Rick Rypien Tribute Video: Watch Canucks Honor Rypiens Memory

A tragedy, in the death of Vancouver Canucks’ forward Rick Rypien, turned into a beautiful tribute last night before the Canucks home game against the New York Rangers.  

It was a fitting tribute for both clubs, as the Rangers lost a player like Rypien during the offseason in Derrick Boogaard.  

But, last night’s pre-game video tribute showed a side of Rypien that was unbeknown to the general public. For most, Rypien was your third-or-fourth line grinder. He would be brought into games to provide energy, by providing a big hit or in Rypien’s case getting into a fight.  

However, what never came through on the ice, was how Rypien was such a warm person with the fans.  

It’s why at the time of his death he wanted to help tell the story of what led to his passing. 

As for years, Rypien was battling a severe case of depression. It took Rypien away from most of the Canucks for the 2008-09 season, as he took the most of the year off to battle his disease.  

Vancouver’s general manager Mike Gillis, wanted last night to show Rypien’s spirit in his tribute. Last night was about a man who fought his way through the Vancouver system. A man that for seven years, brought his best every night to the Canucks organization.  

Rypien had gotten help during his leave of absence in the ’08-09 season. It seemed as if Rick had “KO’d” depression.  

But, in the end, it was depression that led to Rypien’s untimely death. “It’s a constant and relentless battle,” said Gillis, the day after he returned from Rypien’s funeral. “It doesn’t disappear. It’s always lurking around and you have to understand and deal with that on a daily basis.”. 

Rick Rypien will not show up on a lot of statistical records in the history of the NHL, like Gretzky, Lemieux and Crosby, but, the spreading of his message, about how to deal with depression, will help more than anything those NHL superstars will do for the league. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon