When the Vancouver Canucks picked up Ryan Shannon from the Anaheim Ducks back in September, they were hoping they found someone who could contribute offense on their top-six for a cheap price.

(Originally published in The Hockey News February 29) 

Shannon played so well in training camp he made the team, despite the fact he had a two-way contract. However, when Vancouver started off 1-2-0 and scored only seven goals, a shakeup was needed. The 24-year-old Shannon (he turns 25 on Sunday) was the one to go, despite the fact he led the team with two goals at the time. His two-way contract, combined with his ugly minus-7 rating, made him expendable.

Compounding things was the fact the Canucks would have to pay Anaheim a third-round draft pick if Shannon played 30 games this season.

The youngster never really got rolling in Manitoba because he suffered a knee injury early on and sat on the sidelines for much of October through January. After returning for a few games, the Canucks called him up for another shot – with less than 27 games remaining, they were safe from giving up that pick.

Shannon has picked up where he left off offensively, without the defensive drawbacks. Playing on a line with rookie Mason Raymond and Matt Cooke (who was replaced by Taylor Pyatt when dealt at the deadline to Washington), Shannon has managed six points in his past six games and is a plus-3.

Like all small players (and longtime readers of FPL know, I have a soft spot for the skilled little guys), the 5-foot-9 Shannon will need to keep producing to stay in the lineup. There is no room for error. However, the talent is there for some great things.

A late bloomer who was never drafted, Shannon was another gem found in the NCAA ranks by the Ducks. He was a star for Boston College in 2004, a team that featured Patrick Eaves (Carolina), Peter Harrold and Brian Boyle (Los Angeles), Corey Schneider (Vancouver) and Andrew Alberts (Boston). After Anaheim signed him, Shannon dominated the American League with 86 points in 71 games as a rookie.

In the right situation, this guy can be a point-per-game player and is worth taking a flyer on in keeper leagues…

A couple of Rangers notes: Nigel Dawes has 15 points in his past 21 games and is a plus-13. He looks like he will be a 65-point player some day – and it may be sooner than you think. Brandon Dubinsky has 17 points in his past 19 games, and 40 PIMs to go with that. He has 45 shots in that span…

Mike Fisher has not had a point in his past 10 games.

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