Yes of course Alex Burrows belongs in the Canucks' Ring of Honour

Jul 7 2018, 4:30 am

The Ring of Honour was made for players like Alex Burrows.

Launched during the Canucks’ 40th anniversary season in 2010, the Ring of Honour is a place that “celebrates and salutes Canucks heroes who have made a lasting impact on the franchise.”

Sounds like Burrows to me.

One of the most hated players across the National Hockey League, he was one of the most beloved players in Vancouver. The unlikely perfect fit on a line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Burrows scored 26+ goals in four straight seasons.

The hardest worker in franchise history, Burrows appeared in 822 games – ranking him sixth in Canucks history. He scored 193 goals (9th), 191 assists (22nd), 384 points (14th), and was +106 (3rd).

No, he wasn’t as good as Todd Bertuzzi in his prime, nor was he as important to the 2011 team as Ryan Kesler – two players unlikely to get enshrined in the Ring of Honour. But he’s certainly a more important figure in Canucks history than ROH members Orland Kurtenbach (50th all-time in points) or Harold Snepsts (11th all-time in defencemen scoring).

With all due respect to Kurtenbach, the team’s first captain, and Snepsts, owner of the best moustache in franchise history – Burrows did more.

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Did he bite Patrice Bergeron? Did he pull Duncan Keith’s hair?

Yes, he did both those things.

But those are just footnotes in a career defined by heart, skill, and determination.

He scored arguably the biggest goal in Canucks history and is tied for first with three playoff overtime goals.

Beyond goals and assists, Burrows was an effective pest, driving other teams crazy. He was defensively responsible and a great penalty killer.

At his best, he was in the conversation when picking Canada’s Olympic team. He played his role that well.

When the team wanted to trade him, he didn’t put the screws to the Canucks, he agreed to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Ottawa Senators, with prospect Jonathan Dahlen coming back the other way.

Ring of Honour candidates are selected by an advisory committee – and I encourage them to make the right decision.

Burrows’ story has been told a million times because it’s one hell of a story. Undrafted, he worked his tail off to get from the ECHL to the AHL. And when he got the call-up to the NHL, he never looked back.

Charismatic off the ice, tenacious on the ice – there’s a reason why Canucks fans love him.

Put him up in the Ring of Honour, because if not him, then who?

Members of the Canucks’ Ring of Honour

Name Date of Induction
Orland Kurtenbach October 26, 2010
Kirk McLean November 24, 2010
Thomas Gradin January 24, 2011
Harold Snepsts March 14, 2011
Pat Quinn April 13, 2014
Mattias Ohlund December 16, 2016
Rob WilliamsRob Williams

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