Hansen ready to feast with Sharks

Winger joins Cup contender

Jannik Hansen has fought new teammate Brenden Dillon, he has 20-year connection that should motivate fellow Dane Mikkel Boedker, and his versatility and underrated grit are perfectly suited for the National Hockey League playoffs.

The San Jose Sharks have seen enough from Hansen to know what they were getting when the right winger was acquired late Tuesday from the Vancouver Canucks. They had to surrender promising left winger Nikolay Goldobin, the 27th selection in the 2014 draft, and a conditional fourthround pick — it becomes a first-rounder if the Sharks capture the Stanley Cup — but it’s what they’ve added that has the Pacific Division leaders lauding the transaction.

“It’s critical,” said Sharks coach Pete DeBoer, who won’t have Hansen in his lineup until he acquires U.S. work permits.

“We’ re going to need some gritty, character guys.”

Run all this by the 30-year-old Hansen, and you get more anticipation than angst because there were no Canadian clubs on his eight-team modified notrade clause list.

However, with another year remaining on his contract and uncertainty of the June expansion draft, he still wanted to stay in Vancouver. It wasn’t just a convenient fit. It’s why in a season where a rib fracture and knee strain limited the 2004 ninth-round pick to 28 games and 13 points (6-7), another legitimate shot at a league title is like winning the lottery.

“That was obviously a big thing for me,” Hansen said Wednesday during a conference call.

“As to where I fit in, it doesn’t really matter. Throughout my career, I’ve made it work in whatever role.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things, and it’s why San Jose was on the top of my list of teams to go to. It’s close to the team we had in Vancouver when we were very good (2011), an older team that has been through the grind for a very long time and knows what it takes.”

The expectations in San Jose shouldn’t be sold short.

Hansen had a playofflike moment in Toronto on Nov. 5 that would have sold any potential suitor. After a heavy and somewhat questionable check from Morgan Rielly — resulting in a rib fracture between the cartilage and sternum — it’s what Hansen did right after the blow that became urban legend.

Hansen took issue with Nazem Kadri’s targeted hit from behind that dropped Daniel Sedin. He bolted to the Maple Leafs centre and started throwing punches. Even with an injury.

“I had no problem with range of motion or pain when I was skating up the ice,” recalled Hansen, who missed 16 games with the injury.