Canucks: Brock Boeser looks to break the 30-goal mark

Content of the article

Brock Boeser has talked for years about wanting to break the 30-goal mark after coming close in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks.

This NHL season, he jokes, he's been rewarded by staying out of the media spotlight.

Content of the article

“I've told these guys a few times over the years, and this year I told them I didn't say anything, I think it's done,” he said.

Content of the article

Boeser had his 30th hat trick of the season in a 5–4 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jets on January 27.

The goals, which came on two power plays in the third period, snapped a six-game drought.

“I think it's holding him back and working hard after some ups and downs,” he said when asked about his success compared to last season.

“I couldn't have done it without my teammates and how we play and how we set this standard.”

His 30 goals tied for eighth in the league, two ahead of Colorado's Mikko Rantanen entering Thursday night's game in Boston.

Boeser leads the Canucks' scoring charts and is fourth on the team with 54 points.

The Minnesota native scored 18 goals in 74 games last season, and he talked about the struggles he faced last year by dealing with a long drought, healthy injuries and the death of his father.

He started the 2023-24 season with a bang, scoring four goals against the Edmonton Oilers. He scored two more hat-tricks this season.

“I talked about it mentally, finding that motivation again,” he said of what has changed from previous seasons to this season.

Content of the article

Content of the article

The four goals in the first leg tied for the most in a single game this season.

Selected 23rd overall by the Canucks in the 2015 draft, Boeser was named to the NHL All-Star Game, the NHL All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for the 2018 Calder Trophy.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet praised the winger, saying it started with how Boeser approached the offseason and training camp.

“His goals are in front of the net, we want him,” Tocchet said.

“He had a lot of challenges in his life and the way he dealt with it.”

Boeser has worked closely with Canucks assistant coach Mike Yeo this season to improve on the ice, Tocche added.

“He realizes he doesn't like the game,” Tocchet said. “He's a cool guy, he's very dangerous online.”

His teammates have also been supportive throughout the season and talked about his growth.

“He takes so much heat and he's worked so hard on his game,” JT Miller said. “He's really matured and become a very good player.”

Boeser and Miller spent most of the season playing alongside each other, with both moving between the first and second forward lines with Tocchet.

Content of the article

The 30-year-old Miller had 22 goals and 46 assists while playing alongside Bozer.

Netminder Thatcher Demko previously said she supports Boeser both on and off the ice.

“Obviously, Brock and I are really close, we've been really good friends our whole career,” he said after Boeser's second hat trick of the season in December.

“It's great to see. I know how much he has worked physically, mentally and spiritually to reach his full potential.”

Bookmark our website and support journalism: Don't miss the news you need — bookmark VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com and subscribe to our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: for just $14 a month, you get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us today by subscribing to: The Vancouver Sun | Region.

Content of the article