What frustrated Tocchet had to say about struggling Vancouver Canucks stars
The Vancouver Canucks are not getting enough from their best players to win.
While captain Quinn Hughes is unbelievable on a nightly basis, the rest of their big names have not shown up consistently this season. There have been certain losses, such as one at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where the other team’s best players just manhandled the Canucks, but the reverse has rarely happened this season.
Both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson are below a point-per-game, a mark they both cleared with ease last season. When they’re not going, it’s hard for the Canucks to keep up, and that’s one of the reasons why they’re currently below the playoff bar.
But it’s not the relatively low point totals that frustrate Tocchet when it comes to his big-name players.
“If you’re not scoring, the other parts of your game have to be clean,” said the head coach. “If you’re not scoring and you’re gambling, it’s a bad recipe. If you’re scoring goals and gambling, we can kind of turn a blind eye, but we’re not even scoring and we’re just doing egregious mistakes.”
The gambling was on full display multiple times last night throughout an ugly 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. A few early mistakes allowed the Kings to get an odd-man rush and score within a minute of puck drop.
“There’s a time to press but we’re trying to get momentum, we’re trying to get the crowd in this game, and I just think those are killers,” said Tocchet about the goal.
TURC!!!!! pic.twitter.com/v7TWDwkfU0
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 17, 2025
It’s not just big-name players who have been making these mistakes for the Canucks. It’s an issue that can be seen up and down the lineup.
“Mistakes on mistakes, that’s probably the one thing that drives me nuts. You’re going to make a mistake, it’s the multiplying of mistakes,” continued Tocchet.
“That’s the stuff I’m talking about and that’s the hardest thing I’ve found the last month, you’ve got to calm down when a guy makes a mistake.”
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break fast approaching, the Canucks will soon find themselves in the midst of a playoff race. When that happens, they better hope these mistakes are out of their game or they could be in trouble.