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“When you get sick on top of that, it’s pretty frustrating,” said Larsen, who has been out of the lineup the last nine games. “I didn’t have much of an appetite and lost four or five pounds, but I’m getting back up there.

“I had a rough couple of days with the infection and I have no idea how I got it. It hit me pretty fast and really knocked me out — especially the first three or four days.”

The Canucks were banking on Larsen to be a smooth-skating power play quarterback, who could walk the line, find open players and get shots through. He was outplayed in all three zones by Stecher in training camp and the pre-season, but was still given the keys to the power play.

Larsen was expected to be challenged in his own zone to fend off big forecheckers, but wasn’t expected to struggle in the offensive zone. Especially after the Danish defenceman had 11 goals and 25 assists in 52 games for Jokerit Helsinki of the Kontinental Hockey League last season.

That potential earned him a one-year, one-way $1.025-million deal to prove that his failure to stick with the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers was more about being in the wrong place at the wrong time and that this was the perfect fit.

It hasn’t been.

“I knew coming over here that it was going to be an adjustment and I don’t think I’ve shown my best yet,” admitted Larsen, who has eight goals in 138 career NHL games.

“I wanted to show I can play in this league and this is a chance for me to start again fresh. But it’s always tough when you’re out for a while, if you’re sick or just not playing.