Canucks' 6-foot-9 Curtis Douglas praised for end to season, now raises future questions
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Canucks' 6-foot-9 Curtis Douglas praised for end to season, now raises future questions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
You can't miss Curtis Douglas.
The Vancouver Canucks' forward is 6-foot-9.
The tougher part with Douglas is figuring out if he's a player an NHL team needs to keep around.
He's gritty, and physical, and simply a massive presence. But does his impact come close to matching his size?
Douglas did his best down the stretch of the NHL season to prove to the Canucks that he can be a contributor to their organization going forward.
Vancouver, of course, is mired in a rebuild. But it usually doesn't hurt to have a guy like Douglas around.
"The cultural shift is real," writes the NHL Trade Talk author known as Old Prof. "The Canucks have scrapped six times in their last 11 games — guys like Teddy Blueger and Filip Hronek stepping up — and Douglas is a big part of that muscle. His commitment is contagious. You can see it in the way the bench responds and in how the team stands taller, physically and mentally. There’s a simplicity to what he brings: energy, heat, and a 'we got your back' attitude that’s priceless on a rebuilding squad."
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No matter how skilled the NHL gets, there will always be room for a guy like Douglas. He may have to duck to walk through doorways, but he can stand tall out on the ice.
His teammates trust him, and that's crucial.
Douglas doesn't take for granted his journey. He knows nothing was ever promised to him.
His approach and work ethic could matter greatly to a Canucks team that needs to maintain positive culture while it tries to return to some winning ways.
