Fan In Van

Ace in the hole?

Before proceeding any further, let’s make one thing perfectly clear: By all accounts, Michael Grabner did not deserve to play in the NHL this season, let alone find himself skating on the top line with Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows. But if we’re being honest, Grabner is the only proverbial ace in the hole the Canucks can wield now.

All available options have been exhausted with Daniel Sedin and Pavol Demitra sidelined. Putting Ryan Kesler on the top line would leave the Canucks without a second line centre, a role which Kesler has been able to anchor thus far. Ditto for Mikael Samuelsson. And Steve Bernier, although he’s been decent on the powerplay, isn’t capable of logging top minutes.

Talk about being thrown right into the fire. Grabner will be counted upon to not only boost the Canucks offense, but almost carry it. Expectations have been set unreasonably high and to be honest any fan expecting him to fulfill those expectations are seriously kidding themselves,

So the team calls up Michael Grabner.

I’m not going to lie, I won’t be holding my breath for the Austrian to score his first NHL goal. While he’s shown hands in the American League, he hasn’t been able to translate that success to the NHL. His preseason showing was unbearable, to say the least. Despite possessing blinding speed and the ability to carry the puck up ice at those speeds, Grabner’s hesitation to go into the dirty areas of the offensive zone leads me to believe he may never get to the NHL.

He’s steadily approaching “bust” status, and this may be Grabner’s best and last chance to prove that he can play in the NHL. Coach Vigneault couldn’t have given the Austrian a more bonafide opportunity to prove his worth than on the top line with one of the best set-up men in the game today in Henrik Sedin. Alex Burrows vows to do all the dirty work necessary; all Grabner has to do is finish.

Can he do it? I suppose we’ll find out on Friday when the Canucks hit the road in Calgary. Canuck fans are holding their collective breath waiting to find the answer.