"Kevin Bieksa is sick of being sick and sick of hearing his name in NHL trade rumours. The Vancouver Canucks defenceman confirmed Monday that the flu-like symptoms he was feeling three weeks ago developed into pneumonia and that he has lost eight pounds.

However, Bieksa hasn't lost any sleep over the latest rumoured scenario that would see him shipped to Washington for under-achieving Capitals forward Tomas Fleischmann. The upside for the Canucks would be getting something now for the pending unrestricted free agent, who's earning $3.75 million US. The downside is losing a veteran blueliner, risking another injury on the back end and leaving the Canucks with only Sami Salo as a right-hand shot. And there's no guarantee how well Salo will perform when he eventually recovers from a ruptured Achilles suffered July 22. Add it all up and Bieksa is amused by it all.

"I think it's hilarious," said Bieksa. "It's funny how you guys keep throwing my name out there and I'm still standing here. I don't think I can comment on every rumour that's out there, but certainly with his one, I'm still here today and that's all I can say. Rumours are out there and I've had my fair share. I've learned to deal with it and it doesn't bother me."

They started when the Canucks traded for Keith Ballard in June and then landed Dan Hamhuis on the first day of free agency. Columbus and San Jose then expressed immediate interest in Bieksa until the Salo injury was revealed, but the Sharks are still shopping to replace the retired Rob Blake.

"I kind of look at the positive side of everything," added Bieksa. "I thought bringing in those two guys was going to help our team and give us a much deeper back end. It's a positive, depending how you look at it."

The Canucks would prefer that budding back-end talent like Chris Tanev continue to develop with the Manitoba Moose and that patience might turn Ryan Parent from project to player. But they also have to balance the books and Christian Ehrhoff could command $4.5-$5 million annually on an expected contract extension.

Fleischmann played 13 minutes Sunday in a 3-2 victory over Carolina, but has just four goals in 22 games and is a pending UFA earning $2.6 million. The versatile 26-year-old started the season as the Captials' second-line centre but was also a healthy scratch in a Nov. 17 win over the Buffalo Sabres."