Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Tortorella era in Vancouver will see Sedin twins blocking shots, killing penalties

Calgary Flames v Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 23: during the second period of NHL action on January 23, 2013 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Rich Lam

We know they can cycle the puck. We know they can score, particularly in the regular season. We’re going to find out if they can kill penalties and block shots.

With John Tortorella being named as the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, the Sedin twins - Daniel and Henrik - will be counted upon to contribute more on the defensive side of the puck than they were under the old reign of Alain Vigneault.

That will include penalty killing duties and getting in the way of opposing players’ shots, which is in keeping with Tortorella’s on-ice plan that the New York Rangers, his old team, excelled at throughout most of his tenure.

“I’ll tell you right now, [the Sedins] are going to kill penalties,” Tortorella told reporters on Tuesday.

“And if they’re going to kill penalties, they’re going to block shots. I think they’ll welcome it because they want to get better, they want to win a championship, and that’s how you win a championship.”