[Article] Canucks: Noah Juulsen nominated for Masterton Trophy

[RWJC]

Canucks: Noah Juulsen nominated for Masterton Trophy

 

Patrick Johnston

April 5 2024

 

Noah Juulsen has always tried to say true to himself.

 

That got him to the NHL, after all.

He played with a hard edge in minor hockey in Abbotsford and in junior with the Everett Silvertips. That edge drew the attention of the Montreal Canadiens, who made him the 26th overall selection in 2015.

 

But since then, Juulsen’s story has been one of perseverance.

 

He played his first NHL games in the 2017-18 season, but it took six years for him to finally secure himself into a full-time NHL role — fittingly enough on his hometown team.

 

It’s this perseverance, this dedication, that has made him the Vancouver chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association’s 2024 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, given out each year to the NHLer who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

 

Teammate Carson Soucy’s eyes lit up when asked about Juulsen’s game.

“He plays that kind of physical brand of playoff hockey. Guys will be intimidated to go through the neutral zone. Intimidated to go to the net,” Soucy said.

 

Juulsen says he has stayed true to himself all along the way, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy.

 

He made his debut with the Canadiens when he was just 20, suiting up for 23 games in the NHL during his first professional season.

But his second season didn’t go anything close to plan. A month into the season, playing against the Washington Capitals, he was struck in on the left side of his face with the puck. Twice.

 

The second caused the real damage. His left eye itself was undamaged, but his cheekbone wasn’t.

 

“It pushed everything back, so it started with pressure on my face,” he said. He started having vision problems. He couldn’t play. He met with specialist after specialist to get to the root of the problem.

 

“It was a mixed bag,” he said. “It went to post-concussion syndrome and so on from there.”

 

That, he admits, was probably the low point in his career.

 

“It was tough. The first little bit, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know which way it’s going to go,” he recalled.

 

Eventually his face would heal and his vision would recover. But he barely played in the 2019-20 season — just 13 games for AHL Laval.

 

The next season, he was picked up on waivers by the Florida Panthers and while the move south to the sunshine might have been nice from a lifestyle point of view, he barely played — just four times for the Panthers during that bizarre COVID season, and just five times for AHL Syracuse.

 

His career seemed stuck in neutral.

But then he was able to buck the old adage that you can never go home again, that even if you think a retreat to home will solve your problems, it won’t because nothing remains as it was.

 

On the eve of the 2021-22 season, he was traded by the Panthers to the Canucks. Juulsen joined the AHL Canucks — it was, remember, the first season in Abbotsford — and found a role there and thrived.

 

“That’s where I felt good again. I kept playing and playing. Having fun again,” he said, smiling.

 

Timing is everything.

 

Before he could be called back to the NHL, GM Jim Benning and coach Travis Green were gone. When Juulsen was finally called up, he made a quick, positive impression on new coach Bruce Boudreau.

 

Juulsen suited up in eight games for his hometown team that year.

He was mostly an AHLer again last season, but once again made an impression following a mid-season coaching change, showing enough of an edge to intrigue new head coach Rick Tocchet.

 

He started this season on the NHL roster, but some early miscues put him in the press-box — but this is where his dedication to hockey once again stands out. He sought out help, Tocchet said, and worked hard with assistant coaches Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar.

 

Juulsen was very thankful for the interest and attention they showed towards him. Foote played a similar game to what Juulsen’s is like now: hard-hitting, defensive minded, down in the trenches.

 

He certainly was aware of Foote’s game when he was growing up, though he does admit that growing up a Canucks fan meant he was more attuned to the playing style of Kevin Bieksa.

 

“He had that same same bite to his game. He obviously was more skilled (than me) but I still liked the way he played.”

 

He’s played in 53 games this season. A seventh defenceman can usually count on suiting up for 40 or so games in a season. Juulsen’s improvement has pushed him almost into a proper sixth defenceman role: Tocchet has lamented more than once that someone has to come out of the lineup and it’s hard to sit Juulsen.

“He’s one of Footie’s favourites because he listens,” Tocchet said recently of Juuslen. “He’s a sponge. You tell him to do something. He does it. So I’m really proud of those type of guys. … Sometimes it’s unfair that he doesn’t play. I just like his character.”

 

The Masterton trophy honours the memory of Bill Masterton, who died from massive head injuries sustained in a January 1968 game while playing for the Minnesota North Stars. 

