Where are they Now? // Part 1 // Jason King

So, I’m starting a segment I’ve wanted to start for a while now: highlighting former Canucks that somehow made their mark on this team and what they’ve been doing since leaving us. Naturally, the most obvious player to kick off this segment is the player without whom the name of this blog would not exist, Jason King.

Jason King now plays for the Hamburg Freezers (pictured). Let’s see how he got there.

King was drafted by the Canucks in the 7th round, 212th overall. A tough position for any player wanting to make the big leagues, but he managed to do just that. You could call his path a cinderella story, but I prefer to think of it as a story fit for a King.

King had a memorable stint in Vancouver playing with the Sedin Twins at the early stages of their careers. The three of them had a great start to the season, and line gained the “Mattress Line” moniker: two twins and a King. This coveted role was later held by players like Anson Carter, and now Alex Burrows, but for long periods, it was definitely difficult to find the Sedins a consistent linemate. Jason King was one of the first to fit that mold, and gave the Sedins some consistency that many Canuck fans longed for. His excellent play with Sedins early in the 2003-04 season earned him the Rookie of the Month award in November.  Unfortunately that consistency was short lived, but King paved the way for future Sedin linemates for years to come.

King’s career took a sharp turn when he suffered a concussion while playing for the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. It took King a long time to recover, and by the time he was ready to come back, the Canucks could not afford to keep him, having to deal with Ryan Kesler’s $1.9 Million dollar offer sheet. King went to play for Skellefteå AIK and shortly after, his rights were traded to the Ducks for Ryan Shannon. King returned to the NHL in 2007-8 where he logged 4 games for the ducks, but spent the majority of the season playing for their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates, where he managed 59 points in 65 games.

The next season, King’s career would take him overseas to Germany, where he is still currently playing. In 2008, he signed with Adler Mannheim of the DEL and scored 17 points in 37 games. This year, King joined his second DEL team, Mannheim’s rivals, the Hamburg Freezers.

I wish King all the best in Germany, as I was a big fan of his during his time in Vancouver. I would love to one day see him in the NHL again, and hopefully his health is treating him well.

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