Music: {allcanada} MALHOTRA: 'I'VE BEEN PROVING MYSELF MY WHOLE CAREER'

Thursday, November 29, 2012

{allcanada} MALHOTRA: 'I'VE BEEN PROVING MYSELF MY WHOLE CAREER'

The Province believes Vancouver has already flirted with the idea of acquiring a centre in a possible Roberto Luongo trade. One of them is Tyler Bozak, who Vancouver believes has been miscast in Toronto and, if acquired, could slot into the Canucks third-line centre hole, and do it nicely.

But that hasn't deterred Manny Malhotra.

"I feel like I've been proving myself my entire career," he said. "I've had to earn my ice time, earn the trust from coaches, and earn faith from my teammates."

And proving that last year's disappointment was an aberration, and not the new norm, is why he was so amped about the start of this locked out season.

"I was really looking forward to it," Malhotra said. "I had a full offseason of training under my belt. I was feeling good. I was feeling normal. I was feeling more like myself again.

"I was ready to get out there and start strong.

"It's been a roller coaster [because of the lockout]. You're frustrated. You're angry. You're pissed off. You're tired of being in the gym. All of those things run through your head."

Malhotra is telling himself he can be the sort of player he was when he was a viable Selke Trophy candidate during the 2010-11 season again.

"I think I am better, especially in the way I think the game," he said.