Why Emerson Etem burns to get back to the playoffs
8 years ago
Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports
Emerson Etem knows he can help the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup
playoffs.
playoffs.
He’s been there and has an impressive post-season track record to prove
it. The bigger issue right now is can he help the Canucks get into the
playoffs? Without a surge over the final 28 games, Etem and the Canucks will be
on the outside looking in when the run for the Cup begins. And that’s not a
position the 23-year-old winger has been in before during his brief National
Hockey League career.
it. The bigger issue right now is can he help the Canucks get into the
playoffs? Without a surge over the final 28 games, Etem and the Canucks will be
on the outside looking in when the run for the Cup begins. And that’s not a
position the 23-year-old winger has been in before during his brief National
Hockey League career.
“I’ve played in the playoffs every
year I’ve been in the league and I’ve had some success,” Etem tells Canucks
Army after a recent practice at Rogers Arena. “The playoffs are a time when I
feel like – for whatever reason – I put less pressure on myself. Attention to
detail and living in every single little moment are strengths of mine. So I’m
excited.”
year I’ve been in the league and I’ve had some success,” Etem tells Canucks
Army after a recent practice at Rogers Arena. “The playoffs are a time when I
feel like – for whatever reason – I put less pressure on myself. Attention to
detail and living in every single little moment are strengths of mine. So I’m
excited.”
All told, the Long Beach,
California native has logged 23 playoff games in three trips to the post-season
all with Anaheim – the team that drafted him 29th overall in 2010.
Etem burst onto the scene with three goals and two assists in seven games
against Detroit as a 20-year-old rookie. He got into four games the following
year as the Ducks worked their way past Dallas and into the second round
against Los Angeles. And last spring, he played in and scored in each of the
three series the Ducks were a part of, defeating Winnipeg and Calgary before
falling to Chicago. So he’s felt the squeeze of the playoff pressure cooker and
has found a way to perform in the heat of those battles.
California native has logged 23 playoff games in three trips to the post-season
all with Anaheim – the team that drafted him 29th overall in 2010.
Etem burst onto the scene with three goals and two assists in seven games
against Detroit as a 20-year-old rookie. He got into four games the following
year as the Ducks worked their way past Dallas and into the second round
against Los Angeles. And last spring, he played in and scored in each of the
three series the Ducks were a part of, defeating Winnipeg and Calgary before
falling to Chicago. So he’s felt the squeeze of the playoff pressure cooker and
has found a way to perform in the heat of those battles.
Canucks management has repeatedly
stated one of its primary goals of qualifying for the playoffs each year is to
get young players those same types of experiences that Etem has already had. Bo
Horvat has six games of playoff know-how to draw on after falling to the Flames
last spring. Sven Baertschi got into two of those games to get his feet wet in
the post season and those two games represent twice as much playoff experience
as Linden Vey has. Of course, the raw rookies – Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann and
Ben Hutton – haven’t had a chance to run the playoff gauntlet yet. And even a
player like Chris Tanev, who just turned 26, is a big part of the team’s
foundation moving forward and saw playing time in the 2011 Stanley Cup run has
only suited up for 16 career playoff games.
stated one of its primary goals of qualifying for the playoffs each year is to
get young players those same types of experiences that Etem has already had. Bo
Horvat has six games of playoff know-how to draw on after falling to the Flames
last spring. Sven Baertschi got into two of those games to get his feet wet in
the post season and those two games represent twice as much playoff experience
as Linden Vey has. Of course, the raw rookies – Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann and
Ben Hutton – haven’t had a chance to run the playoff gauntlet yet. And even a
player like Chris Tanev, who just turned 26, is a big part of the team’s
foundation moving forward and saw playing time in the 2011 Stanley Cup run has
only suited up for 16 career playoff games.
So Emerson Etem stands alone
among the Canucks youngsters when it comes to first-hand knowledge of the
playoffs. But in order to add to his playoff game log and to keep his streak of
post-season appearances intact, Etem is going to have to do more that he has
done in his first dozen games in a Canuck uniform since being acquired from the
New York Rangers for Nicklas Jensen and a 6th round draft pick on
January 8th.
among the Canucks youngsters when it comes to first-hand knowledge of the
playoffs. But in order to add to his playoff game log and to keep his streak of
post-season appearances intact, Etem is going to have to do more that he has
done in his first dozen games in a Canuck uniform since being acquired from the
New York Rangers for Nicklas Jensen and a 6th round draft pick on
January 8th.
Primarily on a line with Linden Vey and Alex Burrows, Etem’s speed has
been apparent at times, but his 41.9 percent Corsi For percentages indicates that the Canucks have been buried possession-wise when he’s been on the ice at even strength. Thanks only to an incredibly high on-ice save rate of .976, Etem has managed
to be on the ice for more goals for (5) than against (4).
been apparent at times, but his 41.9 percent Corsi For percentages indicates that the Canucks have been buried possession-wise when he’s been on the ice at even strength. Thanks only to an incredibly high on-ice save rate of .976, Etem has managed
to be on the ice for more goals for (5) than against (4).
