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Canucks and Sharks tonight at Rogers arena where San Jose has won 6 straight games. Jacob Markstrom will get his first start of the season for a Vancouver team that is looking to get some key parts back in the line up shortly. You might see Alex Edler as soon as tonight. Chris Tanev however may have suffered a set back in his recovery from a concussion.

Turns our GM Jim and Real Good Willie like their group of players just fine as the trade deadline has come to pass and nary a Canuck was sent packing. So this is the crew that Vancouver will take into this difficult month and if all goes well into the 1st round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The price that some middle of the road assets were selling for would lead you to think that some of the more experienced roster members (Bieksa, Higgins) could have moved and the timing would have made good sense. The roster is getting crowded at forward as Alex Burrows and Brad Richardson near a return. And on defense where Alex Biega is back to Utica already with Alex Edler and Frank Corrado primed to return. After the Sven Baertschi move (more on that shortly) the Canucks are without 2nd and 3rd round picks in the 2015 draft. Either way GM Jim decided that “Hold Steady” was the best policy

The Canucks did make make one deal that has a lot of “what ifs” attached to it. Benning and team saw fit to send a 2nd rd draft pick to the Calgary Flames for 22 year old Sven Baertschi. A former 13th overall pick by the Flames, Baertschi hasn’t found his legs at the pro level as of yet and some would say he wasn’t truly given that opportunity in Calgary. This will be a great deal to watch; is he the 1st round pick and top 6 forward that Benning see’s him as? Or is he the failed project that Calgary felt they could comfortably deal to a division rival for a 2nd round pick. Somebody will clearly win or lose on this deal. Here’s Baertschi’s draft hype video for those interested:

March is the month that everybody pointed to at the start of the year as the major stumbling block for this Canucks group. 16 games in 31 days, 2 vs the Kings, 2 vs the Sharks, 1 vs Predators, 1 vs Ducks, 2 vs Blues. Oh yeah and most of your defensive core is still hurt…and your starting goalie. Anyway you cut it, this month is the ultimate test for a so far resilient group of players and a coaching staff that has played their cards pretty sharp (just don’t look at the 2nd unit PP).