Former Canuck Jannik Hansen calls it a career

It was rumoured to be happening on Friday but was confirmed on Saturday that former Canucks Jannik Hansen would be calling it a career

Hansen played 11 seasons in the NHL, appearing in 626 games and posting 109 goals and 147 assists. Ten of those seasons came with the Canucks with his final NHL season occurring in 2017-18 as a member of the San Jose Sharks. Hansen had moved to the KHL this season and actually ended the year as winners of the Gagarin Cup, so he ends his career as a champion.

That move to Russia was made due to him being unable to find a spot in the NHL but since his family stayed back in Canada, he ultimately decided to end things now to ensure that he can spend more time with them.

Drafted in the ninth round, Hansen was the perfect third line winger for the Canucks during his prime and gave everything he could on every shift.

The Canucks had traded Hansen to the Sharks at the 2017 NHL Trading Deadline in part due to the upcoming expansion draft. In return, they received Nikolay Goldobin and a fourth-round pick, which was a move that was applauded by many for it being a rebuilding move and for getting ahead of the issues that would make their decisions harder in the summer.

The honey badger only appeared in 61 regular season and 6 playoff games for the Sharks as he just couldn’t seem to replicate what made him so effective with the Canucks.