Rypien and Hansen Healthy- who loses their spot in the playoffs?

With the Canucks finally a relativly healthy hockey team, its time for the coaching staff to make some decisions for the playoffs when it comes to the bottom six forward spots. Lately coach AV has been mixing and matching numerous line combinations, especially on th fourth line and the wing position on the third line. The only constant on both lines have been Wellwood and Bernier on the third line, and Johnson centering the fourth line. But there has been numerous wingers slotted on the remaining three forward spots. The battle for the winger spots are basically between Rick Rypien, Jannik Hansen, Mayson Raymond, Taylor Pyatt and Darcy Hordichuck.

With all the players bringing a different aspect to the lineup it gives the Canucks a bunch of possibilities and allows them to put out a fourth line that will be most effective against which ever team they match up with in the playoffs. With Hordichuck they get a lot of toughness and grit and have a legitimate heavyweight tough guy, but how many times will he drop the gloves in the playoffs and will he get a regulat shift in the post season?

Jannik Hansen and Mayson Raymond both add some speed and offensive touch around the net, with Raymond haveing more offensive, and both will get a regular shift along with time on the penalty kill as well. Although both players are very small and dont add very much toughness, they are both versatile enough that they can play in the top six along with the bottom six as well. Also with Hansen you get a right handed shot who may be a benefit in his own zone when it comes to digging out pucks and clearing the zone.

After the tragic incident that say Taylor Pyatt lose his soon to be wife, it is very diffucult to say when he will return to the line up and if he will be effective. Although he is a big body, he doesnt play like a big poward forward and shows flashes of his offensive upside. He is not a liability in his own zone and has played along side the twins as well, but his game is not really desgined to excel in the playoffs.

The one wild card in this situation is the addition of the spark plug that is Rick Rypien. He can fight, throw his body around, kill penalties and even pop in the odd goal here and there. As a fan favorite a lot of people are looking for him to be in the lineup thorughout the playoffs. The only knock on him is his ability to stay healthy as hes only played a handful of games over the last couple of years. If he can stay healthy he should crack the playoff lineup as he is the proto type playoff fourth liner.

Heres what my lineup looks like for the Canucks playoff run:

Goalie

Luongo

Defense

Ohlund - Edler

Mitchell - Salo

Bieksa - O'Brien

Forwards

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows

Kesler - Sundin - Demitra

Raymond - Wellwood -Bernier

Hansen - Johnson -Rypien

I dont see Hordichuk getting a regular shift in the playoffs, and we have enough team toughness that teams cant throw us around. Also Rypien can chuck them with the best of them along with O'Brien and Bieksa. Look for Vannanen to be the 7th man on defense and Pyatt to be an extra forward and to slot in with Wellwood and Berneir and dropping Raymond down with Rypien and Johnson. The only question mark is if Pyatt will be mentally ready to play at that level. Either way the Canucks look preped to make a solid run in the playoffs.