Canucks' Linden Vey: 'This is the year I've got to prove ... that I belong'

After putting up passable numbers in his first full season, Vancouver Canucks forward Linden Vey understands he needs to impress the team's brass this year.

"This is the year I’ve got to prove to myself and everyone that I belong, and be a guy that the organization needs going forward," Vey told Ben Kuzma of The Province. "You only get so many opportunities and this has been my best summer in working on my fitness."

Vey had 10 goals and 24 points in 75 games, and though he remains confident he can produce offense, the 24-year-old realized he needed to improve on the other side of the puck, and become more physical.

"I’ve gained a lot of strength and that’s the biggest thing I had to work on," said Vey. "It's winning puck battles and battles down low.

"I think everybody will agree that I don't lack the skills to play in the NHL, but it's the physical side of the game. I put in the time because I have to be able to do a job against big centers."