Hansen fighting to keep doubt at bay
Former Canuck has been shadow of himself in San Jose and he’s not exactly sure why
SAN JOSE, Calif. — An intrepid reporter stood beside Jannik Hansen’s stall after Thursday morning’s skate at the San Jose Sharks’ practice facility.
“You can sit down,” Hansen said. “I’m not anticipating a crowd.”
At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humour. The Sharks forward is then asked how his NHL season is going.
“Is that a trick question?” he asks, deadpan.
Sadly, it isn’t. The tricky part is figuring out everything that’s gone wrong for Hansen since he left Vancouver.
Thursday night, the Danish winger dressed for the fourth straight game against his former team and that seemingly insignificant development actually represents a significant development for Hansen.
Since arriving in San Jose almost a full calendar year ago, the former Canucks stalwart has struggled to find his place in the Sharks’ lineup, struggled to produce when he does play and struggled to maintain his sanity.
About to turn 32, Hansen also becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season and he understands he isn’t exactly hitting the open market at the peak of his value. A year ago, he seemed to land in an ideal situation with the ideal team.
Now? Well he still has two months to salvage this season and that’s become his focus, largely because looking back is so damn depressing.
“Obviously it’s not what I envisioned in any way possible,” Hansen said. “I didn’t get off to the best start (this season) and I sat out a couple of times. It felt like every game was the start of the season and I was always a step behind and looking to find my game.
“I think I’m still looking.” Hansen has been scratched more times than an inept lion tamer in 2017-18. The total hit 26 games before Sharks winger Joel Ward suffered a shoulder injury against Vegas one week ago.
Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday Ward is still “week to week,” which has created an opening for Hansen in the short term. Whether it’s a long-term promotion remains to be seen.
“You sit out and you think maybe I’m not good enough,” Hansen said. “That’s what creeps into your mind. Again, I know I can play. They always say when players get older, they lose a step. I don’t feel I’ve lost a step.
“It’s obviously frustrating. The only positive is we’re right in the thick of things and it can turn around. We’ve got a lot of injuries and I’m going to get a chance. Otherwise I’d probably still be sitting out.”
Hansen is as mystified as anyone about the sudden downturn in his play. A dynamic skater with a defensive conscience who also found a scoring touch in his latter years in Vancouver, he would seem to fit into any system, especially in San Jose where the Sharks play an uptempo four-line game.
But since arriving in California at last year’s trade deadline, that player has all but disappeared. In his first 31 games, he’s yet to score a goal and has five puny assists.
“For some reason I haven’t fit in and the stats line reflects that,” he said. “Obviously getting the first goal would help with confidence. I haven’t been through this since the beginning of my career, but at that point you’re in a different place. I want to be playing. I want to help. I know I can help.”
DeBoer was asked about Hansen.
“He got here and it’s been tough,” said the Sharks’ coach. “I take some responsibility for that. The coach has to when you’ve got a guy who’s had success in the league then doesn’t. Part of that’s on me and part of it is on him. We’ll see if we can figure this out going forward.”
In the next breath, DeBoer said Hansen has maintained his sense of professionalism throughout his ordeal and that’s what you’d expect. He started his pro career as a ninth-round afterthought from Denmark and overwhelmed the odds stacked against him with an unrelenting work ethic and single-minded dedication to his craft.
Even if everything has changed around him, those qualities are still in place.
“It’s not difficult waking up in the morning and thinking, ‘Oh s--t, I’ve got to go to the rink,’” he said. “It’s a great group of guys. They’re a lot of fun.
“We’re still playing in the NHL. It’s the greatest job in the world. We fly on charters to great cities. We eat at great restaurants. The only thing is you’re not playing and that’s what we want to be doing.”
Yes, there’s that. But look at it this way: He still has two months to show people in San Jose the player we knew in Vancouver.