Pyatt's Potential

It's hard to overlook Taylor Pyatt at practice when the new winger for the Vancouver Canucks swoops toward the net during a line rush.

The hulking player is a robust 6 foot 4 and 220 pounds, with wide shoulders and size 12 skates on his surprisingly quick feet.

He's hopeful the Canucks will provide him with an opportunity to succeed after he was found wanting by his previous National Hockey League clubs, the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.

The Canucks obtained Pyatt this summer in a trade with Buffalo, hoping the 25-year-old from Thunder Bay might be a late developer, just as forward Todd Bertuzzi was a few years back.

...is not the next Todd Bertuzzi. He's not a leader or an agitator and he really doesn't have much of an 'on' switch, you know, the kind that makes Bertuzzi both great and terrible all at the same time. But, that said, he is a solid checking forward, if not overly physical. He must be paired with someone who plays with intensity. Pyatt played his best hockey in an Angry Goat Head when centered by Paul Gaustad, a guy who never takes a shift off. That's what I mean by his being a follower. Get those Bert comparisons out of your head and you'll see a solid, if unspectacular guy who has better tools than aggression. Pencil him in for 10-12 minutes of PK/Checking duties.

Soft-spoken Taylor Pyatt has often been labelled "Taylor Quiet" by critics who wonder why the big winger's play has seldom matched his imposing size.

Those doubts may be disappearing.

Pyatt turned in a solid two-way performance Sunday during a 4-3 preseason shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks at GM Place.

On a line with Brendan Morrison and Jan Bulis, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound left-winger forechecked aggressively, created shooting lanes and screens. He had an assist and four shots on goal and the trio combined for eight shots.

"We created quite a few good opportunities and it was only my second game and my first chance to play with Brendan and Jan," said Pyatt, who finished a plus-1 in 14:40 of playing time. "I thought we had a pretty solid game."

(snip)

On Sunday, there was nothing hurting in Pyatt's game. In the first period, he wheeled out of the corner and feathered a soft backhand pass to Bulis, who scored to give the Canucks a 2-1 edge at 10:32.

In a second-period sequence, Pyatt fought off checks to set up his linemates. And on a power play, he created an effective screen and nearly deflected a Mattias Ohlund point shot home.

In the third period, Pyatt spun off defenders down low for another good scoring chance. He then brushed off a check by Travis Green to set up Bulis before firing a good wrister to force Ilya Bryzgalov to make a stellar glove save with the game tied 3-3.

It was a snapshot performance of what the Canucks hope will be a full-length feature this season

"That's my style to get in on the forecheck and be physical by finishing my checks and be able to protect the puck around the net and in the corners," said Pyatt. "And I've got to make plays and I had some pretty good opportunities.

"I thought our line had some pretty good chemistry."