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Vancouver Canucks: 5 Players who Need to Step Up

By David Joun

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. 3: Alex Burrows

Dec 15, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows (14) in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows (14) in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Problem No. 3: Alex Burrows

Radim Vrbata is not the only 34-year-old in the Canucks’ lineup. Alex Burrows finds himself demoted from his “third-Sedin” status, now playing to the left of Linden Vey and Emerson Etem.

It is unlikely that the Canucks will be able to trade Burrows. He still has one more year left on his contract at a $4.5 million cap hit, and his production has been declining.

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And a 34-year-old on the line with a hot duo consisting of a 23-year-old and a 24-year-old might be a burden. If Burrows really wants to push the Canucks to the playoffs, he will not be able to do so himself. He will have to play a supporting role to Vey and Etem.

Also, with the subtraction of Prust from the lineup, the Canucks will look to Burrows to get under the skin of their opponents. Is it just me or has Burrows been a lot quieter after the Patrick O’Sullivan allegations earlier this season? It is not as if he is shying away from his checks and his hits.

Though Burrows is not letting his hit totals drop (averaging just under a hit per game), what is dropping are his penalty minutes. He has never had a season in which he recorded less than one penalty minute per game. That was until last year when he recorded 68 PIM in 70 games played.

This year, Burrows has just 30 PIM in 49 games played. Could that be an indication that his ability to get under the opponents’ skin is going away, just like his ability to score is?

One day, I might just be tempted to let Jim Benning waive Alex Burrows. If he wants to make an impact, he has got to play that secondary role well, getting in opponents’ faces and giving Vey and Etem a solid option to play with.

Next: Problem No. 4:

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