from Ben Kuzma od the Vancouver Province,

Landon Ferraro could complain.

The well-travelled centre endured two knee injuries while attempting to gain NHL career traction. He was limited to a dozen AHL games last season because the 28-year-old Trail native, a 2009 second-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, needed hip and groin procedures to correct a hernia ailment.

However, because Ferraro sports speed, smarts and a strong two-way game, the Vancouver Canucks extended a professional tryout contract with the hope he might bring leadership to the Utica Comets. He has only played 77 games in the NHL, but won an AHL championship in 2013 with the Grand Rapids Griffins and keeps battling to extend his career.

“He’s a good pro first of all,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “You want to have good players in your organization and we’ve got good veterans in Utica and wanted a body in our camp. We’ll take it a day at a time. We have to see how he looks on the ice and make decisions later.”

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