is that the debilitating hip we heard rumors about 2 years ago was true. He just hasn’t got the speed anymore, in saying that, he is still a force in the opposition end if he ever gets there and effective on the powerplay.

Sundin skates upright, back-straight, taking short and choppy strides. His speed is completely gone (something that’s especially evident when he’s on the ice with Kesler or Mason Raymond). He’s somewhat valuable to have in the line-up as a niche player—taking a shift on the power-play and against weaker opposition where he can control the play against the boards—but he’s not going to be a real factor for Vancouver in these playoffs.

The tough decision comes when (if) Pyatt returns. Do you take Hordichuck out of the line-up and lose some of your fourth-line grit in favor of keeping Sundin? Because based on the way that the Raymond/Wellwood/Bernier line is playing right now, they’re more valuable than Sundin…

I really don’t get why Canucks fans feel a need to bash the team when they’re playing well. Isn’t it tradition to wait for a calamity (such as a two-game losing streak)?

Sundin’s presence is still good for the team: Jackman was taking shifts against Sundin’s line instead of the Sedin line. Sundin’s linemates are productive and he wins faceoffs. As long as he doesn’t take the stupid penalties, he can take all week to go blueline-to-blueline if the team is still winning.

Plus, you have a veteran who knows he’s near the end of the line, and who knows how much it means to have a chance to go on a playoff run, and presumably is vocal about that in the locker room, and you want to bench him in favour of a random mucker? What kind of example would that set for the rest of the team?