It was one of the most surprising comments to come from Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote during training camp.
When asked about who might step up to kill penalties with Pius Suter now gone, the first name he mentioned was Brock Boeser.
“I think he’s so smart that he can kill,” Foote said at the time. “Our kill was very detailed. Up ice, we knew when to strike, we knew when to back off and in zone, and [Boeser] gets it.”
Boeser was one of the least-used Canucks forwards on the kill last season, spending just 28 seconds of ice time shorthanded in 75 games.
That appears to be changing.
During the preseason, Boeser and Pettersson did pair up for some shorthanded minutes. Boeser averaged 1:16 of ice time on the kill, which ranked fifth among regular Canucks forwards.
“It gives me confidence,” Boeser said when asked about his new role killing penalties.
“I haven’t really gotten a chance to kill penalties since I’ve been in the league… I’m excited for the opportunity, and hopefully I can make the most of it.”
Boeser was paired with Elias Pettersson on the penalty kill during preseason. (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
Boeser may be in line for a bigger penalty-killing role earlier in the season, especially due to the loss of Teddy Blueger.
Blueger is the team’s most experienced penalty killer, but he will likely miss the first couple games of the season, according to general manager Patrik Allvin.
At practice on Tuesday, the Canucks rolled with O’Connor and Sherwood as their top penalty-killing forward duo, while Aatu Räty and Arshdeep Bains skated as the second forward pair.
On Thursday, Foote talked about how he plans to handle his forwards on the penalty kill, now that Suter is gone and Blueger is injured.
“[Assistant coach Kevin Dean] has been doing a good job with the guys who will have to step in and play a higher role,” Foote said.
“Garland played so well for the U.S. [at the World Hockey Championships last spring], he was the first guy over the boards over there. He will be getting a lot of workload, especially until our younger guys get the hang of it.
Foote was also asked about whether he wants his star forwards to kill penalties.
“It’s different in different situations, how much they play it or not,” he said. If we feel a younger guy has enough reps, things like that. It’s gonna change as the game goes.”
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