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“My priority is to stay healthy and I take a lot of pride in giving it my all and playing hard every single night. But I wear my heart on my sleeve and sometimes that translates into injuries.”

As for the healthy scratches, Del Zotto could live with them when he wasn’t playing well. But when he was playing better and remained a scratch option for coach Dave Hakstol, that’s something else for a veteran.

“When I was playing well, my points and plus-minus on the back end were the best on the team and at times it (healthy scratch) does make you scratch your head,” admitted Del Zotto. “I’ve been through some interesting circumstances, but it makes you a stronger player and person. You get thicker skin.”

Last season, Del Zotto had just 18 points in 51 games, but that included six goals. If he can get back to double-digits goals in an expected second pairing with Chris Tanev, the Canucks brass will do the wave in their Rogers Arena perch.

The injury-riddled back end managed just 23 goals last season and Alex Edler led the way with six goals while Ben Hutton had five and rookie Troy Stecher three.

Photo by Elsa / Getty Images North America

“You have to be able to move into today’s game,” said Del Zotto. “It’s all about puck retrieval and the strength of my game is that first pass and that’s what the game has become. And I didn’t get a ton of power play time in Philly because my role there was more defensive, which is fine, because it’s about whatever it takes to win.”

Del Zotto’s $3.875 salary cap hit was a drag on the Flyers and considering he took a pay cut in free agency, his two-year, $6 million deal with the Canucks doesn’t include a no-trade clause. It speaks to where the 2008 first-round draft pick is at and what Vancouver is trying to accomplish.