Liam \u00d6hgren<\/a> was a part of the package in the Quinn Hughes trade. And the fresh start helped him. \u00d6hgren scored in his second game in a Canucks sweater and had three points in his first four games while seeing as low as 7:15 minutes in a game. It was clear he made a strong first impression with Canucks brass.<\/p>\nSince then, he\u2019s been given more and more ice time, topping out at over 17 minutes in a game earlier in the month. However, the points haven\u2019t really translated to the increased ice time, with just one assist through 12 games. But \u00d6hgren\u2019s proving he can find a way to provide for his team other than the score sheet: on the penalty kill.<\/p>\n
Over the past eight games, \u00d6hgren has started to see time on the penalty kill. He isn\u2019t a first-over-the-boards type guy, but over the last three games, he\u2019s seen over 30 seconds of shorthanded time \u2013 he has not been on the ice for a goal against, to boot.<\/p>\n
So what is Foote seeing in \u00d6hgren\u2019s defensive game to trust him in shorthanded situations?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe listens to details,\u201d Foote shared postgame on Thursday. \u201cIn his 5-on-5 [minutes], he really tries to run the routes properly and tries to be a good F3 when it\u2019s his turn to be the F3. We gave him some reps in practice, but also did a lot of work with him. You know, we can\u2019t keep using the same guys moving forward. We\u2019ve got to teach these young guys how to do it. He\u2019s got the speed, and give him a little bit more of a role until he develops more offensively, which he\u2019s got the tools to.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a sponge. He\u2019s not going to get it right all the time, but who does? Even our veterans [don\u2019t], you know, it\u2019s hard, this level, it\u2019s a good league. But, he\u2019s got the speed too. Teach him the right times to jump on guys on a bobbled puck, and you might see him get some two-on-ones or breakaways. We\u2019ll probably see him more and more as the season goes along.\u201d<\/p>\n
After becoming a fan favourite for his hard-hitting, strong defensive play, it hasn\u2019t been the greatest sophomore season for Pettersson. Once considered a nightly roster lock, Pettersson has been demoted to the American League for two different stints.<\/p>\n
Now, those stints were just a quick reset, as he\u2019s played just three games with the Abbotsford Canucks. But there have undoubtedly been some speed bumps in his development this season that required a change of pace for the 21-year-old Swede. And, to Foote\u2019s credit, Pettersson has been better for it, and he made sure to give him the shoutout he deserved following a night that saw him finish with a plus-one rating.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got a lot of games last year, maybe more than he probably should have had to help his development,\u201d Foote said. \u201cWe were hard on him. Waiting for that moment to really pump his tires. The last few [games] we\u2019re like, \u2018Hey, you got a lot. You got a lot. You\u2019re good. You know what to do. You\u2019re fine.\u2019 I give our D coach a lot of credit because that was his best game of the year. I felt like he was not just getting the puck and moving it quick; if he had time and space, he would take four-five extra strides, let his forwards get in their lanes, get going, and he made good decisions. He\u2019s strong. He\u2019s physical. I think this game will help him grow a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the Canucks enter their transition phase into a rebuild, strong performances like these from their young players are something to keep an eye on. These are going to be the next wave of Canucks, who will hopefully lead this team back to contention. And receiving words of encouragement like this from their head coach will only build toward their confidence moving forward.<\/p>\n
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