 

pjohnston@postmedia.com

 

https://apple.news/A1pd54UB6Q2qzYoHsQ4rm-w

[Jess]

Back in early Dec, I was like "why are we playing this guy, he's not even a top defenseman on our farm team"

 

Then Noah worked his ass off and shut me up. I love it when our guys can prove me wrong when I doubt them.

 

A well-deserved nomination, Noah.

[RichterBelmont]

I've been a big Juulsen supporter ever since he was drafted by the Habs. I kept joking to my cousin (who is a huge Habs fan) that they should trade Juulsen to us. Who knew it would come true but in a roundabout kind of way. So happy to see him find his game and be recognized for his hard work and dedication to his craft. If he signs long term with us I can definitely see a Juulsen sweater in my future.

[Bounce000]

Boeser would have been my pick for nomination but Juulsen has come such a long way since game 1 of the season.

[canuck73_3]

24 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

Back in early Dec, I was like "why are we playing this guy, he's not even a top defenseman on our farm team"

 

Then Noah worked his ass off and shut me up. I love it when our guys can prove me wrong when I doubt them.

 

A well-deserved nomination, Noah.

I was the same happy to admit I was wrong about him.

[IBatch]

All he does is make it hard for players to come into our side of the ice.     Watching him has made me a believer.   What a great candidate.    Juulsen is a legit NHL D-man.  

[IBatch]

3 minutes ago, Bounce000 said:

Boeser would have been my pick for nomination but Juulsen has come such a long way since game 1 of the season.

Game one of his NHL career.   Brock would have been fine too, but like this better.   

[Strawbone]

Juulsen has clearly worked his ass off to become a solid bottom-pair D-man in the NHL. Well deserved. I'd put him above Ian Cole on our depth chart myself.

[JamesB]

28 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

Back in early Dec, I was like "why are we playing this guy, he's not even a top defenseman on our farm team"

 

Then Noah worked his ass off and shut me up. I love it when our guys can prove me wrong when I doubt them.

 

A well-deserved nomination, Noah.

I have always liked Juulsen and rooted for him, but I did not think he was good enough to be an NHL regular. He was good in Abby last year, but not as good as Wolanin and I expected Wolanin to make the 23 man roster this year with Juulsen maybe being 7th man or being sent to Abby. But he made the Vancouver team.

 

But he looked bad in his first couple of games and I was thinking that despite the Canucks' need for a RD there was no way he could stay in the line-up. But he has improved a lot and is now playing well and is a legitimate third pairing NHL D on a good team.

 

It shows what good coaching a good attitude can do, even for guys in their late 20s. I previously underestimated the role of coaching. Foote and Gonchar have been great as pretty much everyone has improved under their coaching. Myers is a lot better. And, while Hughes was already excellent, he has taken a further step this year. Similar story with Hronek. He was already good, but he has also improved. With a bit more time, I bet they could also do a lot with Z.

 

 

[BC_Hawk]

17 minutes ago, canuck73_3 said:

I was the same happy to admit I was wrong about him.

Me too. The guy has solidified himself as an excellent 3rd pair option on the go fwd. This is great news, as it is one less thing to find, and at a great cap hit.

[BC_Hawk]

17 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Game one of his NHL career.   Brock would have been fine too, but like this better.   

Brock just starting trying again, and found his natural talent. Juulsen ground his way to the NHL, then fought his ass off to develop into the reliable guy...Flipside; BB was given a cushy contract when he was undeserving.

[PureQuickness]

44 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

Back in early Dec, I was like "why are we playing this guy, he's not even a top defenseman on our farm team"

 

Then Noah worked his ass off and shut me up. I love it when our guys can prove me wrong when I doubt them.

 

A well-deserved nomination, Noah.

 

19 minutes ago, canuck73_3 said:

I was the same happy to admit I was wrong about him.

 

Count me in on this. I thought he was just another project player picked up because of where he was picked in the draft. Bieksa even said on HNIC one time: "let's be honest, this is a defensive defenseman here." But Bieksa, a defensive defenseman himself, went to talk about how great Juulsen was in his own end. That was pretty good praise. As Juulsen gained more experience, he went on to play better and better.

 

I was wrong. He does seem to have high character in combination with his ability to help keep the puck out of the net. He's a guy you could cheer for.

[PureQuickness]

7 minutes ago, JamesB said:

I have always liked Juulsen and rooted for him, but I did not think he was good enough to be an NHL regular. He was good in Abby last year, but not as good as Wolanin and I expected Wolanin to make the 23 man roster this year with Juulsen maybe being 7th man or being sent to Abby. But he made the Vancouver team.

