Boudreau didn?t hold back in predicting the value Schenn will offer the team in its upcoming matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
?Luke Schenn will protect every player on that team. He knows what to do, he?s been around a long time. He knows when to do it, more importantly,? Boudreau said. ?He?s good friends with all of those Tampa guys, but when it comes to being on your own team, he?s gonna protect everybody.
?But the one thing about Luke is, he?s not going to go out and initiate it. He?ll be physical, he?ll hit everything that he can, but he?s not going to initiate stupid stuff, but he will be there to back up everybody. He knew that?s what he was in Vancouver. He was our only real guy that could do that, and he?s the guy in Toronto as well.?
Schenn?s willingness to protect his teammates apparently extended to his coach. According to Boudreau, the veteran defender would check in with Canucks management leading up to the team?s very public coaching change last winter.
?He would stand up for me as well as players, every chance he got,? Boudreau continued. ?He would go upstairs and talk to management and say, ?Hey, listen, what are you doing, Bruce is doing a great job.? So, I mean, this is the kind of character he?s got.?
