"Just Take It One Day At A Time, Enjoy It, And Kind Of Learn As Much As I Can.": Jett Woo Breaks Down His Call-Up To The Vancouver Canucks

Jett Woo had a pretty eventful week. He received his first NHL call-up on Feb 12 and had the opportunity to be around the team and at practice for the next couple of days. While he did not get into a game during his time with Vancouver, the experience should benefit his overall development.

One area that the Canucks have focused on this season is ensuring both the NHL and AHL teams are playing a similar style of hockey. In theory, this makes it easier for players when they are called up, as they are used to playing a similar structure in Abbotsford. As Woo explains, this alignment between both teams has benefitted the players and the organization as they can project how a player will look in Vancouver’s lineup.

“It’s great,” said Woo. “You know, obviously, there’s a couple of differences within the structures slightly, but it’s great to have that communication up and down the system, them knowing how you play, and relaying how you play in the game or practices or whatever. It makes it a lot more easier with these last couple of years knowing that. They’re having a great year right now, so it kind of shows.”

The Canucks have also done a great job of surrounding their organization with experienced players and Hall of Famers. Some notable names include the Sedin Twins, who work with not just the NHL team but also in Abbotsford, as well as Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar, who each won Cups and played over 1,100 NHL games. He even had the chance to go against Rick Tocchet and Foote in practice and was able to shut down the former NHL greats successfully. Getting the opportunity to work with these legends of the game has been beneficial to Woo and, as he describes, even draws envy from some of his long-time friends.

“It’s crazy, it’s amazing. Even in Abbotsford, you’d have Yogi (Svejkovsky) come down or the Sedins, and after months or years of working with them, sometimes you can think, oh, you know, just a couple other coaches, but it’s Hall of Famers, it’s the best players that have played the game. It’s crazy. I was talking to one of my buddies from home the other day. I was having a little bag skate with Tocc (Rick Tocchet), Gonch (Sergei Gonchar) and Footer (Adam Foote). I was defending a two-on-one with Tocc and Footer trying to drive the net, and Gonch was throwing sauce. Who else gets to do that? Like I said before, whether I’m playing or not, this is a great experience for me, and I know anyone else who’d love to be in my shoes. So for me to just take it one day at a time, enjoy it, and kind of learn as much as I can.”

As for head coach Rick Tocchet, he is impressed with how Woo’s game has developed this season. The 23-year-old is having a career year and continues to play a significant role in all situations. When asked about what part of Woo’s game Tocchet is most impressed by, the Canucks coach mentioned calmness which has led to improved play in the defensive zone.

“Not as reckless D zone coverage, kind of more calmer,” said Tocchet. “I thought he was running around a little bit, and that’s what young guys do. They run around, and I think he reads the system, or he reads the play a little bit better. I think that’s just from a lot of reps down in the minors.”

Woo has returned to Abbotsford, where he will be crucial in their push for a playoff spot. The hope is he can take what he learned during his call-up to Vancouver and continue to improve his game down in the AHL. Arguably the Canucks best right-shot defensive prospect, he should receive a long look next preseason and will be in the running for a full-time spot in Vancouver for the 2024-25 season.

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