Dickinson, you may recall, ended Filip Chytil’s season with a high, blindside hit along the sideboards late in a one-sided Canucks victory on March 15th at Rogers Arena. There was no penalty on the play, and there was no subsequent supplemental discipline from the Department of Player Safety.

Chytil was clearly shaken up on the play, struggled to get to his feet, left the game and did not play again last season.

The day after the hit, Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood was still upset and vowed that Dickinson would have to pay for his transgression.

“He’s going to have to answer the bell next year,” a visibly agitated Sherwood said. “I know we don’t play them again. That was a dirty hit. Unnecessary. It’s 6-2. He doesn’t have the…whatever to step on the ice afterwards. Forby asked him. It is what it is. We’ll get him next year.”

Fast forward to tonight at the United Center, and we’ll see if the Canucks have Dickinson in their crosshairs. Coming off the team’s best win of the season in Dallas 24 hours ago, it seems foolish to think the club would devote energy to exacting revenge.

While the fanbase has lamented a lack of action on the part of the Canucks following similar incidents in recent years, this is a team that isn’t really constructed to get its pound of flesh. And it’s not really fair to expect newcomer Evander Kane to settle scores when he was part of a different organization when the nasty hit occurred.

The National Hockey League does not look kindly on premeditated vigilante justice. Veteran Kelly Sutherland and fellow referee Furman South have likely been advised about the recent history between the teams.

Oftentimes, there is much bluster before the puck drops and little heat once the game actually begins. Both clubs are trying to find their footing in the early going this season, and so it’s fair to expect a competitive, physical battle. But, ultimately, the Canucks need to be far more concerned with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar than they are about Jason Dickinson.