"Injured defenceman Sami Salo is close to returning to the Vancouver Canucks lineup but it wasn't close Sunday in the hardest shot competition at the team's annual superskills competition.

The 37-year-old Finn retained his title with a blast of 102.7 mph as he edged fellow blueliners Andrew Alberts (100.5 mph) and multiple former winner Alex Edler (100 mph). Salo also had the second hardest shot at 102.5, much to the delight of the full house at Rogers Arena.

"Alex knows I'm close to the end of my career so I think he gave it to me," quipped Salo, who has missed six games with a concussion since being submarined Jan. 7 by Boston Bruin Brad Marchand."