 

But he looked bad in his first couple of games and I was thinking that despite the Canucks' need for a RD there was no way he could stay in the line-up. But he has improved a lot and is now playing well and is a legitimate third pairing NHL D on a good team.

 

It shows what good coaching a good attitude can do, even for guys in their late 20s. I previously underestimated the role of coaching. Foote and Gonchar have been great as pretty much everyone has improved under their coaching. Myers is a lot better. And, while Hughes was already excellent, he has taken a further step this year. Similar story with Hronek. He was already good, but he has also improved. With a bit more time, I bet they could also do a lot with Z.

 

 

 

Yes, you're absolutely right. Even with Myers - jokingly named chaos giraffe - has been tempered significantly from that title. Coaching makes a huge difference and the fact that we didn't have this calibre of coaching for so many years really explains why we couldn't develop players.

[Strawbone]

I think Juulsen is also built for playoff hockey. He's such a solid dude and I think when the physicality ramps up, he's going to be a real asset.

[Jess]

1 hour ago, Bounce000 said:

Boeser would have been my pick for nomination but Juulsen has come such a long way since game 1 of the season.

 

I think Boeser was already nominated last year, so maybe they felt it was a bit weird to do it twice in a row. Had he not been nominated last year, I bet he would've this year.

[CanuckMan]

With players like Petey, Miller, Hughes, Demko, Boeser taking the spotlight all the time some players don’t get recognised as much.

For under 1M a year Juulsen has been the best surprise of the year. I’m so happy we have him for 1 more year at a low cap hit. He’s earned a permanent spot in the line up.

[Canuck You]

'Through every dark night, There's bright day after that' - 2pac

[Pears]

1 hour ago, -AJ- said:

Back in early Dec, I was like "why are we playing this guy, he's not even a top defenseman on our farm team"

 

Then Noah worked his ass off and shut me up. I love it when our guys can prove me wrong when I doubt them.

 

A well-deserved nomination, Noah.

It happened earlier for me honestly. I'm really happy with how well he settled in and I'd argue we're better with him in the line up over Cole and Myers. 

[Snoop Hogg]

He’s put the time and work in and has earned this nomination. It used to be a joke, but now we can honestly say that he’s a jewel, son.

[Jess]

6 minutes ago, Snoop Hogg said:

He’s put the time and work in and has earned this nomination. It used to be a joke, but now we can honestly say that he’s a jewel, son.

 

goddamnit

[Hairy Kneel]

I was one of the early ones that was up on Juul's making the team. And I'm still banging his drum to be our 7/11 guy. 

He's our best body checker and plays a quiet low event game. I'm hearing rumblings about him in over Myer's.  And you know I love his quieter game. Juul's is level headed and pretty smart. Staying involved without jeopardizing your team is one of his best attributes. 

Congratulations, but he should be in the line up every night. 

[Ghostsof1915]

Yet the coaching staff treats him like Rodney Dangerfield.....

[spook007]

So happy to hear this... he typifies everything perseverances and dedication can bring...

 

He has brought him self from the bottom of the pile to the forefront as a hard-nosed stay at home defence man.... Been needing those forever, and suddenly we have him, Zadorov, Souzy and Cole, who can all stand their corner.... and Myers is obviously able to play hard nosed hockey as well...

 

Without doubt my unsung hero of the year (fighting it out with Hogs)..

[vcBrett]

Every cup winning team needs a Juulsen. That guy who is always working hard and practicing his game. Seeing somebody like Juulsen working his a** off inspires other players, you feel guilty when you see him giving 110% and you know that you have more to give. Even if you arent slacking off yourself, you see Juulsen going so hard it makes you wanna step up and help him out. 

 

An inspiring story to get back into the NHL as a starting roster player. Heres hoping that Juulsen can finally look forward to a long NHL career... Hopefully with Vancouver.

[spook007]

27 minutes ago, Hairy Kneel said:

I was one of the early ones that was up on Juul's making the team. And I'm still banging his drum to be our 7/11 guy. 

He's our best body checker and plays a quiet low event game. I'm hearing rumblings about him in over Myer's.  And you know I love his quieter game. Juul's is level headed and pretty smart. Staying involved without jeopardizing your team is one of his best attributes. 

Congratulations, but he should be in the line up every night. 

This is very true... only 22pm in 53 games... is solid, when you play a hard nosed style of hockey...