On Thursday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed some standout performers from the preseason game between Vancouver and Calgary. The game featured offseason addition Daniel Sprong scoring with less than 30 seconds remaining to tie the game at 3, followed by a dazzling tic-tac-toe play from Hughes, Pettersson, and DeBrusk to secure the overtime win.
Daniel Sprong was the headline performer, having generated buzz even before his debut in a Canucks uniform.
“It wasn’t just that highlight play where he sliced through Calgary’s defence; he was noticeable and dangerous offensively on almost every shift,” said Harm. “He surprised me with how much acceleration he had through the neutral zone. He’s more dynamic as a puck carrier than I expected, and as a playmaker—everyone knows how electric his shot is, but a few times he entered the zone and had the heads-up vision to make a cross-seam pass as the second layer joined the rush. He was really threatening on the powerplay too. When I watch shot-first snipers on the powerplay, I look to see if they’ll force their shot every time. If penalty killers are ready to front the shooting lane, will the player in the circle adapt and look for a pass? Sprong showed that adaptability a few times, and it was especially impressive considering he didn’t get to play alongside Elias Pettersson.”
Next up was Kiefer Sherwood, who also stood out. Playing on a line with Phil Di Giuseppe and Max Sasson, Sherwood made a big impact with his high-energy style.
“Early in the game, the reason Sherwood and PDG were creating so much havoc and spending time in the offensive zone with quality chances was because they were relentless on the forecheck, like dogs on a bone,” Harm explained.
“He didn’t get much penalty-killing time in Nashville, but now he has that opportunity,” Quads added, commenting on Sherwood’s potential new role. “He profiles as someone who should excel on the PK, so I was surprised he wasn’t a regular on that unit in Nashville. We’ve talked about Sherwood as a guy who could develop more offensively, but he could also become a strong penalty killer for this team.”
“I believe he’s going to become a fan favourite this year,” Harm continued. “Fans love players who stand out on every shift due to their effort, pace, tenacity, and ability to get under the opponent’s skin. I’m willing to bet Sherwood will drive opponents crazy, just like he did to the Canucks in the first round of the playoffs. Plus, he’s got the hands, elusiveness, and edgework to contribute secondary offence and probably score a few clutch goals this season.”
Sherwood was seen practicing on a line with Pettersson and DeBrusk earlier today, which could inject the line with the high-octane pace that seemed lacking in the first couple of periods against Calgary.
The conversation then turned to goaltender Jiri Patera, who also had a strong game following a shaky training camp.
“I made a few jokes at training camp because some of his warmup saves slipped past him, but he was solid last night,” Quads said. “He’s still not going to be the NHL backup, but he looked much better than I expected, especially considering how poorly he performed during the scrimmage and training camp. This was my next chance to see him, and I was impressed. The power in his legs is undeniable; now it’s about harnessing that power and seeing what he can become with the right coaching.”
Aatu Räty had a solid showing in his second game in as many nights, though the hosts noted he’ll likely need more standout performances, like his game against Seattle, if he hopes to contend for the 13th forward spot.
You can watch the full replay of the show below:
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