[Article] Canucks: How a lost Nils Hoglander found challenging path back to the NHL

[RWJC]

Canucks: How a lost Nils Hoglander found challenging path back to the NHL

 

'I want to play in the NHL, but sometimes it’s good to go down (to the AHL) and learn and get more confidence. It looks good now because I feel a lot better.' — Canucks winger Nils Hoglander

The body language is different, and so is the tone.
 

Nils Hoglander is noticeably relaxed and upbeat about what awaits this NHL season.

 

The Vancouver Canucks winger, who was demoted in late December and then grew his feisty, fast and opportunistic game with the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford through the remainder of the 2022-23 season, has an insatiable thirst to improve.

He knows becoming a roster mainstay with the parent club is an everyday commitment.

 

Hoglander was one of the last players off the practice ice Tuesday at the University of B.C. because one-on-one instruction with Daniel Sedin was something he wasn’t gong to pass up.

“Yeah, some tips and tricks,” said a smiling Hoglander. “Small things I can be better on along the boards to win those battles. It’s important to win those pucks down low and that’s my game, too. I like when they (Sedins) come and talk — it helps a lot.”

 

Hoglander, 22, became a talking point for the manner in which the 5-foot-9, 185-pound bowling ball winger learned that a professional career rarely has a straight-line trajectory. He didn’t cherish the demotion, but he put in the work and reaped the rewards.

 

Not that it was easy.

 

“Of course, when I got sent down the first day, it was like: ‘Ah, f–k,’” admitted Hoglander. “But at some point, you just have to realize to make the best of the situation and trust that they sent you down to get better.”

 

He turned just three goals and six assists in 25 games NHL games into more push and production and finished the AHL regulation season with 32 points (14-18) in 45 games. He added a playoff presence with six points (3-3) in six strong outings, which drew plenty of plaudits.

 

“It helped a lot to play down there,” added Hoglander. “I want to play in the NHL, but sometimes it’s good to go down and learn and get more confidence, and it looks good now because I feel a lot better. I felt I had the puck a lot more, and when I do, I learned the game more. And I played more minutes, so it means everything.”

The good experience could have gone in a bad direction.

 

After all, the 2019 second-round draft choice had a solid rookie campaign in the next COVID-shortened season with 27 points (13-14) in 56 games.

 

However, sophomore struggles and a groin injury in late March led to just 18 points (10-8) in 60 games.

 

The following season, former Canucks bench boss Bruce Boudreau didn’t really know what to make of Hoglander.

 

The winger was a healthy scratch on five occasions by late November, and even aligning him with J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat seemed like more a short-term curiosity than a long-term fix.

When Hoglander was assigned to Abbotsford, it was the ultimate wake-up call.

 

 “There were some penalties there, but at the same time, he was on the line as far as his physical play and competitiveness,” said Abbotsford coach Jeremy Colliton. “I’d rather have a player like that and pull the reins, than trying to have to dial him up. You can win with guys like that.” 

 

So, what did Hoglander learn?

 

“Managing the game and understanding certain situations where you can attack, or create something off the rush, or make something happen,” added Colliton. “It was his awareness, defensively, too. He did a good job of being locked in and understanding his responsibilities away from the puck.”

 

Hoglander signed a two-year, two-way $2.2-million US extension in July. It was a reward for the effort, but also a “show us” deal to see if he can carry that AHL momentum back to the NHL. 

 

This is also his first exposure to Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, and there is mutual admiration between the player and the bench boss. Hoglander can see the fire in Tocchet’s eyes to drive the Canucks to a higher level of competitiveness. It’s like Tocchet’s still a player.

 

“A really good coach,” said Hoglander. “You can see a guy who really wants it, because he wants to win so bad. He wants to be a part of it and he 100 per cent helps the guys to get better.”

Hoglander has been moved around the bottom six as Tocchet looks to find combinations that are going to work when it’s time to play for keeps.

 

“I root for guys like Hoglander because I want to make him the best NHL player he can be,” said Tocchet. “That’s why I talk about being first on the forecheck, make sure you’re in the right positions, and then go and just play the game.

 

“The one thing he gives me is effort and his understanding that he wants to do it. Do we have to get his hockey I.Q. up? Of course, he’ll tell you that. He’s got to start hitting the net and getting more offence.

 

“But he’s checking the boxes with the other things. He’s first on the ice. He’s in the gym, and he has come here in great shape. I have an affection for guys who work hard.”

 

 

Ben Kuzma 

bkuzma@postmedia.com

 

https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-how-a-lost-nils-hoglander-found-challenging-path-back-to-the-nhl/wcm/06867a1a-0dc4-4418-800e-82244ad5929b/amp/

[canucks curse]

wait... he's a legit NHLer now???

