Former Canucks and Ducks defenseman Bieksa makes a comeback

Former NHL defensemen Kevin Bieksa ain’t done yet.

The 37 year old tough guy who played 13 years in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks is mounting a professional comeback after being cut loose by the Ducks last offseason and failing to catch on with another team. Officially the veteran of 808 NHL games is an unrestricted free agent awaiting an offer, but it doesn’t seem that he’s likely to get one just sitting around the house.

That’s why Bieksa has been training with the WHL’s Everrett Silvertips in the hopes of competing for a spot on Team Canada in the upcoming Spengler Cup in Switzerland which takes place later this month.

Check it out:

Pretty cool things happening around @WHLsilvertips this week. 

13-year NHLer Kevin Bieksa is practicing with the Tips this week. He's training to compete with Team Canada for the Spengler Cup and needed open ice. He played with Tips HC Dennis Williams at Bowling Green.

There’s no doubt that Canada would be interested in Bieksa given his pedigree and experience, it’s just a matter of whether or not he still has much in the tank at age 37. In 59 games with the Ducks last season, Bieksa went goalless and added just eight assists. He’s far removed from his glory days with the Canucks, but given that Canada’s 2017 Spengler Cup roster featured just a handful of former NHLersw including Mason Raymond, P.A. Parenteau, Andrew Ebbett and Nick Spaling, there’s a good chance that Bieksa cracks the roster.

Canada will look to defend its 2017 championship and put up a fourth consecutive championship when the tournament gets underway in Switzerland on Boxing Day, December 26th.