"The forgotten man is easy to spot in the bowels of GM Place.

He's the one wearing a designer suit while his colleagues are clad in battle gear. He's the one with an understandably dour demeanour while his teammates revel in the rigours of competition.

In being relegated to spectator status following offseason shoulder surgery — and a second procedure on two torn rotator cuffs a month ago that curtailed his comeback — it's easy to conclude that a recent post-operation infection may have been the final stab at sanity that killed Pavol Demitra's spirit.

Easy to conclude that the physical and mental drain of subsequent setbacks might be too devastating for the speedy Slovak to overcome in what could be his final season with the Vancouver Canucks.

Not so. Not even close.

Demitra is buoyed by aqua therapy that has added considerable strength and range of motion to his repaired left shoulder.

It's also added the peace of mind that he can make a successful NHL return and also line up with countrymen Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

"The doctors have come in with a new plan," says the 34-year-old Demitra.

"I've been swimming for the past two weeks and building up a lot of strength and the movement in my arm is getting better. I do the breaststroke. Freestyle is painful and I don't think I can do that yet, but we're heading in the right direction. "