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flashes over the last few years that can put many regular NHLers to shame. At the very least, why not keep Grabner around for the maximum nine NHL games before he has to be returned to the farm to avoid burning a year of his contract? That way you could see what he can do on a big stage while not hindering his

Sure, the Canucks still have 18-year-old first round draft pick Cody Hodgson around, but he’s another unknown. He can probably provide some sustenance for the goal-starved Canucks and he looks like he has all the markings of a future franchise cornerstone. But at only 18 years, and with virtually no professional seasoning outside of a few prospect and exhibition games, is it wise to keep Hodgson around? Particularly when the more experienced and NHL-ready Grabner is

The bottom line—and anyone who’s watched the Canucks for more than a period will understand this—is that Vancouver needs new forms of offense. The days of the West Coast Express are long gone, and the best way of replacing that is with youth. Over the past few years, the league’s bottom feeder teams have played their ways into contention status largely on the backs of their top-flight youngsters. For example, Sam Gagner made the Edmonton Oilers as a straight-out- of-junior 18-year-old last year. After several top Oilers went down with various injuries, Gagner stepped up into a prominent role and finished the season with a very respectable 49 points in 79 games.

In a summer where the Canucks did absolutely nothing to reassure their questioning fan base, cutting their most gifted offensive prospect doesn’t help

Barry Beck

Beck is a former second overall NHL drafts pick that played his junior career with the now defunct New Westminster Bruins of the WHL. He was a standout defenseman with three NHL teams who retired in 1990 after playing 11 seasons in the league. Over the course of his career, he suited up for the Colorado Rockies (the team that drafted him), The New York Rangers (where he spend the bulk and most successful years of his career), and one final season with the Los Angeles Kings.

Since retiring, Beck has taken a path hardly traveled at all by former players. He has moved to Hong Kong, where he now lives, teaches and coaches hockey for the Hong Kong Academy of Ice Hockey. In part because of Beck’s impressive NHL resume and reputation, the academy has been able to establish a foothold on the Hong Kong sports scene, and it routinely holds hockey camps that offer instruction by Beck and teach young kids the fundamentals of the game.

Bill Ranford

After 15 years in the NHL with five teams, Bill Ranford, 41, retired from professional hockey in 2000 with two Stanley Cups to his credit, both of which were won by the Edmonton Oilers.

In retirement, Ranford now lives in New Westminster with his family. He performed the goaltending scenes in the 2006 movie Miracle, starring Kurt Russell. He played Team USA goalie Jim Craig in the film.

He would then suit up one last time for the Oilers in the Heritage Classic in Edmonton against the Montreal Canadians, the first outdoor game in NHL history. Stars such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Guy Lafleur all competed in the game as well, which Edmonton won 2-0. Ranford split the playing time with another Edmonton Oilers legend, goaltender Grant Fuhr.

Despite never playing for Vancouver, Ranford occasionally suits up for Canucks alumni games and is the current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings.

Cliff Ronning

He played his whole career standing just 5’8, but Cliff Ronning managed to carve out a 19 year NHL career when nobody said he could do it. He retired in 2004 after playing for seven NHL teams, including his hometown Vancouver Canucks.

When the lockout wiped out the entire 2004-2005 season, Ronning failed to sign with a team when play resumed. He eventually announced his retirement in 2006.

Since then, Ronning has remained active in Vancouver. Rumors seem to circulate every off-season that he’ll return to the Canucks for one final season, but his retirement has stayed firm so far.

He has been seen playing recreationally and coaching younger kids in hockey at Burnaby’s 8-Rinks and has regularly suited up for the Vancouver Canuck’s alumni squad that often competes against the Burnaby firefighters.

On July 25", Ronning was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, alongside NHL legend Steve Yzerman and the Vancouver Giants super coach, Don Hay.

Floyd Mayweather

Widely considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, Floyd “Money” Mayweather retired from professional boxing on June 6", earlier this year, at the age of 31 with a perfect 39-0 record. His final fight came against Englishman Ricky Hatton, which he won by TKO in the tenth round to retain his welterweight championship.

There were rumors of Mayweather having one final fight against Oscar De La Hoya in November, but the plans never materialized. Instead, in March, Mayweather took on, and beat, the 7’0 foot Big Show at WWE’s showcase event, Wrestlemania 24.

Recently, ESPN.com has ranked Mayweather #48 on their 50 best boxers of all time. In the past, Mayweather has _ competed on Dancing with the Stars and has been known for his love of any sort of publicity, so it’s only a matter of time before more is heard from him.

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