Gadjovich: “I’m a Power Forward”
By J.D. Burke
6 years agoWhen you think about the Canucks of the last decade, you think of a skilled team who’s game is built on offensive zone time and puck possession. It wasn’t always that way, though. During the West Coast Express era of Canucks hockey, they had serious snarl.
For ten-plus years the Canucks have been trying to bring back an element of power to this team that left with Todd Bertuzzi in 2006. Zack Kassian struggled to play from the all-time great Canucks’ shadow. David Booth didn’t even bother. Their latest entrant, Jake Virtanen, seems more suited to Raffi Tores’ game than Bertuzzi’s.
In 55th overall selection Jonah Gadjovich, there’s hope. The Canucks’ draft pick, currently playing with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL enters the NHL with a reputation as a bruising winger with a fierce net-drive and the gumption to take ownership of that ice when he arrives.
“I’m a power forward” Gadjovich said without a moment’s hesitation. “I love being in the corners and I’m heavy on pucks, and I make a living in front of the net – that’s what I’m going to do.”
And what a living Gadjovich has made for himself in the OHL taking away goaltenders space. The power winger is seventh in the OHL by five-on-five goals with 28 and third among first-time draft eligible forwards. Most of them come within ten feet of the opposition net.
Gadjovich knows that he’s going to need to play a 200-foot game though if he’s going to make the NHL. You can’t get the ice-time to score if your coach doesn’t trust you. The Attack controlled 69% of the goals scored at even strength with Gadjovich on the ice last season. Still, the power winger sees room to grow.
“To be at the next level you can’t just be offensively minded or even defensively minded.” Gadjovich told Canucks Army. “I think you have to have that all around game. That’s something I’m going to continue to work on.”
The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit in that regard. Gadjovich had every opportunity to grow with the Attack this season, playing first line minutes at even strength and seeing the ice on both phases of special teams.
“I was given more responsibility” Gadjovich said. “I was killing penalties; I was in the offensive zone and I was defensively responsible. I think that’s a direct representation of our team and our coaching staff, and everything just coming together.”“[Attack head coach Ryan McGill] put in the time [and] effort just as well as I did” Gadjovich continued. “He would spend hours going over video with me and whatever I needed he was there to do it. I would definitely thank him – he was a big part of our team success.”
It’s not often a power forward goes at great length to describe their growth as a complete player. Their job is to score goals and cause general mayhem — sometimes the two go hand in hand. It started to make sense when he described the player whose style Gadjovich emulates.
“Someone that I’ve always admired was David Backes” Gadjovich said. “He’s got a good shot. He’s heavy on pucks. He’s someone that I’ve always respected. He’s got great character and leadership. That’s someone I try to model my game after.”
It’s not Bertuzzi, but I think Canucks fans would be all too happy to settle for a player of Backes’ calibre. If Gadjovich has his way, it won’t be a long wait either.
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