I dropped by the
Edmonton Oilers' website earlier in the week and found myself dripping with envy over all the current content that their fans were enjoying.
Canucks assistant coach Perry Pearn has been running a pro-level 3-on-3 hockey camp in Edmonton for the past two weeks, which has given reporters the opportunity to conduct interviews with everyone from Edmonton captain Andrew Ference to Nail Yakupov to new Edmonton acquisition Mark Letestu to other NHLers like Kyle Brodziak and Johnny Boychuk to the third woman to participate in Pearn's camp, goaltender Shannon Szabados.
Meanwhile, possible future linemates Taylor Hall and Connor McDavid started to get to know each other at the BioSteel Camp in Toronto.
Here in Vancouver, the prospects are gathering, but we haven't heard any reports of what they're up to beyond what's on social media.
The other night, several of the boys were at the Whitecaps game, and we've seen them on the Grouse Grind. Looks like they're also taking in some of the other sights around town:
I haven't spotted him in any of the group photos yet, but apparently Jared McCann is also in town and working out—which is great news after he suffered that scary hit to the head during the Team Canada Summer Showcase earlier this month.
Peter Riucci of the
Sault Star has the update on McCann, who arrived in Vancouver last Monday.
Apparently McCann also injured his shoulder in this collision with Russian defenseman Nikita Zhuldikov. "(The Canucks) wanted to bring him out there early to monitor his shoulder," Soo Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis said. "They asked us what we thought and we didn't have an issue. We already know what he can do."
McCann is downplaying the impact of the head hit that he took. "It made me really dizzy, but I skated off on my own," said the six-foot-one, 187-pounder, who now says he's "back to feeling good again."
He also says that he was not concussed when he sustained another major blow to the head back in 2013.
In March of 2013, he was on the receiving end of a check to the head delivered by Owen Sound's Cameron Brace in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
According to the Hounds at the time, McCann suffered a concussion and severe whiplash.
McCann now says he wasn't concussed, but the whiplash "really hurt."
I'm sure McCann's aware that a concussion history at such a young age could wreak havoc with his potential NHL career—and even a chance to play at World Juniors this winter.
It's good to hear that he's skating. He says he's "done getting hurt now."
Though the Canucks roster doesn't favour his chances, the summer injury hasn't deterred McCann from aiming high over the next month.
“My goal is to play at the highest level possible this season and that's the Vancouver Canucks,” said McCann, chosen by the Hounds in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2012 OHL draft.
Asked if, realistically, he can play at that level, McCann said: “I think I can. I'll go to camp, work as hard as I can and see what happens. Everything I do right now is focused on making Vancouver.”
Comets Excited by Cracknell
Utica Comets play-by-play man Brendan Burke is excited by what the Adam Cracknell signing should mean for the team he covers next season:
Like McCann, right-winger Cracknell's talking like he expects to spend some time with the big club at what's already a loaded position:
Thirty-year-old Cracknell's a B.C. boy, with his home base in Victoria. Cleve Dheensaw
has a feature on him in the
Victoria Times-Colonist:
“I’m not young anymore, but with that comes having no more nerves heading into training camp,” said Cracknell.
“At this stage, you know the calibre and speed to expect. There’s nothing new. I know I have to standout in a different way and play a big, physical role.”
Cracknell's a bit of a known entity for the Canucks' coaching staff. He played against Willie Desjardins' Medicine Hat Tigers during his four years of junior with the Kootenay Ice, then played for assistant coach Glen Gulutzan for two years with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.
“We went to the Kelly Cup ECHL final during my second season in Las Vegas and I’m sure Glen had some input [into the Canucks decision to sign him],” noted Cracknell.
To wrap up today—here's Eddie Lack, putting new spins on old tricks:
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