To make the playoffs,
the Canucks need every one on their roster — young players included – to find
that next level and that’s where Emerson Etem has plenty of room for
improvement. It took him 10 games to score his first goal as a Canuck –
February 6th against Calgary – and through his first 12 games with
his new team, he has just two points and few memorable moments.
the Canucks need every one on their roster — young players included – to find
that next level and that’s where Emerson Etem has plenty of room for
improvement. It took him 10 games to score his first goal as a Canuck –
February 6th against Calgary – and through his first 12 games with
his new team, he has just two points and few memorable moments.
“Now there are no excuses,” he
says. “It’s been (12) games and some would look at that and say: ‘has the new
guy learned the systems?’ It’s definitely settled down now. When I came in
here, I couldn’t wait to show what I had. I know the points haven’t been there,
but I feel like I’m using my speed and creating a positive effect for this
team.”
says. “It’s been (12) games and some would look at that and say: ‘has the new
guy learned the systems?’ It’s definitely settled down now. When I came in
here, I couldn’t wait to show what I had. I know the points haven’t been there,
but I feel like I’m using my speed and creating a positive effect for this
team.”
Canucks head coach Willie
Desjardins is well aware of what Etem is capable of from their time together
with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He also knows there is a transition phase for
young players who’ve been traded – or in Etem’s case traded twice in the span
of seven months. So the coach is willing to be patient with the player, but only
to a point. If this team is going to qualify for the post-season, Desjardins simply
can’t wait for players to find their form.
Desjardins is well aware of what Etem is capable of from their time together
with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He also knows there is a transition phase for
young players who’ve been traded – or in Etem’s case traded twice in the span
of seven months. So the coach is willing to be patient with the player, but only
to a point. If this team is going to qualify for the post-season, Desjardins simply
can’t wait for players to find their form.
“As a coach, you know everybody wants things
to happen quickly,” he says of the expectations placed on Etem. “But maybe it
takes a little bit of time to feel comfortable and gel and do what he can. He’s
been good, but you’re still hoping there’s a little bit more.”
to happen quickly,” he says of the expectations placed on Etem. “But maybe it
takes a little bit of time to feel comfortable and gel and do what he can. He’s
been good, but you’re still hoping there’s a little bit more.”
Again, this is a player who has
found a way to produce in the playoffs at an early stage of his career. The
Canucks need Emerson Etem to be that playoff performer now to get them where
they want to go.
found a way to produce in the playoffs at an early stage of his career. The
Canucks need Emerson Etem to be that playoff performer now to get them where
they want to go.
“He has to keep his hunger,”
Desjardins adds. “To me, it’s when things are going good, does he keep his
hunger then? I think it’s easy to have hunger when things aren’t going so good
because you know you have to turn it around. I see him in the gym a lot. I see
him doing a lot of the little things off the ice that indicate he’s pretty
focussed to get things going the right way.”
Desjardins adds. “To me, it’s when things are going good, does he keep his
hunger then? I think it’s easy to have hunger when things aren’t going so good
because you know you have to turn it around. I see him in the gym a lot. I see
him doing a lot of the little things off the ice that indicate he’s pretty
focussed to get things going the right way.”
The Canucks made the deal to
acquire Etem because they identified him as the kind of player who could help
them get younger, faster and stronger. And he hasn’t disappointed. But he hasn’t
stood out either. In that sense, he’s fit in with a cast of Canucks forwards
who, for the most part, have left fans wanting more all season.
acquire Etem because they identified him as the kind of player who could help
them get younger, faster and stronger. And he hasn’t disappointed. But he hasn’t
stood out either. In that sense, he’s fit in with a cast of Canucks forwards
who, for the most part, have left fans wanting more all season.
There is
still time and there is still hope that Etem will elevate his game with an eye
to playing playoff hockey this spring.
still time and there is still hope that Etem will elevate his game with an eye
to playing playoff hockey this spring.
Remember, to this point in his
career, this is a player that has only known seasons that extend beyond the
regular season. And it’s Emerson Etem’s every intention to keep that streak
alive.
career, this is a player that has only known seasons that extend beyond the
regular season. And it’s Emerson Etem’s every intention to keep that streak
alive.
“It’s time now that us as a team
– but really us a line – need to put together good games,” he says. “We need to
pot some goals in addition to drawing penalties and using our speed. We’ve been
moving our feet, but it usually isn’t until the middle of games. We can’t wait
to get something going.”
– but really us a line – need to put together good games,” he says. “We need to
pot some goals in addition to drawing penalties and using our speed. We’ve been
moving our feet, but it usually isn’t until the middle of games. We can’t wait
to get something going.”
In the past Etem has demonstrated the ability
to rise to the occasion. The Canucks need him to do it now so that he’ll have the chance to put his playoff pedigree to use again
this spring.
to rise to the occasion. The Canucks need him to do it now so that he’ll have the chance to put his playoff pedigree to use again
this spring.
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