Vancouver Canucks: 5 Players who Need to Step Up

Feb 4, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Linden Vey (7) celebrates his goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Linden Vey (7) celebrates his goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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Problem No. 2: Matt Bartkowski

Oct 30, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Matt Bartkowski (44) passes the puck during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Matt Bartkowski (44) passes the puck during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Problem No. 2: Matt Bartkowski

Matt Bartkowski finds himself in a similar rut as Derek Dorsett does.

With the exit of Yannick Weber, Bartkowski finds himself at the bottom of the Canucks’ blueline. Vancouver can now breathe easy. Matt won’t be part of the Canucks’ top-four. First of all, the very fact that the Canucks kept Bartkowski over Weber should give him a boost of confidence. This is a reason that he needs to step up his game — the coaching staff trusts him despite what the advanced stats say.

Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks

This, though, is not all happy news for Bartkowski. Dan Hamhuis is returning and he will soon find himself in the pressbox beside Adam Cracknell. For the pending unrestricted free agent, the ball is in his court. If he can work himself back into the top-six that is already padded down with names like Luca Sbisa and Alex Biega, he could find himself a decent destination at the trade deadline.

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And do not be fooled by the apparent top-four production that Bartkowski seems to have put up.

Bartkowski’s last goal came on November 2nd, 2015. He has only two primary assists in the past three months. For a puck-moving defenceman brought in to give the Canucks some offensive upside on the blueline, he is not doing his job.

Plus, just like Dorsett, Bartkowski is running into penalty troubles. He leads the league in tripping penalties this season and is second on the blueline in penalty in minutes this season.

Bartkowski is getting bumped out of the blueline. But if he can prove himself to be a bonafide offensive defenceman — like Weber in the last half of last season — he will be an invaluable asset for the Canucks going forward.

And as we all know. Who knows when the Canucks might get hit with another injury on the blueline?

Next: Problem No. 3: Emerson Etem