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Before we get to today’s subject, here’s a Vancouver Canucks pop quiz:

In terms of years of service with the club, list the Canucks skaters who suited up Thursday night against Carolina from top to bottom.

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The senior-most man, defenceman Chris Tanev, would be easy for most fans to identify. The second, team captain Bo Horvat, might surprise some, but Horvat is in his sixth season with the Canucks and has already played 409 NHL games.

Then there’s the third guy. You don’t think of Jake Virtanen as a grizzled veteran but, even though he’s 23, the kid from Abbotsford is in his fifth season with the Canucks.

Now here’s the next question: Will he make it to six?

“Obviously, I’d love to play here my whole career,” Virtanen says. “I’d feel fortunate to be able to do that.”

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And the Canucks would love to have him, but that might depend on how the final 50 games of this season play out.