On Opening Day for free agency, the Vancouver Canucks signed Carson Suci, Matt Irwin, and Ian Cole on defense and Teddy Plougher and Tristan Nielsen on offense. for this edition of Meet the New CanucksWe’ll focus on Blueger, officially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Who is Teddy Blogger?
Now a 268-game NHL veteran, Blueger began his professional career in Pittsburgh after being selected in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2012 draft. The ostentatious Shattuck St Mary’s PipelineHe made his NHL debut in 2018-19 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 30, 2019, and promptly scored his first goal just two days later against the Ottawa Senators. He switches between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and his parent club, and finished his rookie season with six goals and 10 points in 28 games.
Blueger became a full-time NHLer in 2019-20 and has not seen the AHL since. before it was Trade in golden knights Last season, he was a valued member of the Penguins’ bottom six and killed penalties for parts of four seasons in which he accumulated 33 goals and 92 points in 250 games. He was Praised only last November by then-head coach Mike Sullivan about how important he was to the lineup (specifically the penalty kill).
“He’s a really good player, a good two-way midfielder. He has an attacking dimension to his game, but he’s a real defensive center man man. He’s good in the confrontation circuit. He’s getting better every year in the confrontation circle, he just keeps getting better there. He’s a really good penalty killer “He has great awareness off the puck. And I think his offensive game is getting better and better with every game he plays.”
The Blueger has developed into a high-energy third line center who is capable of killing penalties, winning tackles (49.1 percent career score), and being physical (329 career scores). He can also offer some offense – although he hasn’t crossed the nine-goal mark yet.
2022-23 season at Blueger
Blueger began his fifth season in the NHL in Pittsburgh but was dealt at the 2023 trade deadline to the Golden Knights for 2024 Peter Diliberatore’s 3rd round pick. Before joining Vegas for the Stanley Cup, he had 2 goals and 10 points in 45 games, as well as to plus/minus -7 and a face-to-face ratio (FO%) of 50.1. With the Golden Knights, he saw his average time on ice (ATOI) increase slightly from 12:46 to 13:16 and increased his FO% to 56.1.
Related: Meet the New Canucks: Carson Susie
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Despite finishing second on the Penguins in shortened time on ice per game (SH TOI/GP) with 2:37, he’s barely seen a penalty kill in Vegas as he’s only clocked 0:47 SH TOI/GP in 18 games played. Regularly. season. He also played just six games in the playoffs (two in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers and four in the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars). He got his name in the cup but didn’t fit into a match in the final giving way to Michael Amadeo in the first match.
Overall, Blueger has been a part of the sidelines in the Golden Knights’ quest for the Cup. He did a little offense with a goal and two points in the six games, but ultimately wasn’t much of a reason for their success.
Blueger fit in with the Canucks
Prior to the start of free agency, rumors circulated that the Canucks were looking for a third line position and a few defensemen to complete their roster for the 2023-24 season (from the ‘Canucks’ plans to upgrade the defense and what we’re hearing before free agency) the athlete, 6/30/23). The Blueger is checking out the first box as he has proven to be a solid two-way pivot since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2019-20. While the Golden Knights didn’t use his skills often, the Penguins appreciated his defensive game, penalty kick, and food mentality throughout his time in the Black and Golds.
With the Canucks, Blueger is expected to be the same forward that then-General Manager (GM) Jim Rutherford and then European Scouting Director/Assistant GM had in the years they were in Pittsburgh. All in all, he played three seasons under Rutherford and five under Alvin, so they likely know what player they’re getting.
Despite primarily playing fourth line in Vegas, Blueger has the potential to become a consistent third line center ahead of Nils Aman. In the three seasons prior to 2022-23, he averaged about 15 minutes of ice time with the Penguins and saw regular penalty time. In fact, he leads all forwards with 402:58 (2:17 ATOI/GP) and even earned three Selke Trophy votes in 2019-20. He clearly knows how to play solid defense and can handle a good amount of minutes on penalties and even power. He may not score much, but he’s exactly what the Canucks need for a bottom six and a definite special teams promotion.
The Canucks joined free agency with the death penalty in mind
The common theme that runs through all of the Canucks’ additions July 1st is penal homicide. Susi, Cole, Irwin and Blogger know how to kill penalties and have been good at it so far in their careers. They should massively support the unit that died last in the NHL in 2022-23 with an abysmal efficiency rate of 71.6 percent.
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Blueger will likely head the first unit penalty kick alongside Elias Pettersson or JT Miller. However, if the coaching staff decides to keep the A two-target dynamism shortened togetherThen he leads the second unit with Aman, Ilya Mikheev or Dakota Joshua. Whatever the case, he’ll be what the Canucks thought they’d get with Jason Dickinson when they acquired him from the Superstars in 2021.
As for who will play Blueger in the third line, his wing could consist of a combination of Vasily Podkolzin, Nils Hooglander, Tanner Persson, Connor Garland, Phil Di Giuseppe, or even Anthony Beauvilliers. Aside from the last defensive position alongside Tyler Myers, the Blueger guys might be the most interesting fights to watch in training camp this year.
All stats have been taken from NHL.com And Elite prospects.