Meet the Newest Canuck: Jannik Hansen

When Matt Cooke, Ryan Kesler, and Alex Burrows went down to injury in Game One, the Canucks recalled a couple of fill-in players.

One of these players was Jannik Hansen, a Danish prospect who most people in Vancouver had never heard of until Friday night. Jannik hadn't even played a regular season NHL game, and yet he was called up ahead of more well-known farmhands such as Brandon Reid and Brad Moran.

Well, Hansen was quite a revelation for the Canucks in Game 1, showing lots of speed and enthusiasm while generating some scoring chances off of the rush. Hansen had 4 shots and was buzzing around like a hummingbird.

"The start was a little bit nervous and shaky and I really didn't know what to do with the puck and it didn't feel right," said Hansen, 21, who logged 9:43 of ice time Friday and finished with an even rating on a line with Bryan Smolinski and Jan Bulis. "But after a couple of shifts, I got more into the game and felt more comfortable."

Comfortable to the point where coach Alain Vigneault had the winger on the power play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the third period.

"I didn't expect that -- it was a little overwhelming being out there," added Hansen, who nearly deflected home a first-period point shot and set up Sami Salo for a prime third-period chance.

What makes Hansen's story even better is that he's only the second Danish player to ever make the NHL. Coming from a country with about 3,500 registered players, and being drafted way back in the 9th round (2004), Hansen has beat some long odds and definitely earned a shot to play in Game 2.

Before Canucks fans get TOO excited, however, let's realize that the kid had only 34 points in 72 games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose this season, his first season in pro hockey. Hansen still has a long way to go to cement himself as a regular NHLer, even with one good playoff game under his belt.