Do the Vancouver Canucks Have Stanley Cup Muscle?

Last season, many believed that the Vancouver Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Final because they were lacking in team toughness.

Canucks management downplayed the idea, but has tinkered with the lineup all year long in an effort to find the right texture of sandpaper to take them all the way in 2012.

For a team to be effectively gritty, they need to find just the right balance of hitting, fighting, and making life miserable for the opposition, all while limiting the number of power plays that they bestow.

Here's a video look at the tough characters who may need to get going when the going gets tough.

Byron Bitz

Byron Bitz has just been recalled from the AHL Chicago Wolves and is expected to replace the injured Zack Kassian in the lineup, at least in the short run.

The 6'5" Bitz signed a one-year free agent contract with the Canucks this past summer. He already had a long injury history, and before training camp he underwent his fourth abdominal surgery in a year, which sidelined him until January.

After a run of games with the Wolves, Bitz was called up to the big club in February and did not look out of place, logging 1-3-4 in eight games, recording a +2, and picking up 14 penalty minutes.

If Bitz can stay healthy, he might provide the perfect combination of soft hands and hard fists.

Zack Kassian

The most unexpected moment of the Canucks' entire season may have been Mike Gillis' deadline deal that sent Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer to Buffalo in exchange for Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani.

It was understood that Hodgson's long-term prospects in Vancouver were limited, playing centre behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. Still, most assumed that after winning Rookie of the Month honours in January, Cody would bring more back than an unproven tough guy with a reputation for undisciplined play.

Kassian landed in Vancouver with a bang, making his physical presence known and earning an early thumbs-up from the fans. But his on-ice presence has diminished and he has logged just 1-2-3 in his 17 games as a Canuck, with a -1 and 31 penalty minutes.

Even before Kassian injured his shoulder in the Anaheim game on Tuesday, there was talk that he was on a short leash and might find himself in the press box once the post-season begins. Alain Vigneault is not providing any details on the injury at this time, so we'll have to wait and see if Kassian gets a chance to provide some playoff muscle.

Dale Weise

Dale Weise has been the Canucks' most consistent enforcer-figure this season, patrolling the fourth line for 66 games and logging 81 penalty minutes.

However, as the season winds down, Weise has been a healthy scratch for the last three games. The recent call-up of Byron Bitz indicates that Weise's spot in the lineup is anything but assured once the playoffs begin.

Weise is 4-4-8 and a -1 this season, and it looks like he might be a little too one-dimensional to fit into Alain Vigneault's post-season plans.

Maxim Lapierre and Alex Burrows: "The Pests"

Max Lapierre and Alex Burrows are first and third on the Canucks' penalty leaderboard this season. They're not known as fighters so much as agitators, but Lapierre in particular is more than willing to fight in the right situations.

The pair of feisty Frenchmen are currently patrolling the wings for Henrik Sedin on the first line during Daniel's absence, and have provided a much-needed offensive spark.

If Lapierre and Burrows are on their games in the postseason, they'll get under the skin of their opponents, and make them pay on the score sheet.

Kevin Bieksa, Aaron Rome, Andrew Alberts and Keith Ballard: "The Big D"

Kevin Bieksa is more valuable to the Canucks on the ice than in the penalty box, but the owner of the noted 'angry face' is not afraid to get surly.

As a group, the Canucks' blue line is big, strong, and physical. Bieksa, Rome, Alberts and Ballard are more than willing to drop the gloves, while Alex Edler and Dan Hamhuis can dish out their share of body-checks. Sami Salo has been injury-prone throughout his career, but also knows how to use his body effectively.

Rome and Ballard are both currently sidelined with injuries but should be ready to go once the playoffs get underway. With the knowledge that players can draw in and out of the lineup, the Canucks' defence corps should be more willing than ever to engage physically, as each player strives to make the most of the ice-time that he receives.