training camp odds in 2016. He was often winded as the last player off the practice ice at UBC following a series of punishing post-practice starts and stops.

“I’m willing to chew through rope to be here,” Skille told Postmedia. “If I prove I’m on a mission and ready to go, I think I should turn some heads.”

Skille turned his belief into a one-year, two-way contract at US$700,000 as a fourth-liner expected to bang, crash and be disruptive and responsible. He played 55 games and managed nine points (5-4) and then finished his career in the KHL and Europe.

For right-winger Blais, the opportunity is similar, but moving the meter Tuesday in a chippy pre-season opener against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena should have played to his strengths. The Canucks prevailed 3-1.

Article content

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet covets size and snarl and there could be a fourth-line spot to snag if the 29-year-old Blais can make most of a recommendation from former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube, a close confidant of Tocchet. However, with five pre-season games jammed into seven days, there’s no time to ease into an audition.

“Sammy is a real interesting guy,” Tocchet said post game. “I really want him to elevate and fight for a position and he’s got to elevate his fitness so he can be a little faster every shift. But we’re going to give him a chance. He’s going to play tomorrow in Abbotsford and we need him to be that heavy, forechecking guy.”

After a quiet first period, Blais started strong in the second period. He finished an offensive-zone check on Oleksiak in the cornerboards and then blocked Oleksiak’s point shot before carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making sure it got deep.

Article content

Article content

Is that enough to move the meter? Probably not. But he did abide why the fourth-liner credo to forecheck, not get scored upon and not take a penalty. He finished with three hits in 13:49..

Blais played 53 games for the Blues last season and managed seven points (1-6) and led the club with 194 hits. He’s in tough here because the Canucks have a number of fourth-line winger candidates.

Alriksson answers bell after raising hell

Vilmer Alriksson is a towering and intriguing Canucks prospect.

At 6-foot-6, the left winger should be an imposing presence in the often tepid NHL pre-season pace, even at age 19. It’s why Tocchet challenged the big Swede to not be a bystander and get involved Tuesday.

And on a night where effort mattered more than goals and a win to gauge the progress of roster hopefuls, it was Alriksson who did something that will resonate with Tocchet. After laying out Logan Morrison with a heavy first-period check, and wisely avoiding a challenge from Oleksiak, he accepted one from the 29-year-old Josh Hayden and held his own against the seasoned scrapper.

Article content

His family back in Sweden set the alarm for 4 a.m. to watch the game and were impressed by the fight.

“I want to use my body and play physical and if somebody challenges me, I’ll accept it,” said Alriksson. “I think I had a better reach than him (Hayden) with longer arms. It was a good fight. I always want to finish my hits and play my best.”

Article content

Alriksson not only heeded the call, he answered the bell.

“I want him to play like he did in rookie camp,” Tocchet said after the game-day skate. “He’s with NHL players and he’s kind of waiting around and being respectful. I want him to be disrespectful, get the puck and want the puck and do what you did in rookie camp.

“It’s one of the guys we had to talk to. He’s a great prospect for us.”

After the game, Tocchet was lauding the effort.

“His game is just going to grow. He’s a big kid. Great hands and all that stuff is going to come and he’s going to catch up. Hell of an effort to stick up for his team.”

Alriksson is a 2023 fourth-round draft pick and seamlessly transitioned to the OHL last season with 33 points (17-16) in 67 games. After his first and only one-sided fight for the Guelph Storm, nobody wanted to take on the big Swede. Might be the same one day in the NHL.

Article content

Raty really moves development curve

Aatu Raty and Linus Karlsson were noticeable early with their pace of play. And it wasn’t surprising that Raty the Finn and Karlsson the Swede would combine with Nils Hoglander to open scoring.

In a tic-tac-dough power play sequence in the opening period, Raty found Karlsson and he found a well-positioned Hoglander, who was also thwarted on a second-period chance down low. The Canucks struck twice on the power play and kept looking to feed Jonathan Lekkerimaki for his one-time bomb. He did get one away in the second period, but it was Filip Hronek who wired a howitzer from the point to make it 2-0. Pius Suter added an empty-net goal.

Article content

Raty, 21, is intriguing by the manner in which his game grew in Abbotsford last season as a prospect centre. He had 52 points (18-34) in 72 AHL games. On Tuesday, he had two shots, six attempts and three hits and won a whopping 14 of 18 face-offs (78 per cent). He also blocked two shots.

“We had a couple of penalties tonight and I put him on the right side because I thought we were going to get killed and he won three (face-offs) in a row,” marvelled Tocchet. “That’s huge. That was 75 seconds of PK time and he plays a heavy game and isn’t afraid to get in there. He just keeps working on his skating and he’s faster.

“There hasn’t been a day where he hasn’t worked his ass off. He always had his motor running and he’s trying to make the team. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Article content

A full season in Abbotsford allowed Raty to blossom and his 52 points (18-34) in 72 games were a precursor to a summer of setting a goal to turn some heads. He did Tuesday.

“I thought I played a good game,” he said. “I played Seattle once but haven’t really taken face-offs and I had some tricks up my sleeve and they didn’t know my game. I had an opportunity to play all parts of my game and it went well.”

Silovs is already in fine form

Arturs Silovs sent another message Tuesday.

The lanky Latvian goaltender made a series of stellar saves in the first period and his best to thwart Grade A chances in when he came to the rescue of Lekkerimaki. He was checked to the ice by Yanni Gourde, who tested Silovs from in close. There was early save off Andre Burakovsky in the slot and a highlight-reel glove save off a hot Oleksiak point shot. The only shot to beat him came from Ben Meyers early in the third period. He then held the fort as Jaden Schwartz was denied for the equalizer.

Article content

“I felt great and was ready to play the first game at home,” said Silovs, who finished with 18 saves. “Especially liked the crowd and there was fantastic energy all around and it helped us perform better. We had a lot of good moments and managed to shut them down.

“Guys have confidence to know that if something happens, I can help them, too.”

Silovs will be challenged by newcomer Kevin Lankinen to get the lion’s share of the net in the absence of Thatcher Demko, who continued to rehab a knee muscle injury. Did he need to send a message Tuesday?

“You have to perform, it doesn’t matter which game you play,” he stressed. “You do your best.”

OVERTIME — Mark Friedman did not return for the second period after the Canucks defenceman was drilled from behind on an uncalled and sent sprawling to the ice and end of the first frame. But he was back in the third.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

Article content