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However, being out of the rain and in the SoCal sun — and with a club in annual post-season contention — puts a different perspective on the past because it’s all about the present.

As for that Canucks ship?

“The ship has been at the bottom for a while — hasn’t it?” the 36-year-old Bieksa said with a chuckle Wednesday morning. “It’s been grounded. It’s tough for me to comment because I’m not involved anymore or following it day to day.

“I see where the standings are year after year and I’m sure it’s been tough, especially for some of my good friends that I still have there.”

Photo by Jonathan Kozub / NHLI via Getty Images files

Kesler’s emotional attachment is about winning.

He didn’t say anything about his time in Vancouver because his game-day priority is long treatment sessions and not the media. On Wednesday morning, he did shooting drills because he’s gutting it out with stiffness from another off-season hip procedure that affects the strength, mobility and accuracy of his shot.

The 33-year-old Kesler didn’t play a day game in Minnesota on Feb. 17 because there wasn’t sufficient time to loosen up the hip. And if that isn’t bad enough, he had nine points (6-3) and a minus-7 rating in 32 games before facing his former club. The shutdown centre is more than just a little edgy.

He fought Jonathan Toews on March 4. Four nights later he dropped the gloves with Ryan Johansen.

“Kes is a tough guy,” said Bieksa. “His fighting skills have really increased in the past couple of years. I’m proud to have a small, small part in that with a few tips. He’s at the point where a lot of guys in his weight class don’t want to fight him. And they shouldn’t. He’s strong and all his punches are landing now.”