The Vancouver Canucks officially got their 2019 training camp underway on Thursday at Rogers Arena, with medical and fitness testing and the usual press conference featuring the team's biggest names.
I was hoping we might kick off the 50th anniversary season with a bang — with a Brock Boeser contract announcement or the naming of the team's next captain. No such luck on either count.
Boeser has now set up shop at his old stomping grounds at the University of North Dakota, and will skate there until his new deal gets done.
With training camp a day away, Brock Boeser is still here in Grand Forks skating with his old roommate Hayden Shaw (Manitoba Moose) this morning. I wrote about the situation here yesterday: https://t.co/p1nQ10sGvv
The rhetoric between the two sides is certainly nowhere near the level that surrounds Mitch Marner's situation in Toronto, but while Jim Benning says no one wants Boeser in camp more than him, this is probably an idea of how Boeser's agent is viewing the situation.
The #Canucks cap issues are causing problems, the Boeser camp knows they can not get long term deal, they are willing to do a short term deal (even 1-2 years) but the gap remains even on that. Things can change quick but it does not look good right now.
The impact of Boeser's absence was broached with Travis Green and a number of the players during Thursday's press conference. Troy Stecher said the two speak every day, and mentioned that if there's a silver lining at all, it's that Brock has been able to stick close to home as his father continues to recover from his recent serious health scare.
Elias Pettersson had a colourful quote at the Jake Milford Invitational Golf Tournament on Wednesday.
Pettersson on Boeser: "I've talked to him throughout the summer. He'll sort it out, otherwise I'll drive to Minnesota to pick him up myself." #Canucks
After acknowledging again that it would be better if Boeser was in camp, Pettersson got a laugh on Thursday when he told reporters, "I can play hockey without him, even though I like to play with him." No argument here!
As for the captaincy, Green said he was in no rush to make a quick decision last year when the Sedin era came to an end.
"I like the leadership group in our room. Being a captain is a big honour and a big decision and we don't have to decide today. I want to see how things look on the ice and in the room before making a decision. We're going to name a captain eventually." - Green
Henrik Sedin was named captain at the Canucks' regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on October 9, 2010 — as the team's 40th anniversary season was getting underway. It wouldn't surprise me if we end up with some symmetry in play this year, with the new captain announced as the Canucks kick off their 50th anniversary celebrations at their home opener — on October 9, 2019, against the Los Angeles Kings. The only wrinkle is that it would be the third game of the year — the team opens on the road, with games in Edmonton and Calgary.
I was at the availability on Thursday, and had a chance to ask Travis Green to confirm that everybody made it through prospect camp in one piece and that Antoine Roussel is the only player on injured reserve heading into main camp.
"I believe so. Yes."
Even the rehabbing Roussel made an appearance at the golf tournament on Wednesday.
#Canucks Roussel walked past media & did a little jig to prove his knee is coming along. Says if we got to rink really early in morning we’d have seen him on skates #progress
Click here to peruse the Canucks' full training camp roster, which was released on Wednesday night.
The full list is made up of 35 forwards, 22 defensemen and seven goalies, with both Boeser and Roussel included.
In addition to the NHL regulars we know, the prominent new faces and the 19 players who skated at prospects camp, training camp attendees also include Utica Comets veterans like Carter Bancks, Wacey Hamilton and Dylan Blujus. A couple of players are also in camp on professional tryout contracts — 28-year-old journeyman winger Landon Ferraro, who spent most of last season on injured reserve as a member of the AHL Iowa Wild, and 20-year-old defenseman Will Warm, a Whistler native who played with the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings last year and was traded to the Victoria Royals during the offseason.
The new guys — dubbed "Mysie, Benner, Millsy and Ferls," by Chris Tanev, all seem affable enough — grateful to have had the offseason to get adjusted to their new home and eager to get started.
One final note — Jake Virtanen and Sven Baertschi didn't make podium appearances but did speak to reporters after the formal proceedings wound down. Baertschi said he's in good health and spoke excitedly about the emotional journey of becoming a new dad during the offseason.
I am heading over to Victoria for the weekend, so I'm looking forward to seeing how everybody looks on the ice once the on-ice portion of camp gets rolling.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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