If you need me, I'll be the guy in a glass case of emotion. Jannik Hansen has been traded to the San Jose Sharks for prospect Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional 4th round pick in the 2017 draft.
That fourth rounder becomes a first if San Jose wins the Stanley Cup. So if you're wondering which bandwagon to join, it's the one with multiple rows of razor sharp teeth.
I recognize that this is the right move to make. It had to happen. Vancouver stocks up on yet another young player with high-scoring potential, and another much needed draft selection.
That said, the forced disassembly of what remains of Vancouver's 2011 dream team is seriously tough to take. Hansen, like Alex Burrows, is another home-grown talent. The late-round draft gem has played in Vancouver for 10 seasons, 565 regular season games in total. He's been an exciting, dependable, consistent player for the Canucks. And interestingly, even though he's now 30 years old, he just seems to keep getting better like a fine Danish glogg.
He'll be a marvelous addition to San Jose, exactly the kind of player they'll need to get back to the Finals. In addition to his versatile game, speed and grit, his sharp little claws will help the team dig shelters and gather grubs.
Meanwhile, in Goldobin Jim Benning has acquired yet another solid prospect. And that will please many fans. Isn't that weird? It's almost like you can sell assets and the fans won't turn on you or something.
A former first-round pick, Goldobin has put up nearly a point-per-game in the AHL this season, and looks ready to make the jump. I suspect they'll make sure he's sent to Utica temporarily to ensure he's playoff eligible there, but expect to see him in a Canucks jersey this season.
It's hard to say goodbye. We will miss Hansen's skill, speed, and tenacity. We'll miss his forthright style during interviews and his humble, no-nonsense character. And this season in particular, we'll miss the way he could improve virtually any line he played on. Sounds like the melancholy is mutual.
"Our run in '11 is my #Canucks highlight. It's the most fun I've ever had playing hockey. It was a tremendous year." - Hansen
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 1, 2017
For better or for worse, we will watch Vancouver play against Hansen right away, as the Canucks and Sharks face off on Thursday.
Sigh. At least we'll always have this Cory Schneider impersonation.
Go get 'em, Honey Badger.
