Tyler Toffoli brings an element to the Vancouver Canucks that the team has been lacking — experience in the post-season.
Toffoli has played 47 post-season games, which ranks him fourth on the Canucks behind Jay Beagle (85), Alex Edler (65), and J.T. Miller (61).
“I think there’s a lot to like about him,” Canucks head coach Travis Green said. “He’s played over 500 games in the NHL, he’s won in the NHL, and he understands how to score and how to win.”
For general manager Jim Benning, the timing of the trade was crucial to staying in the race following serious injuries to forwards Brock Boeser and Micheal Ferland.
“That’s why we made this move,” Benning said. “I think it’s been good for our young players to see as you come down the stretch how hard the games are, and the playoffs are even harder.”
Benning alluded that taking the young core to the next level means playing meaningful games as the season comes to a close.
Toffoli comes from a rebuilding L.A. squad to a Vancouver team that hopes to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four years.
“It definitely makes me a lot more excited… to be here in the race is something I don’t want to take for granted,” said Toffoli, who won a Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014.
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