There hasn’t been much to cheer about for Canucks fans lately. Their recent four consecutive 5-2 losses were an embarrassment. They’re eight points out of a playoff position at a time when eight points seems like an impassable chasm. They have the fourth worst goal differential in the NHL.
Alex Edler has a broken leg. Brandon Sutter is likely done for the season with a broken jaw. One of their few trade pieces, Radim Vrbata, is out with an undisclosed injury less than a week before the trade deadline. And they just traded one of their top prospects, who was leading the Utica Comets in scoring.
Those hoping for playoffs have plenty of reasons to be sad, as it seems pretty certain they’re not going to get there. And those hoping for a top-5 draft pick are also sad, as the Canucks seem to have deluded themselves into thinking they still have a chance.
But in the midst of all this darkness, there has come a great light. In the midst of despair, Canucks fans finally have a source of joy. In the midst of pain and suffering, there comes a 22-year-old defenceman lip-syncing to Aqua’s “Barbie Girl”.
MUST. SEE. #Canucks #DiceandIce #lypsyncbattle pic.twitter.com/PxAqu7ZyTR
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 24, 2016
Do you need all of Ben Hutton's performance? Of course you do.
The Canucks always do some sort of rookie challenge at their annual Dice & Ice event supporting the Canucks for Kids Fund. It’s the source of the amazing Alex Edler breakdancing gifs that pop up every now and then.
This year’s lip-syncing battles look they will be fodder for all sorts of laughs judging by Jake Virtanen’s actual Big Country Grizzlies jersey and Sven Baertschi’s Run-DMC outfit. But I doubt either of them can top Hutton’s performance.
We already knew he had some sweet moves, but somehow this is even better. Perhaps it’s the timing. The sheer joy and exuberance is just so far from what we’re used to seeing from the Canucks lately, that it's impossible not to smile and laugh.
Or maybe it’s Jannik Hansen killing himself laughing from his judge’s chair. That guy makes everything better.
I can’t be mad at the Canucks now. I can’t be sad. Ben Hutton has burned away all my cynicism. There is only joy.
Ben Hutton just saved the Canucks season.
Update: Here's the full video.
