Nikita Tryamkin Lands in Vancouver

Nikita Tryamkin donned a Canucks jersey for the first time this morning (note to training staff: try to find one that actually fits him) and skated on his own at UBC. Video emerged, Canucks Twitter chimed in, and a good time was had by all.

It's been a whirlwind few hours for the Vancouver Canucks newest D project.

Tryamkin's flight got in after midnight. Didn't get to bed until after 4am. Had to be up at 6. Skating at 915. He might throw up. #Canucks

— Irfaan Gaffar (@sportsnetirf) March 10, 2016

Jannik Hansen, Brandon Sutter and skills coach Glenn Carnegie took to the ice with No. 88. Sutter fed Trymakin some one timers!

Nikita Tryamkin punishing pucks at his first #Canucks skate, alongside Brandon Sutter. pic.twitter.com/qlCpUSCxaJ

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 10, 2016

We learned some Russian.

Everybody say it together now: Tram-kin. Got it? Good. https://t.co/1Du6dcbpsI

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 10, 2016

Beat writers on Twitter had fun trying to convert 220 cm to an Imperial measure, finally settling on 6 ft 7.5 in. He's 240 lbs.

We learned he isn't shy about boasting, and that he's not going to Utica.

Tryamkin through his translator - "Everyone compares me to Chara, and I have no idea why. I want to be better than him." #Canucks

— Irfaan Gaffar (@sportsnetirf) March 10, 2016

#Canucks Nikita Tryamkin: Goal is to play, remain in NHL. If that does not work out (he) will go back to Russia, hone his skills there.

— Cam Tucker (@CamTucker_Metro) March 10, 2016

#Canucks Tryamkin said (through a translator) that if he does go back to Russia, he'd do "whatever it takes" to get back and stay in NHL

— Cam Tucker (@CamTucker_Metro) March 10, 2016

And finally, that he follows Canucks Twitter, so we know he can take punishment, I guess.

Tryamkin said all the interest in him on social media helped convince him to come to Vancouver. #Canucks

— Brad Ziemer (@BradZiemer) March 10, 2016

After full practice, in which Henrik Sedin took part incidentally, some Canucks players weighed in on their new big Russian teammate.

Henrik Sedin, although excited about Tryamkin, warns about the hype. "Adjustment will take time, he's not Chris Pronger - hopefully someday"

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 10, 2016

Burrows on Tryamkin - "It was good to see him, his English is better than mine so that's a good thing." #Canucks

— Irfaan Gaffar (@sportsnetirf) March 10, 2016

"We follow each other on @instagram and have learned a lot. Maybe we'll go to @justinbieber tomorrow or something" - Horvat, on Tryamkin

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 10, 2016

Pass it to Bulis says Tryamkin is worth the hype. How he does will help Jim Benning determine what he needs to add on D for next year. While Thomas Drance at Sportsnet.ca says he may face long odds, in a league where ability to keep pace, not a player's size, is the prototype for a shutdown defenceman.

Meanwhile, the Canucks and Brandon Prust have mutually agreed that he would head home and rehab his ankle, in preparation for unrestricted free agency. Evidently he was still feeling ankle pain while playing for thee Comets. Carol Schram of HockeyBuzz speculates this could allow the Canucks to put Prust on LTIR and free up cap space.