Article content

First, a prediction. 

Upshall is on the fourth line opening night. 

We apologize, but this video has failed to load. 

tap here to see other videos from our team.  Try refreshing your browser, or What we learned from Canucks training camp: Upshall and Virtanen killing it Back to video

Upshall is a … what did Benning call them?  Oh ya, real players.  Upshall is a real player.  He was on a fourth line last year.  A good one which helped the Blues win a playoff round and took the Preds to 6 games. 

People in St. Louis really seemed to love Reaves, Brodziak and Upshall. 

“I was hoping we’d stay together but once I saw Reaves get traded, I knew it was a time for a change,” Upshall said. 

All of a sudden, Upshall was on his way out.  At 33 years old, he didn’t get an offers and was left looking for a PTO. 

Weird because he was good.  He was healthy.  And he was consistent. 

“We were together every game,” Upshall said. “ If you ask the coaches or anyone in the media we were a line that carried a lot of weight. 

“We had a big role.” 

He chose Vancouver for several reasons.  The main one?  The St. Louis Blues were a great PK team last year (finished third) and he was a significant part of it. 

The Canucks PK? 

“It wasn’t great last year,” Upshall said in an understatement. “ There was an opportunity to come in, leave an impact. 

“I know I can help.  I can provide that kind of role where other guys can focus on offence, guys like the Sedins and Bo Horvat.” 

Wait, Upshall already sees a future where he’s killing penalties and helping free up Horvat to focus on the offensive side of things. 

The first Upshall train I see, I’m jumping on it. 

***

JPat has nice penmanship.  I had no clue. 

Think I want him doing lineups like this on the regular.