Canucks news: Jake DeBrusk knows he has to ‘generate more chaos’

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Jake DeBrusk led the Boston Bruins in playoff scoring last spring.

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Can the big winger channel that performance — 11 points (5-6) in 13 games, second in hits (53), and second among forwards in blocked shots (16) — into the present?

The Vancouver Canucks are in a must-win scenario just to get to the second season. And, quite frankly, it feels like their own version of nightly playoff-style desperation with an offence struggling with a 27th ranking of 2.71 goals per outing.

Did somebody say playoffs in March?

“It is for us, but it’s not as physical, ” DeBrusk said Monday of the postseason vibe. “It’s getting there. Every game means the most to us, and the next one means more. That’s a playoff mentality in a way because it will get tighter.”

DeBrusk has a team-leading 22 goals and is on pace for 28, and knows testosterone levels and that time and space constraints in the postseason are becoming more evident now. And so is the pressure to produce.

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“Be patient. Don’t let it get in your head,” he suggested. “I need to take more control with body position and stop guessing where the puck is going to go.”

DeBrusk is adept at getting to the net to set screens, tip pucks and get to rebounds. He is also quick enough to hound the opposition. He could add another needed dimension by winning corner-board battles for the puck and then taking a direct route to the net to either shoot or set up an open teammate.

“That’s something I’ve been thinking about,” he admitted. “Obviously, you try, but there are good players out there. I have to generate more chaos, but feel like I have just been waiting around. I’m done with that.”

DeBrusk is not done being a load to handle down low by taking an inside passage to the net. It’s where he earns a living, but he knows there must be more versatility to generate scoring chances. The Canucks had 23 shots Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars and are 31st overall with just 25.5 shots per outing.

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“We generated some decent looks, but didn’t find the answer,” added DeBrusk, who was limited to one shot and had his ice time cut back. “It sucks. We’ve got to force plays a little more and get to the net and get looks off the rush. We need to be better there.”

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet knows body position is everything to generate puck control, possession, and score.

“It’s my job to get these guys to do it, and when we do it, we’re a good team,” he said. “When we don’t, we’re flipping a coin.”

Quinn Hughes ‘could surprise at any time’

The daily Quinn Hughes injury rehab update took an interesting turn Monday.

The Canucks captain ramped up his solo skating again to improve endurance. He obviously needs a number of practices before getting the green light to return from a March 1 “tweak” in Seattle, a trickled-down effect of a Jan. 31 oblique-muscle strain in Dallas when he was crosschecked in the ribs.

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However, Tocchet hinted the rehab process may be on fast forward, even though the Canucks have back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday, are off Thursday, and play again on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t practise today (Monday) because he would have been there, but I don’t know what colour of jersey he would have had on,” Tocchet said in reference to non-contact jersey protocol. “But he’s progressing and he could surprise us at any time when he’s ready to go. This was more of a push day than (Sunday).

“I’m not saying he’s going to be in the lineup (Tuesday), but it’s coming. I just don’t know when. I don’t know if you can just throw him in (without practice) and don’t want to play the what-if card. But for the good of him, I’d like to see him practise.”

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Rotating ‘A’ not Brock Boeser disrespect

Brock Boeser did not wear the ‘A’ on Monday as alternate captain. Is this market, that set off a social-media firestorm. And it ticked off Tocchet.

Defencemen Tyler Myers and Marcus Pettersson and centre Elias Pettersson were alternate captains in the process of rotating the letter throughout the season.

“We didn’t disrespect Brock because he didn’t have an ‘A’,” stressed Tocchet. “We’ve rotated the ‘A’ and (Conor) Garland has worn it and Boeser has worn it a lot. (Derek) Forbort could wear it. We didn’t respect a nine-year guy here just to cause problems.

“Ask Brock Boeser if Rick Tocchet disrespects him. It was just a narrative that some guys try to cause crap all the time.”

OVERTIME — Where would the Canucks be without Kevin Lankinen? In big trouble. He will probably get the net again Tuesday, but what about a showdown in Calgary on Wednesday in a wild-card fight with the Flames? A lot will depend on load management against the Canadiens. The Canucks also have back-to-backs here Saturday against the Chicago and Sunday against Utah. Maybe Arturs Silovs faces the Blackhawks. We’ll see.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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