April 26, 2011. The Canucks face the dementing Chicago Blackhawks, the former stanley cup champions. Game 7, heading to Overtime. 1 goal will make the other team miserable, 1 goal will change the face of that team. The Blackhawks need that goal to continue their attempt at being repeat champions, the Canucks need it or else their best players and their fans will rot away, waiting yet another season for a cup that seems to never come. The goal can kill the dragon, or kill the warrior attempting it.
And the beast falls.
Only minutes into overtime, Burrows snipes a slapshot top shelf to send the Canucks to the 2nd round of the playoffs, with hopes high for the future. That goal remains, arguably, by all fans, as the most famous goal in Canucks history. Since that play, since he just burst into the show stage, Burrows became a favorite of the crowd. Everyone loved him, and the goal capped it off.
But they couldn't.
The Canucks lost in Game 7 of the Cup Final, to the Bruins. Riots insued, and like the fans expected, they'd rot another year waiting for the cup. And the players did rot, as Burrows would not return to his former self. Recent seasons how it, as he struggles to put up points, only getting less than 30. His oversized contract worried Canucks fans, but with it expiring soon, they hoped Burrows would retire a Canuck and have a special farewell.
It never happened.
On February 27, 4 years and 10 months after the goal, Burrows was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Swedish prospect Jonathan Dahlen. With his enormous contract size and his struggles, it is unlikely he would resign, possibly retiring in 2 seasons.
While sad for Canucks fans, this trade has an enormous impact. Dahlen is a respectable player. While not the most highest on the Sens prospect depth chart, he is a good solid guy, a PPG producer in the 2nd tier of the Swedish Hockey System. While it isn't as good as 1st tier, keep in mind that like the football system in Europe, using promotion and relegation, he can't be called up, unless he is traded to a SHL team. And as the SHL is weaker than the NHL, and about same level as the AHL, then the 2nd tier is basically low AHL high ECHL level. As Dahlen is young, turning 20 this year, it is likely he will develop well.
Needless to say, the Canucks lose one of their fan favorites. The Canucks will certainly give him a heartfelt commemoration video when he returns to Rogers Arena. And here's to hoping Dahlen will answer the Call that the Canucks, fans and the team, need him to.
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