Have We Only Begun to See What Canucks' Marco Rossi Can Do

Since Marco Rossi returned from an injury, he's been producing quite well. The Vancouver Canucks didn’t exactly run away with things against the Nashville Predators Thursday night in their 4-3 win. Still, if you were watching closely, Rossi seemed to be involved in just about every good offensive moment Vancouver had. By the end of the night, he had a goal and two assists and seemed to be involved in just about everything Vancouver did offensively.

That rebound goal late in the second period, when the Canucks cut the Nashville lead to 3–2, felt important. Not just because it gave the Canucks some life, but because it showed the kind of instincts Rossi brings to the ice.

Here are three reasons Rossi might end up being the real deal in Vancouver.

But, I’m not convinced we’ve even seen the full version of Rossi yet.

First, Rossi is still settling in.

Rossi hasn’t been in Vancouver very long. The midseason move from the Minnesota Wild dropped him into a team that’s still trying to sort itself out. Learning new linemates, a new system, and a new city in the middle of a season isn’t exactly the easiest way for a player to show his best hockey.

Even so, you can already see hints of what he might become.

Second, Rossi’s injuries have slowed his rhythm.

Rossi missed time earlier with a lower-body injury, and that kind of interruption matters more than people realize. Hockey is such a rhythm game. Players need a stretch of games where they can play without thinking about their body or their timing.

Since returning, Rossi has looked far more confident and involved. The puck seems to find him, and when it does, he usually makes the right decision. That’s a good sign.

And third, Rossi’s starting to drive play instead of just fitting in.

There’s a difference between a player who contributes occasionally and one who actually drives the offence. Lately, Rossi has looked like the second kind. He’s around the puck constantly. He’s creating chances. He’s helping the power play. And maybe most importantly, his game has a certain calm to it. Nothing feels rushed.

For a team still trying to rediscover its identity, that kind of presence down the middle really matters. The numbers are starting to show it, but sometimes the eye test tells the story even better.

The Bottom Line for Rossi and the Canucks

Rossi looks comfortable. And if that’s the case, then what we’re seeing right now might only be the beginning.