[RWJC]

6 minutes ago, canucks curse said:

wait... he's a legit NHLer now???

Apparently all it takes is a focused Province article and you’re automatically anointed to the big club. 
PAJR hold their breath waiting for authorization from the Province’s writers to make definitive roster moves or didn’t you know?

[canucks curse]

2 minutes ago, RWJC said:

Apparently all it takes is a focused Province article and you’re automatically anointed to the big club. 
PAJR hold their breath waiting for authorization from the Province’s writers to make definitive roster moves or didn’t you know?

OHHHHHHH, I get it now, thanks for cluing me in, otherwise I would have looked like a total noob 

[aGENT]

[RWJC]

In all fairness, he may actually be back. I can see RT giving him a real chance this year. Even after Mik returns. He’s worked on what they’ve asked him to. Now they have to give him time to show it. 

Edited October 4, 2023 by RWJC

[Phil_314]

Great, now we just need a Podkolzin write-up, either as the next Hoglander or next whipping boy Mason Raymond.
That's how this Roman Coliseum of a fanbase behaves.

[JamesB]

6 hours ago, canucks curse said:

wait... he's a legit NHLer now???

 

5 hours ago, RWJC said:

Apparently all it takes is a focused Province article and you’re automatically anointed to the big club. 
PAJR hold their breath waiting for authorization from the Province’s writers to make definitive roster moves or didn’t you know?

 

I was going to make a similar comment, that it is a bit early to congratulate Hogs on making the team. When Mikheyev comes back, he will be competing with Aman, Joshua, and Studnicka for playing time and is certainly not guaranteed a spot.

 

That said, he looked good in Abby last year. But he has always been a "high event" player who is noticeable on the ice but does not convert that into goals often enough.

 

Anyway, I am cautiously optimistic. While Mik is out (which I am guessing will be for a few games of the regular season) I hope he can show he belongs.

 

And when Mikheyev is healthy it might make sense to send him on a conditioning stint to Abby for a game or two. (Their first game is Friday the 13th. Maybe I would avoid that one.

[RWJC]

4 hours ago, Phil_314 said:

Great, now we just need a Podkolzin write-up, either as the next Hoglander or next whipping boy Mason Raymond.
That's how this Roman Coliseum of a fanbase behaves.

[DrJockitch]

Another example of a kid rushed to the NHL because of Benning’s incompetence. 
Like Podz it is hard to move backwards and go to the AHL but he embraced it and seems to have helped though it is too early to tell. 
Hopefully Colliton can fix Podz game. 
Nice to see us using the AHL team more and starting to use it properly.  The move toAbby was a big step for this franchise. 

[Phil_314]

8 hours ago, RWJC said:

Close, but you're far too kind to us savages.

[elvis15]

If we get players like Hoglander and Podkolzin to succeed, then we can move other pieces to help improve in areas of weakness. I hope he starts off with a bang even if he hasn't ripped up the preseason.

[Blue]

Podz and Hogs were top 5/10 in their draft class in points and stuff 1+ year ago. But the whole "send them to the AHL" got their wish and now they're not the same. They have to somehow rediscover their NHL game. Podz had 14 goals in his first year in the NHL. That was more than Kesler. Kesler sucked in his first year. But we never sent Kesler down. 

 

As i said when they were being sent down , I'd rather they struggled in the NHL than struggled in the AHL. 

[elvis15]

1 hour ago, Blue said:

Podz and Hogs were top 5/10 in their draft class in points and stuff 1+ year ago. But the whole "send them to the AHL" got their wish and now they're not the same. They have to somehow rediscover their NHL game. Podz had 14 goals in his first year in the NHL. That was more than Kesler. Kesler sucked in his first year. But we never sent Kesler down. 

 

As i said when they were being sent down , I'd rather they struggled in the NHL than struggled in the AHL. 

Kesler literally played two seasons with the Moose. And no two situations are the same.

 

Hoglander and Podkolzin both needed time in the AHL as they weren't performing well enough I'll here. They could have stuck around and not hurt us too bad but they wouldn't have developed anything. Now we're seeing Hoglander getting another chance, and Podkolzin just needs to sort out a few things.

[PureQuickness]

8 hours ago, DrJockitch said:

Another example of a kid rushed to the NHL because of Benning’s incompetence. 
Like Podz it is hard to move backwards and go to the AHL but he embraced it and seems to have helped though it is too early to tell. 
Hopefully Colliton can fix Podz game. 
Nice to see us using the AHL team more and starting to use it properly.  The move toAbby was a big step for this franchise. 

