The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • A69

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018 HOCKEY THEPR0VINCE.COM I SPORTS I B9 Gritty Gadjovich needs time to heal Canucks taking no risks with big winger's nagging wrist injury at development camp Ten of 15 forwards invited to this development camp are under 6-foot tall, including 5- foot-6 bulldog Petrus Palmu. Four defencemen are also under 6-foot, including the 5-foot-10 Quinn Hughes and JackRathbone. But Gadjovich points to big, nasty and effective wingers like Tom Wilson and Devante Smith-Pelley of the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals as proof that size matters. "Those are big bodies who bang and create space for their linemates," said Gadjovich. "They go to the net and get the job done and that's something I want to do.

A guy who's 5-foot-9 and 185 or 190 pounds can move out there, but for a guy who's 205 and 6- foot-2, it's difficult to have that lateral change of direction and to play at that pace because you're carrying extra weight and the size. "That hasn't changed my process. I'm a bigger body and that's not going to change. You see a lot of smaller guys who can shake things up and create space for themselves but if a bigger guy can do that, that's just as good or better." Gadjovich is working with a power skating coach in Toronto to do what any big man has to do to keep pace in today's game. "It's the explosive power and lengthening the stride and creating pace." (S bkuzmapostmedia.com benkuzma BEN What's keeping winger Jonah Gadjovich from making a bigger impact at development camp is what eventually will punch his ticket to the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks prospect won't compete in the Summer Showcase game Thursday at Rogers Arena because a wrist injury suffered in the OHL playoffs hasn't fully healed. That hasn't kept the 2017 second-round draft pick from participating in camp sessions this week. His commitment to improve on a daily basis isn't lost on a management team that sees him as a budding power forward like David Backes. Last season, Gadjovich laboured through a back injury in a gutty performance at the world junior championship, and the wrist ailment should have sent him to the sidelines. He managed four points (2-2) in nine playoff games, but his 48 points (25-23) in 42 regular-season outings with the Owen Sound Attack were proof that the 6-foot-2, 209 pound left winger is willing to put in the work.

At the world juniors, he was a physical presence, penalty killer and down-low opportunist. He had three points in seven games for gold medal- Rookie winger Jonah Gadjovich says he's 'about 85-90 per cent' at development camp, nick procaylopng files do was watch. "A lot of it is the skating and the pace and intensity," he said of the AHL game. "I saw how they played and I took mental notes, I wasn't just watching. I have all that in my mind and I'll do anything to elevate my game." He also knows the game has changed to an emphasis on speed and skill over size.

Canucks determining to look at it and get some advice." The advice from the Canucks is that this is a huge summer for Gadjovich to prepare for a pro shot in Utica. Unlike Kole Lind, another 2017 second-round pick who played six games with the Comets and had his eyes opened by the off-ice commitment, all Gadjovich could for Hughes up systems at development camp this week, but what about the grind of an 82-game NHL season? "They have a plan here and I have to respect that," said Hughes. "I wouldn't mind going back to Michigan, if they didn't know where I fit in. But I'm a pretty confident kid and confident in my abilities. I want to believe I can play in the NHL, but it's a really hard league.

"Playing at college again wouldn't be the worst thing." Ben Kuzmas winning Canada, including a two-goal performance against Slovakia. At this camp, Gadjovich's stride is strong and so is his resolve. "I'm not shooting, but I can still handle the puck," he said. "I'm about 85-90 per cent and almost there. And talking to the guys, we're not going to push it and have a setback.

return to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. "We're talking to our coaches, talking to (representative) Pat Brisson, and we want to figure out what's the best thing for Quinn in his long-term development," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Wednesday. "We know he's going to be a special player for us for a long time. We also have to do what's right in his development." Hughes is an elite skater and his head for the game The strength is there, but we've got to make sure we do it right and I'll be 100 per cent by (main) camp. "I tweaked it against the Sault (Sault Ste.

Marie Greyhounds). It was just an awkward play and it damaged something, but it's not serious. That's why I didn't play in Utica. They (Canucks) sent me to Vancouver for the doctors best plan could allow him to make a major leap to the NHL at age 18. However, another year of college would allow him to build on a 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame and compete in world junior and world championship tournaments.

"Those are the things we're talking about right now," said Benning. "Whether it's signing or going back to Michigan, we're trying to figure out what's best." Hughes' speed and skill separate him from the 2018 draft pack. He easily soaked The Vancouver Canucks want to get their house in order. That means contract extensions for restricted free agents Jake Virtanen and Troy Stecher, checking out the off-season trade market for an offensive defenceman, and coming to a conclusion on what to do with the intriguing Quinn Hughes. There have been preliminary discussions on whether the seventh overall selection in the 2018 NHL draft should be signed, or delay the process and allow Hughes to Top prospect Quinn Hughes says he wouldn't mind another season of college hockey, richard lampng files.