Hoglander was rewarded for a breakout 24-goal season with a three-year, $US9 million contract extension. It spoke to franchise faith and inner focus
Article content
A happy place for avid hunter Nils Hoglander is quietly stalking a moose in the northern wildness of Sweden.
Advertisement 2
Article content
That experience has been augmented by finding happiness in the loud and uncertain world of an NHL career that is starting to finally reach its full potential.
Hoglander, 23, was rewarded for a breakout 24-goal season in 2023-24 with a three-year, $9-million US contract extension commitment on Sunday. It spoke to franchise faith and an inner focus. A hard demotion knock to the AHL in 2022-23 and tough lessons from a demanding head coach Rick Tocchet — eliminating suspect neutral-zone play without the puck and a penchant for penalties — was worth it.
Article content
“This is what everyone dreams about, to sign an NHL contract, and I’m excited for this group, too. It feels like we can have a really good year, and the years coming up,” Hoglander said Tuesday. “I’m happy to be a part of this. They gave me the trust and I know my role about where to be and I’m more comfortable on the ice.
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
“I’m going to keep building my game, and down low on the (second) power play is a pretty good look for me.”
Hoglander said needs a new hunting rifle, but the manner in which he has grown his game to add a man-advantage presence speaks to taking aim at career longevity. And by opening this season Wednesday on a line with Pius Suter and Conor Garland, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound bowling ball of persistence can pull more than just one trigger.
“Nils has earned it,” said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. “Going back two years ago when I was sitting in my office with him, I had to make the hard decision for him to go down to Abbotsford. He got to reset his game and learn to play the right way.
“He wasn’t happy about it, but he accepted it and trusted the organization. The way he carried himself is important for all our young players to see his commitment and fitness level and how he practises and plays every day. He’s still young and we believe there’s more to come in his game.”
Advertisement 4
Article content
To get to this place, Hoglander found a confidant in Garland. The veteran right winger also had a minor-league demotion with the Arizona Coyotes and knew his linemate would be better off in the long run. He turned just three goals and six assists in 25 games in 2022-23 into more pivotal push and production.
Hoglander finished that AHL regulation season with 32 points (14-18) in 45 games. He then added a playoff presence with six points (3-3) in six strong outings, which drew plenty of plaudits.
“I was one of the guys who talked to him when he got sent down to Abby,” said Garland. “I started in the minors and it was a little different path, but you learn so much about the pro game without the pressures of the NHL and media and having to win each and every night and making mistakes and learning.
Advertisement 5
Article content
“It was huge for him and he’s only going to get better. He’s a fantastic player. He’s hard to knock off the puck, he plays under people and can score.”
In hindsight, Hoglander knew the demotion meant doing everything to warrant an eventual NHL promotion.
“You don’t want to get sent down, but you want to prove you could play,” he recalled. “The first week, I was upset. It took a day or two, but I realized it was good. It wasn’t fun, but you have to remove that from your head. I had the puck a lot and played a lot of minutes and it helped me a lot.”
It’s quite the ascension from Swedish Hockey League whiz kid, who gained notoriety for highlight-reel, lacrosse-style goals, before making an instant impression in the NHL. He was aligned with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson at the outset of the post-COVID shortened 2020-21 season following 14 points (5-9) in 23 SHL games.
Advertisement 6
Article content
Hoglander, a 2019 second-round draft pick, responded by scoring his first NHL goal in his first game, and finished with 13 rookie goals and 27 points in 56 games. He looked like a mainstay. He earned plaudits from head coach Travis Green and was named the club’s most exciting player.
“It was a pretty good first year, but not a real year,” said Hoglander. “It was different. The other years would be tougher.”
Tocchet knew getting the total buy-in from Hoglander would pay off. And it did.
“He’s a big part of our team and he came in here as our fittest guy,” said Tocchet. “His hockey I.Q. and situational play has definitely gone up and we have to keep working at it.
“For me, it’s the neutral zone. He knows where to go and sometimes he dives in and does something critical that puts stress on the defence when he makes a bad read. He’s really conscious of that. I have to give him a lot of credit.”
It’s why Tocchet believes there is anther element on the power play to add to Hoglander’s presence.
“A big thing for us in the summer was strengthening that second unit,” said Tocchet. “Can they chip in for us? I like Hoglander around the net, and he’s a (puck) retrieval guy. If you look at his goals last year, most were around the net. He’s not a half-wall guy. He’s just a buzz-saw and can he do the same thing on the power play?”
bkuzma@postmedia.com
Advertisement 7
Article content
Recommended from Editorial
-
Canucks: Hurricane Milton puts schedule in peril with trip to Tampa looming
-
Canucks: Eager to build on playoff experience as new season begins
-
Canucks: No lack of crease drama as cool, confident Arturs Silovs commands spotlight
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Article content