Canucks notes: Tocchet searches for identity; Horvat’s future; and Demko’s progress

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was unequivocal post-game on Wednesday in Seattle: his team was far too meek in its efforts against the Kraken and it was no surprise they lost 6-1.

Too soft, he said.

Two days later, he was a little more tempered in his comments, though there were tons to be drawn from the Seattle disappointment.

“It kind of gives me some bullets. The way you play, this team, the way they played the one night (Tuesday against Chicago) and the next. Now, I get it: I think there’s a lot of anxiety in the last couple of weeks or whatever. It hit them. And Seattle was ready for us,” he said Friday, ahead of his team’s last game before the all-star break, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets at Rogers Arena.

Beyond that, he’s looking for his team to establish self-identity over the next few months.