Vancouver Canucks Call Up Mario Bliznak

The Vancouver Canucks have announced (via GM Mike Gillis on his new official Twitter account) that they are recalling center Mario Bliznak from the Manitoba Moose.

So what does this mean for the Canucks?

Well, to start, it means that the experiment of alternating Rick Rypien, Peter Schaefer and Tanner Glass as center on the fourth line is over. It was worth a shot once Alex Bolduc went down with an ankle injury, but it has been 13 games since then, and frankly it wasn't working.

Rypien, Schaefer and Glass can play their roles on the fourth line, and do a good job of it, but they are better wingers than centers at the NHL level.

Jeff Tambellini also played a few games as the fourth line center during his earlier stint with the Canucks, but he wasn't well suited to that role either.

Bliznak is a Canucks prospect who is a natural center, and he has performed admirably as a checking center at lower levels of play. He won a Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL in that role, and has been playing as a checking center on the Manitoba Moose since turning pro two years ago.

He played a few games last year for the Canucks, and wasn't really noticeable. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing for a fourth liner, because that meant he didn't make any big mistakes either.

Assuming that Bliznak draws into the lineup, who is out?

Currently the fourth line is Glass, Schaefer and Rypien. Glass I think should be safe, as he is playing well and getting hits, as well as dropping the gloves if necessary.

Schaefer brings more NHL experience, and a better offensive upside, but his physical play has been a bit lacking so far. Rypien can throw big hits and can handle anyone short of a true heavyweight. 

Assuming that Glass and Bliznak will be two-thirds of the fourth line, I think the other two wingers will alternate depending on if the game is expected to be chippy or not.

If there is a chance of fights or cheap shots, Rypien is in. If it is a game against a skill team that doesn't dress fighters (ie. Detroit or Chicago), then expect Schaefer to draw in.

On a side note, Cody Hodgson has been doing well for the Moose after a slow start. He currently has six goals and three assists in 13 games, which makes him the leading goal-scorer for the Moose. He also is tied for the lead in points with Sergei Shirokov.

If there is an need to call up someone from the Moose to fill a role in the top three lines, expect Hodgson to get the nod.