Adam Novotný left his first NHL preseason game with a smile, and he came back to Rogers Arena on Tuesday sounding even more eager for the next one.
The Vancouver Canucks’ 24th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft made his NHL ice debut Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken, and the experience clearly stuck with him. Novotný called it “great” and “awesome,” even if the result didn’t go Vancouver’s way.
“It was great. Great game, awesome experience,” Novotný told Daily Faceoff Vancouver. “Obviously didn’t win, the final score was not what we wanted, but overall it was just a great experience, and I’m even more excited for today because obviously I know how it felt, how it feels, and now I’m even more ready for the second game, so I can’t wait.”
For a player making his first preseason appearance, the checklist was pretty straightforward. Novotný said he came away with a few things he wants to clean up tonight against the Calgary Flames, especially when it comes to keeping things simple in the offensive zone.
“Maybe just sometimes play more simple and work down low, maybe handle the puck a little bit more, don’t force anything, just handle the puck. When you’re going to the offensive zone, handle the puck and don’t force any shot or any stupid pass. I’ll probably take that, and I’ll try to be more with the puck in the offensive zone, and don’t be scared to do something for sure.”
His debut didn’t exactly light up the score sheet, but he did finish tied with Ilya Safonov and Chase Wouters for the team lead in hits with four. Novotný said that part of his game was intentional. Even as a winger with a reputation for his shot, he knows physical play matters.
“You have to play physical at this level, right? So yeah, I’m a pretty good size, so I think hitting should be a little part of my game.
So yeah, for sure. I mean, hitting helps the team and, helps me to win the pucks, and it’s good to do that.”
Novotný also had reason to feel good about his place in camp after the Canucks trimmed their roster by 11 players on Monday and he survived the first round of cuts.
“It feels amazing. You know, happy that I made it through this cut, and I’ll do anything to stay here as long as I can. So yeah, super happy about that and excited for this game.”
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Braeden Cootes and Aatu Raty are among the players still trying to make their case, with the evaluation centered on more than just points or a single strong shift. The Canucks are weighing how each player reads the game, how much hockey IQ they bring, and where they fit in once the regular season starts. With Calgary back on the schedule in this preseason stretch, the next look should tell a little more about who is moving closer to a spot and who still has work left to do. [Read more 🡒]