[Article] Kevin Bieksa praises Canucks’ ‘unbelievable’ NHL veteran-laden coaching staff

[RWJC]

Kevin Bieksa praises Canucks’ ‘unbelievable’ NHL veteran-laden coaching staff

 

 

Make no mistake: Kevin Bieksa likes what he’s seen from this new-look Vancouver Canucks coaching staff.

The longtime Canucks defenceman appeared on a recent edition of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast with Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney and shared some insight on what the team’s younger players have learned from the likes of Adam Foote and the Sedins.

 

Bieksa didn’t mince words. The 42-year-old analyst called Rick Tocchet’s staff “unbelievable” and provided plenty of reasons for optimism for the upcoming season, which will be Tocchet’s first full year behind the bench in Vancouver.

 

Here’s a brief excerpt from Bieksa’s appearance on the podcast:

https://x.com/spittinchiclets/status/1705750960646038011?s=20

 

Paul Bissonnette: You’ve got Adam Foote helping ’em out, you’ve got Sergei Gonchar, and apparently it’s going to be the Sedin brothers helping with the power play. Like, how do you think that collective help from that coaching staff will amplify the group?

 

Kevi Bieksa: It’ll be unbelievable. Again, if you’re a guy in that locker room, on that team, how do you not listen to these voices? These guys are Hall of Famers, like, Olympians, All-Stars, like, you’ve got everything. The Sedins kind of started getting onto the ice more and more last year.

 

They were showing some of these guys that, like, talking with Chris Higgins, [who] works for the team, he was like, ‘[The Sedins] are showing these guys something where I’m still learning.’ Like, Higgins has been retired now and the Sedins are showing him something, like, on the wall, how to counter-pinch a defenceman, and he’s like, ‘Oh my god, like, that is so smart.’ What an asset.

 

And then Adam Foote, I got to know Footer a bunch because we kind of both worked for my agent, and he’s another guy, he’s got all these little old-school tricks.

 

Bissonnette: Yeah, like butt-ending a guy in the spleen?

 

Bieksa: Yeah, but a little more subtle than that. Just something simple like, when you make a pass, your first step after you make your pass is recover to the middle. So you make your pass, wherever it is in the D-zone, first step is recover to the middle. Just little tips like that, that some of these guys aren’t taught at a young age. I don’t think there’s as much teaching anymore of how the game is played and structure, like, it’s more like skill development. To have guys like that I think is going to be huge for them.”

 

Bieksa spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with the Canucks, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2011 and win the Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back seasons.

 

The Canucks traded Bieksa to the Anaheim Ducks in 2015. He played three years in SoCal before finding himself without a team after the 2017–18 season. After joining Sportsnet hockey broadcasts as an analyst, Bieksa officially retired in 2022 after signing a commemorative one-day contract with the Canucks.
 

By Mike Gould
 

 

https://canucksarmy.com/news/scenes-from-the-canucks-special-teams-work-to-close-out-day-three-of-training-camp

Edited September 24, 2023 by RWJC

[-dlc-]

I really love Bieksa's insight and the fact that he's remained on board with this team. He knows what's up.

 

This part "how the game is played and structure, like, it's more like skill development".

 

I am hopeful and optimistic....I'm also ready for the masses to scream at the team at the first hint of any kind of struggle. We're on edge here...we want this team to do well. They have so many tools in place to help them, it's a matter of them coming together as a team and not letting up. 

 

I think they've learned enough about how hard it is to dig out of a hole that they'll be more vigilant about not letting things get away from them. 

[Johnny]

Structure is key, its what has been laking for years

 

This year definitely feels a bit more ‘magical’ than the last few seasons. Even though the Sedins passed the torch to Bo it seems that this is the group that will be succeeding the Sedin era in having the brothers being a part of it

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Johnny

[Ghostsof1915]

All apologies to Ray. But if I was Sportsnet. If Kevin wanted the analyst/colour guy job I'd give it to him.

[Sherwood]

1 minute ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

All apologies to Ray. But if I was Sportsnet. If Kevin wanted the analyst/colour guy job I'd give it to him.

 

100% 

[bishopshodan]

I like Rick's coaching staff too. Seems great.

 

Rick, on the other hand... prove me wrong bud. 

[Breadnbutta]

37 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

All apologies to Ray. But if I was Sportsnet. If Kevin wanted the analyst/colour guy job I'd give it to him.

 

He's a lock on cbc, they wouldn't let him go 

[Ghostsof1915]

9 minutes ago, Breadnbutta said:

 

He's a lock on cbc, they wouldn't let him go 

Maybe Ron will tick him off enough he'll want out.

[Snoop Hogg]

3 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Maybe Ron will tick him off enough he'll want out.

I wonder what it would be like with Don Cherry instead of Ron with Bieksa!

[Ghostsof1915]

1 minute ago, Snoop Hogg said:

I wonder what it would be like with Don Cherry instead of Ron with Bieksa!

Forget Don. Both he and Ron are way past their best before dates. And Ron was not even a has been, he is a never was.

[WHL rocks]

Thanks OP for posting this article.

 

Yes, when JR took over I knew he'd bring in great management and coaching staff. 

 

Loved the way Foote played and also a fan of Gonchar when they played. They bring a lot of experience and knowledge to any coaching staff. 

[Zombieksa]

That's my boy!

[gwarrior]

When the coaches have rings, as players. They know what it takes. Hopefully that will translate and the guys here will realize it, and we can get that elusive cup.

[Provost]

On 9/24/2023 at 8:59 AM, Ghostsof1915 said:

All apologies to Ray. But if I was Sportsnet. If Kevin wanted the analyst/colour guy job I'd give it to him.

Frankly,  Hansen blows them both out of the water in terms of how he comes across and breadth of knowledge.

 

Those two guys see the game as ex-players.  If you hear Hansen’s radio hits, he can talk about coaching, salary cap, roster construction, etc.  He is the guy I want sitting interviewing people between periods.

[Frozen Water Walker]

On 9/24/2023 at 8:06 AM, -dlc- said:

I really love Bieksa's insight and the fact that he's remained on board with this team. He knows what's up.

 

This part "how the game is played and structure, like, it's more like skill development".

 

I am hopeful and optimistic....I'm also ready for the masses to scream at the team at the first hint of any kind of struggle. We're on edge here...we want this team to do well. They have so many tools in place to help them, it's a matter of them coming together as a team and not letting up. 

 

I think they've learned enough about how hard it is to dig out of a hole that they'll be more vigilant about not letting things get away from them. 

DLC fan here, I had not seen you post until now, so now my new CFF experience is back in order, thank you.

 

GCG