"You have to give Todd Fedoruk credit, he isn't shy about discussing his drug and alcohol addictions which he says were the real reason he was bought out in Tampa in '09, ending his NHL career unless he should happen to catch on with the Vancouver Canucks this fall.

He says he's been clean for nearly 18 months now, is in terrific shape and is ready to drop the gloves as part of the role he has to play if he's going to be a regular in the league as he has been for nine seasons, most of those with the Philadelphia Flyers.

But after the death of Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard and Wednesday Wade Belak, the Canucks might be wondering what they've got themselves into and whether they can give the poor guy a legitimate chance after what they've been through as an organization.

Fedoruk of course has had many legendary fights, the most devastating being the shattering of his face by the late Derek Boogaard in October of 2006 when the prospective Canuck was in Anaheim. It had to be rebuilt by the doctors and then he was knocked unconscious for nearly four minutes by Colton Orr in another one but he says he'll still be willing to throw them if necessary, although skating and hitting are going to be his main focus."