Jonas Andersson's Perseverance Pays Off With Return to NHL

by Monte Stewart

Filed under: Canucks, Minor League Hockey

Jonas Andersson is back in the NHL - at least for a little while.

The 29-year-old Swedish winger's global hockey odyssey brought him to Vancouver as the Canucks called him up from their Manitoba farm team for a game Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Andersson`s last NHL action - actually his entire NHL career to date - came in 2001-02 as he dressed for all of five games with the Nashville Predators.

"Especially after all those hours and hard work that I put into it, it means a lot to have a second opportunity," said Andersson. "Not too many players get to have a second opportunity after what I've been through, so I'm happy about that."

The Canucks acquired Andersson at the start of the season from Nashville as part of the trade for defenseman Shane O'Brien. With veteran winger Mikael Samuelsson out at least a week with a concussion, the Canucks opted to return center Joel Perrault to Manitoba and call up Andersson.

 

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