Canucks Pedan: ‘I think it’s time for me to play in the NHL’
7 years ago
Like many prospects, Andrey Pedan feels he’s ready for full
time duty in the National Hockey League. He also knows, however, that the
decision is not his to make and that the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff and
management may have other ideas. Still, the 23-year-old defenseman plans to do
all he can to state his case to the Canucks brass when training camp opens at the
end of next week in Whistler.
time duty in the National Hockey League. He also knows, however, that the
decision is not his to make and that the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff and
management may have other ideas. Still, the 23-year-old defenseman plans to do
all he can to state his case to the Canucks brass when training camp opens at the
end of next week in Whistler.
Leaving nothing to chance, Pedan has been skating with
Canucks teammates for a couple of weeks now to ensure he’s ready to make an
impression when camp begins.
Canucks teammates for a couple of weeks now to ensure he’s ready to make an
impression when camp begins.
“I think it’s time for me to play in the NHL,” he told
Canucks Army after a recent workout at Rogers Arena. “I’m going to do
everything I can to make the team this year. I think the coaches know what I
can do. It’s up to them to make the decision.”
Canucks Army after a recent workout at Rogers Arena. “I’m going to do
everything I can to make the team this year. I think the coaches know what I
can do. It’s up to them to make the decision.”
Many factors will figure into the Canucks decision. Pedan,
who signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club in July, will need to
clear waivers to be sent to the minors. That could help his case to stay, but
he still has to prove he belongs at the big level and will need to impress in
the preseason. With Philip Larsen, Nikita Tryamkin and Luca Sbisa all battling
for the final two spots on the blueline on a nightly basis, Pedan is well down
the team’s defensive depth chart and will have to nudge past a player like Alex
Biega if the Canucks choose to carry eight defensemen to start the season.
who signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club in July, will need to
clear waivers to be sent to the minors. That could help his case to stay, but
he still has to prove he belongs at the big level and will need to impress in
the preseason. With Philip Larsen, Nikita Tryamkin and Luca Sbisa all battling
for the final two spots on the blueline on a nightly basis, Pedan is well down
the team’s defensive depth chart and will have to nudge past a player like Alex
Biega if the Canucks choose to carry eight defensemen to start the season.
It was clear Pedan didn’t have the full confidence of the coaching
staff last season when, as a rookie, he got into 13 games with the Canucks, but
spent nearly half of them as a forward. He averaged 10:57 of ice time although
in his final five games late in the season only saw more than nine minutes of
ice time once. It was a strange deployment for an organization out of the
playoffs insisting on playing Matt Bartkowski in 80 games knowing full well he
wasn’t coming back rather than using the final portion of the season to take a
longer look at prospects like Pedan.
staff last season when, as a rookie, he got into 13 games with the Canucks, but
spent nearly half of them as a forward. He averaged 10:57 of ice time although
in his final five games late in the season only saw more than nine minutes of
ice time once. It was a strange deployment for an organization out of the
playoffs insisting on playing Matt Bartkowski in 80 games knowing full well he
wasn’t coming back rather than using the final portion of the season to take a
longer look at prospects like Pedan.
While the way he was used was out of his control, the 6’5”
213-pounder tried his best to do what the coaches asked of him. However, he
hopes the experiment at forward is a thing of the past.
213-pounder tried his best to do what the coaches asked of him. However, he
hopes the experiment at forward is a thing of the past.
“I got the chance to play as a forward and whatever it was,
I did it,” he says. “I’ll look at it as a good thing instead of watching the
game in the dressing room. I’d rather be with the guys on the ice. I was really
excited last year to get the opportunity to play. This year I want to spend
more time and play defense full time.”
I did it,” he says. “I’ll look at it as a good thing instead of watching the
game in the dressing room. I’d rather be with the guys on the ice. I was really
excited last year to get the opportunity to play. This year I want to spend
more time and play defense full time.”
In the handful of games Pedan was used as a defenseman, he
showed glimpses of why the organization acquired him from the New York
Islanders nearly two years ago. His size is undeniable and at times
demonstrated a willingness to get involved physically and stick up for
teammates. He still has plenty to learn at the National Hockey League level,
but thinks he’s done just about all he can do in terms of proving himself in
the parts of four seasons he has spent in the American Hockey League.
showed glimpses of why the organization acquired him from the New York
Islanders nearly two years ago. His size is undeniable and at times
demonstrated a willingness to get involved physically and stick up for
teammates. He still has plenty to learn at the National Hockey League level,
but thinks he’s done just about all he can do in terms of proving himself in
the parts of four seasons he has spent in the American Hockey League.
While he has enjoyed his time in Utica the past two seasons,
he wants to believe his time there is done.
he wants to believe his time there is done.
“Some people can be patient, some people can’t,” he says. “I
can, but there is always a limit to be patient. I want to be on the team this
year.”
can, but there is always a limit to be patient. I want to be on the team this
year.”
Pedan along with Canucks teammates Jake Virtanen, Ben Hutton
and Emerson Etem had front row seats for a recent UFC event at Rogers Arena and
even got some camera time on the national television broadcast. It was the
first time he’d seen a mixed martial arts event in person. He called it a fun
experience, but balked at the idea he was using the night as inspiration for
fighting his way on to the Canucks this season.
and Emerson Etem had front row seats for a recent UFC event at Rogers Arena and
even got some camera time on the national television broadcast. It was the
first time he’d seen a mixed martial arts event in person. He called it a fun
experience, but balked at the idea he was using the night as inspiration for
fighting his way on to the Canucks this season.
“I just need to play hockey first,” he says. “Fighting is
for UFC and not for hockey.”
for UFC and not for hockey.”
Regardless, Andrey Pedan will have a battle on his hands
when Canucks camp opens. He hasn’t shied away from the rough stuff in the past
and will likely have to show a willingness to play that way again to catch the
eye of the coaches. However, it’s the work he does with his gloves on and stick
in hand that will ultimately determine whether Pedan’s a contender for an
opening night roster spot with the Canucks.
when Canucks camp opens. He hasn’t shied away from the rough stuff in the past
and will likely have to show a willingness to play that way again to catch the
eye of the coaches. However, it’s the work he does with his gloves on and stick
in hand that will ultimately determine whether Pedan’s a contender for an
opening night roster spot with the Canucks.
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