A healthy scratch in each of the Canucks’ first six games, tough guy Tom Sestito wanted to know if he had a future in Vancouver.
So he asked a guy who might know.
From Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy:
Sestito met with general manager Jim Benning before the Canucks’ recent game in Denver to talk about his situation.
Sestito basically wanted to know if he was in the Canucks plans. He would love a chance to play – and if not here, perhaps somewhere else. Benning doesn’t want to go down that road just yet.
The GM’s message to Sestito was to stay ready and make use of his chance when it comes.
It’s been nine games now, and Sestito still hasn’t played. Part of that is due to the fact that Vancouver is off to a decent 6-3-0 start under new coach Willie Desjardins, and the Canucks haven’t sustained any injuries up front.
Making matters even tougher for Sestito, one of the prime candidates to come out of the lineup, Shawn Matthias, had his best game of the season last night versus Carolina...
#Canucks Shawn Matthias: "I would say it's my best game of this season because I've been pretty crappy..."
— Cam Tucker (@CamTucker_Sport) October 29, 2014
...and there’s also the potential for rookie Bo Horvat, currently on a conditioning assignment with AHL Utica, to get a look before Sestito does.
Sestito played 77 games for Vancouver in 2013-14, leading the NHL with 213 PIM, but only averaging 6:27 of ice time per contest.
That was under coach John Tortorella. Under Desjardins, the Canucks don’t have a single forward who’s averaging less than 10:10 (Derek Dorsett).
Murphy concludes:
The Canucks have back-to-back games this weekend and next (L.A. and Anaheim). If Sestito can’t get into a game by that time I would guess he’ll be requesting another meeting with Benning.