LOS ANGELES — Monday was the start of the rest of Radim Vrbata’s National Hockey League career. Or the continuation of the end of it. We’ll see.
The 34-year-old winger returned to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup after missing five games with a groin injury. He is trying to salvage something, anything, positive from what has been a miserable season.
With only 17 games to go after the Canucks visited the Los Angeles Kings Monday night, Vrbata had just 12 goals and the worst plus/minus in the NHL at minus-32.
Only last spring, he finished his first season in Vancouver with 31 goals and a plus-six rating.