Canucks training camp star Nils Höglander ready to meet coach’s ‘higher expectations’

Penticton — As most Vancouver Canucks fans know, Nils Höglander is a man of few words. He prefers to let his actions on the ice speak for themselves. And over the course of three days of Vancouver Canucks training camp in Penticton, the 23-year-old Swede has been making a lot of noise – good noise.

Head coach Rick Tocchet revealed Friday that Höglander was among the team leaders in pre-camp fitness testing and has set the tone in every on-ice session so far. His drive and determination have been on full display throughout camp and on Saturday, Höglander displayed the form that led to his career-high 24 goals last season.

The crowd at the South Okanagan Events Centre for the Group A morning session roared its approval after Höglander fired a shot over Arturs Silovs’ blocker and into the back of the net.

Already a veteran of 221 NHL games, Höglander is in his fifth training camp with the Canucks, so he knows the ropes and understands the preparation it takes to be at the top of his game.

“I feel more and more comfortable every year and this year I’ve never felt better,” the 2019 second-round draft pick said after Saturday’s workout. “So I feel really good going into the season.”

Despite his scoring exploits last season, Höglander still had nights where his play without the puck was questioned. And when things got worse in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Höglander was a two-time midway through the team’s second-round series against Edmonton. He finished his first NHL playoff appearance with just one goal and two points and averaged just 10 minutes of ice time per night.

So it was a bitter end to what had been a dream season. But Höglander vowed to learn from his post-season struggles and improve on the lessons he learned.

“It was my first playoff games and for any guy playing their first playoff games in the NHL, it’s not always easy,” he explained. “It’s a good experience for me, I had it last year and hopefully we can do it this year and I can build on that.”

In the coach’s eyes, Höglander needs to continue to improve his game. His motor needs to keep running and he needs to find ways to contribute no matter where he is in the lineup. The Canucks have added depth at winger, which creates an internal competition for playing time.

Last year, Höglander showed he could score lower in the lineup and hold his own when he was higher on the depth chart.

“Expectations are higher,” Tocchet said bluntly when asked about his young winger. “I thought his progression was extraordinary. This year, I think the expectations are even higher. We expect him not to make some of the mistakes he made last year. Look, he’s going to make mistakes, but he came in great shape and him, Garland and Raty set the tone. They’re probably one of the best lines here in terms of durability, so I have to give him a lot of credit.”

Aside from a brief stint in Spain, Höglander spent the summer at home surrounded by family and friends, training and preparing for the new NHL season. He arrived in Vancouver three weeks before camp to reunite with his teammates and step up his workouts.

It’s a plan that has worked out well, allowing Höglander to become one of Penticton’s top players.

“I always feel like I have to work harder in the summer because I know when we get here (to camp), we have the testing, and it’s going to be a long season, and you have to be in good shape,” he said. “I just have to keep the confidence I had from last year and continue to build on that. That’s going to be my goal for the rest of this camp and the next few weeks. I feel ready. It’s going to be fun. We’ve been waiting for this since we lost in the playoffs, so finally it’s here again and we can play.”

Höglander and the rest of the Canucks’ regulars will play Sunday before wrapping up their time in Penticton. Then they’ll begin a rigorous pre-season schedule that starts with five games in seven nights in five different cities, starting Tuesday at Rogers Arena against Seattle.

It’s all part of life in the National Hockey League. And Nils Höglander is eager to get back to work.