Lessons from legendary Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby should bring out the best in Drew O’Connor next NHL season.<\/p>\n
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Published Jul 21, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 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 Is Drew O\u2019Connor the new Dakota Joshua<\/a>?<\/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 The Vancouver Canucks<\/a>\u2019 left-winger measures up in size, speed, smarts and willingness to engage. With Joshua dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday for a 2028 fourth-round draft choice \u2014 it adds $US3.25 million in salary-cap space for the pursuit of a support centre \u2014 opportunity now awaits O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He could be a third-line fit because of lessons he learned from Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a shadow of their once dominant presence, but their captain always plays like he practises, which is very hard.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so good at teaching you things on the ice with where he wants you to be,\u201d O\u2019Connor told Postmedia News. \u201cHe likes to play close in the offensive zone and move the puck really quickly, work the down-low game. He explains the little details, like how to grab pucks off the wall and tight turns that he\u2019s really good at.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt was awesome playing on a line with him because every time you come to the bench, he shows you different ways of learning new things.\u201d<\/p>\n Crosby turns 38 on Aug. 7 and remains a bull-like centre who is difficult to defend off the rush, hard to contain along the walls and almost impossible to deny at the net. He\u2019s built to hold his ground. For the undrafted O\u2019Connor, it was a master class of top-flight tutelage.<\/p>\n \u201cYou notice it going in practice against him,\u201d laughed O\u2019Connor, who is 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, and should be able to win his battles. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get the puck off him. And the one thing I got from him is he tries to get better at one specific thing every off-season and has done it for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n There is untapped potential in O\u2019Connor, much like Joshua displayed in his 2023-24 breakout season. His 18 goals and 32 points plus a team-leading 244 hits, which ranked ninth overall in the NHL, earned a four-year contract extension that became a management problem last season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Joshua\u2019s testicular cancer diagnosis last summer and September surgery meant missing the first 14 games. Playing catch-up in the NHL is never easy, especially with physical and mental hurdles to clear. At age 29, he understandably lost his moxie and slumped to seven goals and 14 points in 57 games.<\/p>\n Suddenly, that US$3.25 million in annual average value was perceived as an anchor. O\u2019Connor is certainly more affordable following a two-year, US$5 million extension Feb. 18. But can he be more productive?<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor, 27, piqued the Canucks\u2019 interest after 16 goals and 33 points in 2023-24 because he played hard for the struggling Penguins. He dipped to six goals and 16 points in 53 games last season before being dealt to the Canucks in a multiplayer swap on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor\u2019s four goals and nine points in 31 games here in a season of transition didn\u2019t produce that \u2018wow\u2019 factor, but his first impression was favourable. He was visible and effective in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 4 that left former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet<\/a> gushing.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to overstate it, but (Filip) Chytil and (Drew) O\u2019Connor with their speed and willingness to take the puck to the middle on a rush is a little breath of fresh air,\u201d he stressed. \u201cYou see Chytil take the puck to the middle and that\u2019s when things happen. Just adding those two guys has helped our rush game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re smiling. That\u2019s the stuff we need.\u201d<\/p>\n Fast-forward and the trade addition of Evander Kane on the left side makes the east Vancouver native a candidate to work with Elias Pettersson<\/a> or Chytil. However, that depends on what pivot the Canucks do or don\u2019t acquire in free agency or trade. If it\u2019s a significant acquisition and Chytil slides down to the No. 3 hole, O\u2019Connor won\u2019t complain.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Conor Garland<\/a> gave Chytil, who was shut down in March after a brutal hit and placed in concussion protocol, quite the initial compliment on his effectiveness.<\/p>\n \u201cFantastic speed, sees the ice well, makes a lot of plays,\u201d said Garland. \u201cA real good pickup. Good zone entries and drive. He\u2019s a winger\u2019s dream.\u201d<\/p>\n As for O\u2019Connor, the dream was to live up to his own hopes, which once seemed like a stretch for the Chatham, N.J., product.<\/p>\n He was 5-foot-10 in Grade 12 and didn\u2019t initially attract collegiate interest. It was demoralizing but he pressed on. A growth spurt to 6-foot-3 when he arrived at Dartmouth College in the East Coast Athletic Conference made a difference. So did a dedication to diet and fitness.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had a lot of stretches where things weren\u2019t going well and high school was a real struggle for me,\u201d admitted O\u2019Connor. \u201cI was always one of the better players growing up, but when I got to that point in high school, I was really kind of fading and dropping off.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I was a late bloomer. I was able to overcome and eventually get my way into college hockey because that was my goal growing up. I just learned how to deal with it all.\u201d<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Have the Canucks created enough cap space to sign free agent Jack Roslovic?<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2205253872_294390362.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks left-winger Drew O’Connor celebrates after scoring against the Winnipeg Jets on March 18 at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.1.5\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Drew O\u2019Connor of the Canucks goes on the offensive against Artturi Lehkonen of the Avalanche on April 10 in Denver. Photo by C. Morgan Engel \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2209377749_294975400.jpg\")
Canucks winger Drew O\u2019Connor sets a screen against Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson on April 12 at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"o'connor\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cp174584106_297794125.jpg\")
Sweden\u2019s William Karlsson shoots by American Drew O\u2019Connor during the semifinals at the world hockey championships in Stockholm on May 24. Photo by Petr David Josek \/AP<\/p>\n![\"Columbus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-1473362646_277227556.jpg\")
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