Canucks: Key takeaways from Travis Green’s latest radio interview
By Joshua Rey
Excited for training camp. preseason games, fans in the building and the Abbotsford Canucks
Green spoke about how the team is returning to a regular routine this upcoming season with a full 82 game schedule and a normal training camp.
“I think as far as the team goes, it’s as excited as I’ve been coming back to a team,” said Green. “Having a training camp again, it’s important for probably more for certain teams and others that that have a lot of new players and I would put us in that category. That’s going to be nice to get back to that normal, a normal training camp where you can work your way through a lot of different things.”
He was also asked about the return of preseason games.
"“Yeah,there was a lot made up last year of not having exhibition games in our schedule,” said Green. “Again, I’m not gonna sit and talk about last season and how that affected us but it was part of it, but we didn’t play well enough to win enough games . You know the full training camp this year you get to work on every part of your game, every facet, you get to try different things in an exhibition games with your group, but also learn from mistakes that maybe you’ve made in the, in the exhibition game, and really I think most players are used to that. That’s the way the NHL has always been. So getting back to the norm is definitely going to be nice. “"
The Canucks head coach was also excited about the fact that fans will be returning to Rogers Arena for the first time since March of 2020.
“When you talk about the fans and being able to play in front of our fans again, that’s one of the great things about playing and coaching in the NHL is the excitement level and the passion,not only in our game, but in the fan force.”said Green. “When you talk with fans in Vancouver, and Canada, it’s amazing when you get a chance to play and coach in front of Canadian fans and just the thought of being back in that scenario, again, it’s it feels like it’s been so long and and I know there’s a lot of other people that are excited, but I’m definitely looking forward to that. ”
He also shared enthusiasm of having the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
“To have our prospects just on the road, it’s gonna benefit us in a lot of ways,”said Green. “I’ll be able to go and watch some games. Obviously, for call up reasons, it’ll be beneficial and for the fans being able to see our young players live and in person that are on the cusp of making the NHL is going to be exciting for people to go to the game. So, to have our team down there is is is going to be good for our organization all the way around.”
Anticipation for Vasili Podkolzin.
Canucks fans have been eagerly waiting for Vasili Podkolzin’s arrival in Vancouver and to see him wear the blue and green jersey.
Green also shares that excitement.
“‘I’m extremely excited to see him live and in person,” said Green on the Canucks first round pick in 2019. ” I really said it from day one that I tried to keep pressure off young players. I think we’ve done a fairly good job in developing a lot of the young players that have come through and he’ll be no different. We’ll take it day by day with him, I know he’s extremely excited to get over here. I’m expecting him to be in Vancouver sooner than later. He’s a really good young player. I have high hopes for him. I hope that he can play as many minutes as he can handle. Yet, I’m also realistic that there’s a young player that’s got a bright future ahead of them.”