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For so many, the bitterness of 2011 remains inescapable.

Just this week, on TSN 1040, former assistant GM Laurence Gilman admitted he still thinks about losing the Stanley Cup finals every day.

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Tanner Glass, who now lives here, said he often visualizes the series, even his infamous whiff in Game 5, and Vancouver won that game.

“It’s going to be right there until you win it,” Glass said.

Two years ago, John Tortorella, who was taking broad swipes at a sagging organization, said the team was still too focused on 2011. Maybe that’s why he recommended then the front office buy out Alex Burrows’ contract.

They did not. Good thing.

Because, in the years since, the roster has been reshaped, dramatically. There are now only five core players from 2011 — Burrows, Alex Edler, Jannik Hansen and the the Sedin twins. Chris Tanev is a sixth leftover, but he played just 29 games that season.

Burrows has actually gone from buyout candidate to a critical component of the Canucks’ future.