Canucks AM Skate: Line-up Juggling, Trade Rumours?

The Vancouver Canucks officially begin their five-game road trip in Pittsburgh Wednesday night against the Penguins. The NHL line-up and line chart differs from the one in the previous Canucks game. The team earned opportunities against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1-0 loss Sunday, rang five shots off the post or cross bar, and otherwise didn’t finish. Head Coach Travis Green has made tweaks to see if the team can take that next step.

Thatcher Demko gets the start in net for the Vancouver Canucks.

They Said It

— Green, in response to trade chatter in the Vancouver market since General Manager Jim Benning began probing other NHL GM’s about transaction possibilities.

“I think a lot of rumours are people making things up,” Green said Wednesday morning. “We don’t worry about it, players aren’t worried about it, especially if it’s not true.”

— Brock Boeser on line variations and creating production. (see morning skate line-up below)

“I played with these guys last year, quite a bit, so we know each other’s game pretty well and have pretty good chemistry,” Boeser said. “Being one of the guys in the top six, top nine, we need to produce, and that’s been a bit of a struggle. That’s the challenge for all of us guys right now to produce and help this team get some points.”

— Conor Garland on generating offence with Elias Pettersson and Visaly Podkolzin.

“You’re all moving around and cutting seams, working for the puck and working for each other, it works well, so it doesn’t matter who’s out there if guys play that style, play with that intensity, it’ll work in the offensive zone,” Garland said. “Those two guys are really good shooters, probably the two best shots on the team, and I like to find guys in open spots. I think that’s why we had a little bit of chemistry there … we have to make sure we play with pace and keep our feet moving.”

Before and After

Including Luke Schenn’s return from injured reserve and Travis Hamonic not making the trip for the US portion:

Vs Chicago on Sunday at the start –

Pearson, Horvat, Höglander

Podkolzin, Miller, Garland

Dickinson, Pettersson, Boeser

Motte, Lammikko, Chiason

Hughes, Hamonic

Ekman-Larsson, Poolman

Burroughs, Myers

Morning Skate in Pittsburgh –

Pearson, Horvat, Motte

Podkolzin, Pettersson, Garland

Höglander, Miller, Boeser

Dickinson, Lammikko, Chiasson

Hughes, Poolman

Ekman-Larsson, Myers

Burroughs, Schenn

*am line-up courtesy of a Brendan Batchelor, pbp voice of the Canucks, tweet.

Link to some trade discussion facts.

Link to the Vancouver Canucks living on the edge.