To say that the Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser is confident is an understatement. And it seems as if he’s been playing with confidence even before the Phase 3 training camp began. Thomas Drance, the senior Vancouver Canucks writer for The Athletic, posted this tweet more than a week ago.
Nothing has changed. Indeed, Ben Kuzma of The Province wrote an article yesterday suggesting that Boeser was extremely disappointed with his play during the regular season and has come into the postseason – his first by the way – on a mission to both play better and to score more. (from “Canucks’ Boeser hopes to stick it to Wild with new curve, confidence, Ben Kuzma, The Province, 21/07/20).
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Boeser Admits that He’s on a Mission
As Boeser spoke, it was clear he was in high spirits as training camp proceeded. He noted, about his own play and health, “It’s awesome. I feel quicker and stronger out there and the best I’ve felt in a long time and hopefully I can keep it going.”
Boeser added, “I was coming back on a mission because it was not a great year and I had trouble finding the net. I need to play on instinct and be not overthinking things. I wanted to redeem myself.”
Most fans and hockey commentators who have watched this season progress hardly blame Boeser for a, by his standards, poor season. He was injured after all. In fact, he missed 12 games with what was called a rib cartilage fracture (how does one fracture cartilage you might ask?) and, when he returned, he played only one game before the season was suspended. However, he entered the suspension of the season on a definite low – five games without a point and 12 games without a goal (his last goal was on January 11).
His scoring summary for the 2019-20 season was 16 goals and 45 points in 57 games. Entering the suspension, that record made him consider his game. At the end of April, he noted, “I got injured. I just took that time off and thought deeply about how I can be better and how I can improve and get out of that little slump I was in.”
Even head coach Travis Green sees a difference in Boeser. According to Green, Boeser’s injury affected his “skate plant and shot.” But no longer.
Green suggested, “He has shown improvement,” said Green. “He looks a little quicker and his conditioning is better than it has been and part of that might just being able to train. But I also feel he might have changed things up a bit in the off-season and to me, he looks better than when he left.”
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Can Boeser Be a Force During the Postseason?
In Boeser’s mind, his season was far below his own expectations. Given his excitement and attitude, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were a force for the Canucks during the postseason. So far, there’s been a difference. He’s playing with more confidence, his improved playmaking has been on display during camp, and – perhaps above all – he’s heading into the play-in round healthy.
All that spells good news for the Canucks team and for Canucks fans in general.
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