VANCOUVER -- When Derrick Pouliot joined the Vancouver Canucks in an early-October trade, he was not expected to play much.
Now, it's difficult for Canucks coach Travis Green to keep the young defenseman off the ice.
Pouliot, 23, has become a mainstay with the Canucks (14-10-4) and will play a prominent role again Thursday night as they host the Philadelphia Flyers (10-11-7).
Pouliot, unwanted by the two-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, has earned more than a passing grade from Green -- for his tape-to-tape passes among other things.