Vancouver is trying to find excitement down the stretch of what’s been a disappointing season.
And to find that excitement, they’re going overseas.
Just one week after towering KHL d-man Nikita Tryamkin made his NHL debut, the Canucks are reportedly close (per TSN 1040) to signing forward Anton Rodin, who recently captured Swedish Hockey League MVP honors.
Rodin, 25, was Vancouver’s second-round pick at the 2009 draft. After spending two years with the club’s AHL affiliate (then in Chicago), he opted to return to Sweden and re-join the club of his youth, Brynas.
This year, Rodin had 16 goals and 37 points in 33 games and finish tied for 15th in the league in scoring. Brynas’ season ended about one week ago, and the Canucks have retained Rodin’s rights since his departure in ’13.
Earlier this season, Canucks GM Jim Benning acknowledged his club was scouting Rodin, noting the key to bringing him over to North America was the lure of playing in the NHL.
“He is not going to want to sign a contract at this stage to come and play in the American league,” Benning explained. “We have to make the determination first if he makes this team and where we think he is going to fit on our team.”
Rodin told News 1130 in Vancouver that his “goal is to play for the Canucks,” so the NHL dream remains alive and well.