‘It was physical and intense. They (Flames) have a pretty heavy team. I just tried to play my game, be confident and not let it rattle me” \u2014 Canucks rookie centre Braeden Cootes<\/p>\n
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Published Oct 10, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n And, we\u2019re back.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It\u2019s time for your morning serving of savoury Canucks Coffee. So sit back, have a cup or two, and ponder what to make of what we saw in a season-opening 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames<\/a> on Thursday and what it may mean Saturday in Edmonton.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n There was a lot for Canucks rookie head coach Adam Foote to like Thursday. There was finding a way to match pace with the pugnacious Flames and not get drawn into the wrong kind of game. There was healthy centre Filip Chytil looking like he\u2019s ready to make a statement this season with two goals, including a breakaway, and a playing presence.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was good and fast and wanted the puck on his stick,\u201d Canucks head coach said of Chytil\u2019s five shots and eight attempts.<\/p>\n There was Thatcher Demko<\/a> who was positionally sound and remained calm and square to pucks when the Flames tried to make a push. There was also the penalty killing going 4-for-4, but struggling and disconnected on the power play that failed to score on four chances.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cDemmer was just solid,\u201d said Foote. \u201cHe was a just a wall with his confidence.<\/p>\n And there was managing the game within the game.<\/p>\n Rookie Braeden Cootes marked his fist NHL regular-season game by being marked for extra attention. Some chirping, some stick work and some thought it might get out of hand with the frustrated Flames.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t give him enough ice early, but he\u2019s a young guy and plays the same way and that\u2019s impressive,\u201d Foote said of 11:14 of ice time that went without a shot but with good game awareness. \u201cI want to give him more (ice) and he\u2019ll get more. When it was 5-1, it was the physical part and trying to watch where he was and who he was playing against.\u201d<\/p>\n Said Cootes said this first game experience: \u201cIt was pretty cool. You kind of black out for a second and try to take it all in. It was awesome. The boys played really good. It was more physical and intense and they (Flames) have a pretty heavy team. I just tried to play my game and \u00a0be confident not let it rattle me at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n What did the Canucks learn Thursday and take into Saturday\u2019s test Edmonton?<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it was close early we pushed too much at times and striking too quickly,\u201d said Foote \u201cWe were forcing too much.\u201d<\/p>\n NOT KILLING THEM SOFTLY: Penalty kill source of pride as players embrace challenge<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> is injured, Pius Suter<\/a> left in free agency, and Dakota Joshua<\/a> was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n It could be cause for concern after the Canucks continued on a path of penalty-killing excellence last season. They finished third overall with a 82.6 per cent efficiency rating as Blueger and Suter formed a formidable top pairing. However, there is depth in that department and bringing something extra to the table in a shutdown capacity resonates with many.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Kiefer Sherwood and Drew O\u2019Connor formed one unit Thursday, while face-off specialist Aatu Raty was aligned with Arshdeep Bains<\/a>, and Conor Garland<\/a> saw time with Elias Pettersson<\/a>. The back end had Marcus Pettersson with Tyler Myers<\/a>, and Elias (D-Petey) with Derek Forbort.<\/p>\n So, what makes it work? The Canucks have come a long way since struggling to such a great degree that it almost became laughable.<\/p>\n It got so bad in the 2021-22 season that former Canucks centre and penalty kill specialist Jason Dickinson had trouble sleeping. By early November, the club owned a pitiful 63.8 per cent kill rate. For a guy who takes pride in denying the opposition, it killed Dickinson\u2019s sleep patterns.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t sleep very well after the game because right there, that was the difference,\u201d Dickinson said of surrendering two power-play goals in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. \u201cIf we\u2019re able to get those kills, we\u2019re looking at a different game.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Fast forward and the string of recent success started by being seventh overall in 2023-24 (79.1 per cent) and continued this pre-season with a run of 16 kills in 18 attempts.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s structure and a good active stick is really important,\u201d Sherwood said Thursday. \u201cWe have really good killers on the back end, who aren\u2019t just shot blockers, but have good reads and experience and it allows our forwards to hunt and track harder. It\u2019s just reading off each other. You\u2019ve got to be cohesive.\u201d<\/p>\n And want it, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI love it,\u201d added Sherwood. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to grow your game in different areas and steal momentum and energy. It gives the guys extra juice. It\u2019s the next-man up mentality. Get under their skin and disrupt as much as possible and it\u2019s an extension of last year\u2019s PK.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Raty\u2019s efficiency in draws and willingness to play with a forechecking edge makes the Finn a penalty kill natural. He won 57.4 of face-offs over 33 games last season, second on the club to J.T. Miller<\/a> (58.6) in 40 outings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s funny sometimes when your mind flips and you\u2019re not thinking offence all the time,\u201d said Raty. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to make their power play life as tough as it can be. I love it, especially going against the most-skilled guys. It\u2019s like a chess match. Make them do what they don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n REALITY STRIKES ROSLOVIC: Canucks kicked tires on UFA, but not that hard<\/p>\n Jack Roslovic, 28, has been on the Canucks\u2019 radar before and popped up again in the offseason.<\/p>\n The unrestricted free agent, who can play centre or right wing, tried to parlay versatility plus 22 goals and 39 points with the Carolina Hurricanes last season into a big bump from an expiring one-year, US$2.8 million deal.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canucks went into summer sticker shock because their big need remains a support centre, much like many NHL teams. Roslovic was deployed more as a winger last season and that\u2019s not the need here.<\/p>\n The buzz was Roslovic was seeking three years and $4 million annually, but reality is a one-year, $1 million commitment Wednesday from the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> is all he could pocket. The rationale for general manager Stan Bowman is a small cap hit for what could be immediate help, and for Roslovic, staying employed is of paramount importance.<\/p>\n With winger Zach Hyman sidelined week-to-week with a wrist injury, and need for another right-shot pivot, acquiring Roslovic makes sense. And the Oilers could consider aligning the 6-foot-1, 198 pound Roslovic with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatil and move Trent Frederic down to the third line. But Roslovic has but three goals in 45 playoff games.<\/p>\n Still, a fresh start might kick start the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, much like Vasily Podkolzin<\/a> when he got top-six looks last season in Edmonton.<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: Are they a playoff team? The belief is there, but so are the challenges<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2239616200_299213862.jpg\")
Canucks centre Braeden Cootes takes rookie lap prior to his first NHL regular-season game Thursday at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.7.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Centre Filip Chytil celebrates his second goal against the Calgary Flames on Thursday at Rogers Arena. Photo by DARRYL DYCK \/THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.7.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
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Feisty winger Kiefer Sherwood led the NHL last season with a record 464 hits and career-high 19 goals. Photo by Patrick Smith \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gettyimages-1451142619_277227568.jpg\")
Jack Roslovic had 22 goals and 45 points in the 2021-22 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Photo by Bruce Bennett \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Impressive](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jx24525_298961441.jpg\")
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