Burnaby native Wiercioch gets a huge opportunity from Canucks

In his latest article for The Province newspaper, reporter and Vancouver Canucks insider Ben Kuzma examines the team’s free agency signing of Burnaby native and lifelong Canucks fan Patrick Wiercioch.

Kuzma goes one on one with the 26 year-old defenseman and gets him to open up and discuss the ways in which he must transform his game if he’s to have success with the Canucks in 2017-18. “They want to see more aggression because they know what I can do well in terms of moving the puck,” said Wiercioch. “I can shoot and drive the offensive part of the play and I’ve tried to address parts with a good summer of training and nutrition.” 

An aggressive, homegrown talent that can score and play the body? Yes, please. Vancouver hockey fans have been begging for a player like this for decades. Just one problem, Wiercioch has a track record of not meeting expectations. 

Seen as a top four defenseman on the Ottawa Senators just two seasons ago, inconsistent play and a dreadful season with the even more dreadful Colorado Avalanche has pushed Wiercioch’s stock into the gutter. Of course, the flip side of this is that the Canucks may have landed themselves a real player for very little cost. His one-year, league minimum $650,000 contract is the smallest commitment the team made this offseason, but could end up being their most astute. Time will tell, but we’re pulling for you Patrick!