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“I’m not trying to be a saviour and it can tear you apart pretty quick if you think you have to do that and, to be honest, I don’t even know if they’re going to put me there,” said the 26-year-old Larsen, a fifth-round pick by Dallas in 2008. “You’ve got to earn your spot. It’s having a good camp and playing well and hopefully getting a shot.”

That’s a pretty diplomatic and reasonable response.

After all, the Canucks took a leap of faith in February and sent a conditional fifth-round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers — it becomes a fourth based on Larsen’s performance — to obtain the Dane’s rights. He wasn’t thinking of returning to the National Hockey League because of a sour season in Edmonton and getting lost in a logjam of veteran defenders when he played in the Dallas system and for Willie Desjardins. So, with the Canucks taking a one-year, $1.025 million US roll of the dice, is this the right place at the right time?

“I think so,” said Larsen. “I got older and I didn’t have it in my mind that I was going to go back because I knew Edmonton had my rights. I felt ready for another chance and I’m here to give it everything I’ve got to make an impact. In Edmonton (2013-14) we had a tough season and I don’t think I was the guy they were looking for. They had a lot of young guys coming up and I guess I wasn’t good enough to take a spot.”

The Canucks believe Larsen is good enough to not only ignite the power play, but hold his own in his zone in a projected pairing with Luca Sbisa. On the power play, an ability to move quickly and effortlessly along the blue-line and either get pucks through a maze of legs — or avoid shot-blockers — is Larsen’s strength. As for velocity, think Christian Ehrhoff instead of Sami Salo. Eight goals in 125 career NHL games won’t strike fear into the opposition, but Larsen’s skating and craftiness could.