On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, Abbotsford Canucks forward Tristen Nielsen joined David Quadrelli and Chris Faber to talk all things Baby ‘Nucks!
Nielsen and his Abbotsford Canucks teammates will welcome back the Abbotsford faithful to the Abbotsford Centre as they begin their hunt for a deeper postseason run after the Calgary Wranglers bounced them in the second round of last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.
Nielsen talked about how excited he is to get things going at home.
“I’m very excited,” said Nielsen. “I think we have a really phenomenal fanbase and every time you get to play at home it’s exciting. I think we just got to get back to where we left last year, and that’s when you come in our rink, it’s hard for guys to win. We usually play well, a lot of it comes from our fans, the atmosphere, and the building. I think it comes from preparation as well and it’s going to be a fun year, I’m really excited.”
Nielsen also talked about prospect Aatu Räty’s deployment, as many Canucks fans were alarmed to see one of the organization’s top prospects on the AHL club’s fourth line alongside Chase Wouters and John Stevens.
“I would say that our fourth line plays against every other team’s number one line. I mean, John Stevens and Chase Wouters are not fourth liners, they’re two of the hardest working guys in the league probably, and I mean they’re both defensive specialists, like that’s going to be their job. Rats is playing on a line that’s going to prepare him to realistically top lines — which would probably fourth or third liners in the NHL, and he’s going to be going against them every game, and I think that’s going to develop his game even more.”
Nielsen also touched on his experience with the Canucks’ star-studded coaching and development staff.
“I think every staff member has something different to provide. The Sedins are so smart, just two very high IQ NHLers and they — at least for me — taught me how to play a 2-on-1 better, like different things you can do with that. THey taught me like when you’re in the O-Zone, maybe pick someone, then jump to the inside, little role plays like that. They’ll actually go 2-on-2 — I remember last year, I think it was me and Wouty — but they went 2-on-2 against us and it was the craziest I’ve ever seen. We couldn’t get to the puck because they kept picking us. It was the weirdest thing, and then you work on those things, but even with Higgins, he’s really hard on the stick battles, so he’ll teach you different ways. It depends on who you talk to, they’ll kind of teach you different things. I just think it’s nice to have all those eyes and ears, and it’s not like they’re forcing things on you like ‘this is how you need to do this’, it’s like ‘hey, this worked for me, it might not work for you,’ but they give you that option to try it and see if it works for you.”
Watch the full interview below!
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