Vancouver Canucks Season Player Evaluation: Luca Sbisa

Did the Vancouver Canucks really miss Luca Sbisa?

Yes, the Vancouver Canucks have a lot to look for in this year’s offseason. The draft will bring an influx of high-end talent. Jim Benning‘s briefcase is full and ready for July 1st’s free agency frenzy. The IIHF World Championship and the new World Cup of Hockey are providing this offseason another dimension of intrigue.

But there is always room for improvement when the team finishes 28th overall in a 30-team league, is there not?

The Vancouver Canucks could not promise the fans a second consecutive post-season appearance under the new regime. They have, however, given the city enough storylines to analyze over the course of the offseason.

So here at The Canuck Way, we are going to sit down and grade the season that each of the Canucks has had in the 2015-16 NHL campaign. Were the Canucks really as bad as the standings showed at the end of the season? We shall find out, a player at a time.

And for our second look back at the 2015-16 season, here is the report card on none other than Luca Sbisa!

Bio: Luca Sbisa

Height / Weight: 6’2″, 198lbs

Shoots: Left

Drafted: 19th Overall, 2008

2015-16 Contract: $3.6 million, two seasons remaining

Luca Sbisa started the season with an early trip to the Injure Reserve, only to end the season back on the IR. After missing eight games in early November due to ankle issues, Sbisa had to sit out 18 games in December and January due to an injury to the hand. He eventually ended the season outside the lineup for the last 14 games.

After a 2014-15 season that ended in a tragic fashion at the hands of the Calgary Flames, Sbisa saw his playoff D-partner, Kevin Bieksa, shipped off to the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason.

Sbisa was widely criticized for handing out free pucks when the opposition forechecking gets to him. Because of how slow their transition games were in the playoffs, Bieksa and Sbisa were burned big time during the playoffs.

Sbisa then began the 2015-16 season as a 25-year-old leader for the breakout rookie, none other than Ben Hutton. And although the same old “Spizza-givin’ Sbisa” was back in Van City, there was something new about him that made Canucks fans question if the Canucks really missed the so-called giveaway machine while he was out with the injuries.

And that’s a good case to be made because Sbisa was a changed man.

And with that in mind, here is Luca Sbisa’s report card.

Next: Luca Sbisa: The Simple Metrics