 

Not exactly fair to say because the coach is the one that determines this. That being said, Benning made the mistake of keeping Green for far too long. People always complained about Benning, but if we're going to criticize the GM, we have to criticize the coaching as well (which was also part of Benning's responsibilities).

Green nerfed a lot of confidence from players (Juolevi - benched him a game after he scored his first NHL game, Hoglander, and some of the other prospects). It is proof in the pudding that our AHL and NHL coaching didn't develop any worthy players. Arguably, Hughes and Pettersson flourished because of their own skillsets/hard work. Maybe Green helped them out, but it's not a glowing compliment when those are the ONLY two that he helped, besides maybe Horvat.

Benning deserves flack for sure in prospect development, but I think he could've saved himself by hiring a competent coach. Green WASN'T a good coach. Having made the playoffs once despite having full control of selecting your rosters is not good.

[PureQuickness]

1 hour ago, Blue said:

Podz and Hogs were top 5/10 in their draft class in points and stuff 1+ year ago. But the whole "send them to the AHL" got their wish and now they're not the same. They have to somehow rediscover their NHL game. Podz had 14 goals in his first year in the NHL. That was more than Kesler. Kesler sucked in his first year. But we never sent Kesler down. 

 

As i said when they were being sent down , I'd rather they struggled in the NHL than struggled in the AHL. 

 

It's an interesting thought experiment. We've seen players like Virtanen struggle in the NHL (obviously rushed), but we haven't had very many prospects from the AHL that were slow cooked today either. It's clear that our NHL development hasn't been good (even if it's not a developmental league), as well as the AHL. We can blame a wide range of people for this. Gillis for tanking the team's futures, Benning for trying to retool on the fly and middling all the prospects in the process (plus trading draft picks), and coaching. I feel like if we had GOOD coaching, all our players would develop better.

 

I think Benning's strategy of promoting from within had backfired badly. He let the good people go (i.e. Brackett), but kept the ones that weren't good. Green was just BAD. He should've been let go after a few years, let alone EXTENDED. That's on Benning.

 

Overall, I've come around on the Benning blame, but I also think that Green deserves a lot more criticism than he had been given. It's not like he was a helpless guy tied up by Benning. He had full say on his rosters. Benning simply acquired players as needed.

Edited October 4, 2023 by PureQuickness

[Blue]

58 minutes ago, elvis15 said:

Kesler literally played two seasons with the Moose. And no two situations are the same.

 

Hoglander and Podkolzin both needed time in the AHL as they weren't performing well enough I'll here. They could have stuck around and not hurt us too bad but they wouldn't have developed anything. Now we're seeing Hoglander getting another chance, and Podkolzin just needs to sort out a few things.

What I meant was, when Kesler was called to the NHL, he never went back once. Not even after a rather uninspiring 1st season. He was in the NHL to play. And wasn't dealing with the anxiety of being sent down. Podz earned a roster spot in his first year. He got 14 goals. He was playing with confidence. Now that the doubt has crept it, will he be able to get it back ?

Edited October 4, 2023 by Blue

[Bobby James]

I'm a big Hoglander fan. I really hope he is able to cement his NHL game. 

 

I think 35 points and playing the majority of the season in Van would be a pretty solid season and gets him back on track.

[elvis15]

37 minutes ago, Blue said:

What I meant was, when Kesler was called to the NHL, he never went back once. Not even after a rather uninspiring 1st season. He was in the NHL to play. And wasn't dealing with the anxiety of being sent down. Podz earned a roster spot in his first year. He got 14 goals. He was playing with confidence. Now that the doubt has crept it, will he be able to get it back ?

Kesler brought more as a center than just goals. He's not a good comparison.

 

It wasn't going down to the AHL that caused anything wrong with either Hoglander or Podkolzin's games.

[The Lock]

This is great if Hoglander actually makes a return to the NHL.

 

On that note... I thought we were still in pre-season?... 

[Blue]

2 hours ago, elvis15 said:

Kesler brought more as a center than just goals. He's not a good comparison.

 

It wasn't going down to the AHL that caused anything wrong with either Hoglander or Podkolzin's games.

There was not a lot of expectations for Kesler. He was basically there to fill a roster spot. At one point him and Burrows were 4th line pests. But as 4th line pests , they learned how to play. 

 

But we don't do that anymore. It's either top 6 with production or Abbotsford for Podz and Hogs. It's bullsh** imo. Let them play down the roster a bit. 

 

Imagine we gave Burr and Kes the top 6 production or die treatment. 

Edited October 5, 2023 by Blue