Scenes from Canucks practice: Cameron Crotty links up with new teammates in first Canucks practice

Ahead of Friday’s matchup with the New York Rangers, the Vancouver Canucks returned to full practice to cap off a rare three-day break between hockey games. That extra time has given the Canucks a chance to welcome in newcomer Cameron Crotty, claimed off NHL waivers from the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

The Canucks ran effectively the same lines as Tuesday, with a few spots shuffled to make way for the addition of Crotty to the defensive group.

Once again, Filip Chytil and Tom Willander skated in their main spots as they progress in their respective return-to-play protocols. Both are still on track to return for tomorrow’s contest against the Rangers, with Chytil centring Paul Cotter and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, while Willander skated on a pair with DPetey.

The 27-year-old Crotty took part in his first practice in Canucks colours, skating on a veteran pair with Jamie Oleksiak. Crotty is already on his third team in just a few weeks thanks to two waiver claims; he played three games with the Ottawa Senators to open the season before being picked up by the Minnesota Wild on October 29, where he played no games before landing back on the waiver wire for the Canucks.

Based on the early parts of practice, Arshdeep Bains and Jacob Quillan looked to be the odd forwards out, jumping in on drills for Paul Cotter and Drew O’Connor respectively. Defenceman Guillaume Brisebois was one of the first players out to take part in drills for the goaltenders with Bains and Quillan, helping goalie coach Marko Torenius warm up Leevi Meriläinen and Kevin Lankinen.

The practice had a real competitive edge, especially near the end as the forwards took part in a 2v2 drill. The forwards battled for the puck in the corners, with one defender on each side parked at the blue line to facilitate the setup pass needed to shoot, almost acting as the 3-point line in a game of half-court basketball.

But the coaching staff made sure to keep things light and spirits high, with Manny Malhotra and an assistant coach breaking out the big ice crew shovels to pick up snow from the drill midway through.

The Canucks also skated in their Hometown Remix gear as they prepare to wear them in-game for the first time against the Rangers on Friday night.

Manny Malhotra on Cameron Crotty’s first day: “It was obviously just one practice, but he did a good job of executing and picking up on the drills quite quickly. It’s always a task to come to a new team and follow a different set of drills and the cadence of practice, but he did a great job following it.”

Malhotra on how to ease a new player into the lineup: “There’s a balance there. You obviously want to see what you have available, but [you’ve] got to make sure we put him in a good spot, to make sure he feels comfortable within the system and within the room. But day one was good.”

Cameron Crotty on what fans can expect to see from him on the ice: “Meat and potatoes hockey. Just simple defensive side of the puck. I’m not gonna be here to score goals and stuff like that, but just simple, steady game and be hard to play against.”

Crotty on the opportunity playing for the Canucks presents: “Obviously, I’m gonna run with whatever opportunity I get. Nothing changes for me, I’ll play the same game that I’ve played that’s got me here.”

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