Canucks: How Linus Karlsson answered leadership challenge in Abbotsford
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Karlsson turned 23 goals in 32 regular-season AHL games into seven playoff goals in 12 outings, which is tied for the league lead. It was just another example of Malhotra pressing all the right motivation buttons.
'He's pushing me to be more of a leader and that's helping me more in my game,' the 25-year-old Swedish winger told Postmedia. 'Make sure I'm on guys, set screens, be around the net and be good defensively.'
If that isn't enough, getting master-class tutelage from Henrik and Daniel Sedin allowed Karlsson to improve pace and net presence at the NHL level to look like a roster mainstay for the parent Canucks next season.
Following a breakout AHL campaign in 2023-24 with 60 points (23-37) in 60 games, he still had to get more dialled on the details.
'Both Daniel and Hank have been incredible ever since I came here,' stressed Karlsson, who signed a one-year $775,000 US extension March 14 and won't be waiver exempt in 2025-26. 'I was more of a half-wall guy, and the power play and working down low have been a good fit.
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Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors It's a testament to second-chance tenacity for the affable winger, who initially teased of potential with the Vancouver Canucks, but struggled to find consistency in decision-making and finish. He beat himself up mentally and was demoted to Abbotsford of the AHL, where he rebuilt his game and confidence. Somebody obviously noticed. One school of thought is did the Canucks give up on the winger too fast by trading him to the Edmonton Oilers last August for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft? The answer is no. They got what they could for Podkolzin, who had two assists in 19 games last season and 15 goals in 44 AHL outings, which seldom equates to NHL success. And Podkolzin wouldn't have been waver-exempt this season on a club that added wingers. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Third-line menace Kiefer Sherwood led the NHL in hits the season with 462 and had a career-high 19 goals on a bargain US$1.5 million salary cap hit. He is 30 but is everything the Canucks need in that lineup position to push, lead by example, and also be a key penalty-kill component. Podkolzin has become a serviceable third-liner for the Oilers, but that's not the career projection for any 10th overall pick. He did manage eight goals and 16 assists this season in 82 games, and has had effective playoff playmaking moments, but where does he project? 'He's hard on the forecheck, he's able to make a nice pass on the breakout and goes to the net when it's in the offensive zone,' said encouraged Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Podkolzin had three head coaches in Vancouver — Travis Green, Bruce Boudreau, Rick Tocchet — and systems varied as much as expectations. Green and Tocchet were tough, Boudreau was encouraging. Maybe it's why departed bench boss Tocchet called Podkolzin a bull and a moose. He wasn't quite sure what he had. 'If he plays predictable hockey, he'll be good,' said Tocchet. 'If he knows exactly where the puck is going, that's where the moose comes in. If he's waiting to go, he's standing around. And he'll be late everywhere. He needs to be aggressive and not read the play after it happens.' Former Canucks right-winger Vasily Podkolzin keeps his eye on puck against the Stars in Dallas on March 25, 2023. Photo by LM Otero / AP At 23, age is on Podkolzin's side, and so is understanding career ascension is seldom a straight line. He could have pouted when demoted by the Canucks last season but found needed perspective. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The first two weeks were really hard,' Podkolzin told Postmedia. 'You start thinking too much. 'What should I do? What's happening?' I had two ways to go. Give up or work. It was good for me to get AHL games to remember who you are and start appreciating.' A more important and pressing query is what were the Canucks thinking at the Rogers Arena draft table in 2019? There must have a been debate. They passed on enticing options — especially with a bumper crop of U.S. National Development Team prospects accounting for three of the first nine picks and seven of the first 15 — but made the surprise selection of Podkolzin. It was somewhat stunning because highly-coveted USNTDP right-winger Matt Boldy was sitting there and taken two picks later by the Minnesota Wild. After his rookie season of 39 points (15-24) in 47 games, compared to 26 points (14-12) for Podkolzin in 79 games, Boldy took off. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He had 31, 29 and 27 goals respectively the following three seasons and point totals of 63, 69 and 73. That's nearly a point-per-game pace of 244 in 285 games, the true measure of potency and consistency plus future promise. Boldy became a first-liner for the Wild, was on the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and could warrant Olympic team consideration. Team scouting efficiency is a pick piling up 200 career NHL games for its club. Podkolzin had 137 here and Boldy already has 285 with the Wild. Wild winger Matt Boldy celebrates his power-play goal and first career hat trick Feb. 14, 2022 at St. Paul, Minn. Photo by David Berding / Getty Images The Canucks have had limited success with drafting forwards 10th overall. They got three successive 20-goal seasons from 1975 pick Rick Blight. They also traded rookie Cody Hodgson, a 2008 selection, after he amassed 16 goals in 63 games in 2011-12. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The kicker in all this what-could-have-been hindsight is the current status of Canucks unrestricted right-winger Brock Boeser. He will test the market July 1 and could leave a considerable scoring void, unless he pivots back to the Canucks, which is hard to fathom. After a concussion, too much drama, odd management optics at the trade deadline, and still managing 25 goals, he may need a change of scenery. Boeser, 28, is looking for term and salary and there's a gap between a five-year offer and the seven he covets. The money isn't as big a stumbling block as term. AFP Analytics projects Boeser could get a six-year deal at $8.5 million annually in free agency. The Canucks offered $8 million so the gap isn't huge. If that's still too rich, free agent Nikolaj Ehlers could get six years at $8.1 million annually, if he doesn't re-sign with the Winnipeg Jets. bkuzma@ Read More Sports Junior Hockey Vancouver Whitecaps News News
