Kevin Bieksa once famously said he was going down with the Canucks' ship - and he meant it. Back in 2014, after years of playing through injuries, taking on opponents physically and mentally, and becoming a fan favorite in Vancouver, Bieksa made it clear he wasn’t leaving unless they forced him out.
And eventually, they did - shipping him to Anaheim a year later. But that quote still echoes in Canucks lore: “I’m a Canuck at heart and I’m going down with the ship.”
Fast forward to today, and Tyler Myers is giving off similar vibes.
The veteran defenseman, now 35, isn’t ready to talk about leaving Vancouver - even as the franchise stares down another rebuild. “Everybody knows how much I love it here,” Myers said Wednesday. “There’s no question I want to stay, but I obviously know it’s a business.”
That’s the balance Myers is trying to strike. Loyalty to a city and team that have become home, versus the reality of a league that doesn’t wait around for sentiment.
To be clear, Myers isn’t naïve. He knows his age and contract status - one year left at a manageable $3 million - make him a prime candidate for trade discussions. He also knows the Canucks are in the midst of a long-term reset, having missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons and currently sitting at the bottom of the standings.
Still, he's not rushing to explore other options.
“I have thought of that, obviously,” Myers said, referring to the possibility of joining a contender. “Less runway now that I’m 35.
And there may not be that many more opportunities. As of right now, I have no intention of diving into that world.”
That’s the thing with Myers - he’s not looking for the door, even if he sees it open. He’s focused on the job in front of him, even as the horizon gets shorter.
It’s not like he hasn’t had a taste of playoff hockey. Myers won the Calder Trophy back in 2010 with the Buffalo Sabres, but postseason success has been fleeting.
In six seasons with the Sabres, he only saw two first-round exits. His deepest playoff run came in 2018 with the Winnipeg Jets, when they reached the Western Conference Final.
There’s also a WHL Final with the Kelowna Rockets in 2009 and a trio of international gold medals with Team Canada - at the U-18 level in 2008, World Juniors in 2009, and most recently, the World Championship in 2023.
But the Stanley Cup? That’s the one that’s eluded him.
And that’s what makes his current situation so interesting. Myers is a valuable piece - a big-bodied, right-shot defenseman with playoff experience and a team-first mentality.
For a contender looking to bolster its blue line, he’s exactly the kind of player who could help during a deep run. For the Canucks, he represents a chance to recoup assets and further commit to the rebuild.
Still, Myers isn’t lobbying to leave. He’s not chasing a ring at all costs. Not yet, anyway.
“It’s hard to give an in-depth answer because I haven’t thought about it much,” he said. “I’ll just keep focusing on doing my job.”
That job - for now - is helping a young Canucks team navigate the grind of another tough season. Whether that changes before the trade deadline remains to be seen.
But like Bieksa before him, Myers isn’t jumping ship. Not unless someone makes him.
And in a league where loyalty can be fleeting, that kind of commitment still matters.