With no single possible top-six ahead or top-four defender of their lineup on Monday night time, the Vancouver Canucks nonetheless pushed a star-studded, Stanley Cup favorite Edmonton Oilers facet to the shootout earlier than falling 3-2 of their penultimate preseason take a look at.
For each single Canucks hopeful within the lineup Monday night time, holding their very own towards a superior lineup is one thing to take satisfaction in. It’s the preseason and all the pieces must be taken with a grain of salt, however that contest ought to take nothing away from Monday’s end result as a standalone accomplishment.
Closing out a condensed five-games-in-seven-days stretch of its preseason, Vancouver now has one last gown rehearsal earlier than last cuts — a last exhibition sport at residence on Monday towards Edmonton. That lineup will possible look rather more NHL-level than what Vancouver iced in Alberta and Seattle on Monday and this previous weekend.
For coaochRick Tocchet and Canucks administration, some final-cut selections loom. These selections will likely be formed by a wide range of issues above and past what we’ve seen at coaching camp and all through the primary week of preseason motion, with the membership’s want to keep away from using long-term injured reserve (LTIR) an particularly vital issue. It is a roster that’s felt comparatively set from the outset of coaching camp and so it stays because the preseason winds down, though Aatu Räty’s preseason efficiency has definitely added a wrinkle price unpacking.
Primarily based on what we’ve discovered over the previous week and the cap math concerned, let’s share one last opening night time 23-man roster projection as we enter the ultimate week of preseason motion.
Left wing
Locks: Jake DeBrusk, Nils Höglander, Danton Heinen
On the bubble:Phillip Di Giuseppe
Outdoors, wanting in: Arshdeep Bains
Injured reserve: Dakota Joshua
We all know with a excessive diploma of confidence that marquee free-agent signings Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen will likely be on the roster. Younger 20-goal scorer Nils Höglander has been one in every of Vancouver’s finest gamers all through coaching camp and the preseason and can likewise be within the opening night time lineup and doubtlessly given a chance within the high six.
It’s possible at this level that Vancouver will open the season with simply three left-handed wingers, though Phil Di Giuseppe has had a robust efficiency all through camp and within the preseason. Given the plain belief issue Tocchet has with Di Giuseppe, he can by no means be totally dominated out, however one can safely assume if the membership is intent on avoiding injured reserve it might favor to maintain a twelfth ahead able to enjoying centre.
Arshdeep Bains has added a step and carried out solidly all through the preseason course of, together with on the Penticton Younger Stars match, however appears most certainly to open the season within the AHL. Bains’ waiver-exempt standing and the incoming depth on the wing offered Bains with a numbers sport that he hasn’t appeared capable of overcome at camp and in preseason.
Dakota Joshua stays with no timeline to return to motion for now. We should always assume he’ll open the season on LTI, relying on how Vancouver plans to deal with its in-season cap on the outset. If the Canucks are intent on avoiding LTI in setting their opening night time roster, they in all probability carry solely 12 forwards with vital knock-on results for the left-wing roster battles.
Phillip Di Giuseppe controls the puck towards MacKenzie Weegar in preseason motion. (Sergei Belski / Imagn Pictures)
Centre
Locks:ÂJ.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Pius Suter, Teddy Blueger
On the bubble:ÂAatu Räty, Nils Ã…man
Outdoors, wanting in: Max Sasson, Ty Mueller, Nathan Smith
We all know J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Teddy Blueger are locked-in centremen for the Canucks to open the season. Pius Suter is a lock to be on the group, though it’s doable he may open the 12 months on the wing, relying on how Tocchet and firm decide to set their opening night time roster.
The important thing remaining query surrounds Räty and Nils Åman. Räty has emerged as probably the most fascinating Canucks storyline at coaching camp. The 21-year-old ahead, who ended final season on a tear within the AHL whereas enjoying the wing, has been a standout at coaching camp and within the preseason. His faceoff-winning capacity specifically has stood out, as his switchy faceoff transfer on weak-side attracts seems to supply a solution to the lack-of-right-handed-centremen query. Via his three preseason performances, Räty is the one Canucks centre above 50 % within the circle.
Räty’s roster spot must come on the expense of Åman. It will additionally, maybe, push Suter over to the wing the place he excelled down the stretch final season and within the playoffs.
To not be outdone, it’s price noting Åman received eight of his 13 faceoffs on Monday night time in Edmonton, making a robust last push to be thought-about because the twelfth ahead on opening night time.
And in addition to Räty has carried out all through the preseason, it’s additionally price noting Åman holds a wide range of vital benefits on this specific roster battle.
First off, the Canucks are comfy enjoying Åman on the wing, the place they appear to need Räty to proceed to develop at pivot.
Secondly, Räty’s cap hit is available in simply over $10K greater than Ã…man’s. If the Canucks have been to make the most of LTI, that may favour Räty since his cap hit would assist them get nearer to the higher restrict to maximise their seize. In the event that they keep away from using LTI in setting their opening night time roster and that’s their desire, that may favour Ã…man since carrying his extra reasonably priced contract would assist them toll barely extra cap house every day.
Lastly, the place Räty is waiver-exempt and may freely be despatched right down to the AHL, Åman would require waivers and — given his age, top, penalty-killing prowess and positional versatility — can be a robust candidate to get claimed by a rival membership.
If Räty has received a spot outright, the Canucks will in all probability make their selections accordingly, however protecting Åman for opening night time would assist defend their centre depth for the long run, amongst a number of different marginal benefits.
Proper wing
Locks: Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood
On the bubble: Daniel Sprong
Outdoors, wanting in: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Linus Karlsson
Brock Boeser and Conor Garland are key right-handed wingers for Vancouver and will likely be within the opening night time lineup. Kiefer Sherwood might be the favorite to open the season in a top-six position at this level, maybe on a line with Pettersson and DeBrusk, and in any occasion, will make the group and play a significant depth position to open the 12 months.
Daniel Sprong has been one in every of Vancouver’s finest wingers all through the preseason and clearly provides one thing distinctive along with his heat-check-style offensive sport. His contract is just for one 12 months and is reasonably priced sufficient that his cap hit could possibly be buried within the AHL with out consequence, so we’ll rely him as on the bubble for now, however he would appear to have the within observe because the preseason winds down.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki has impressed all through the preseason, however his cap hit is comparatively costly — coming in at over $900,000 — which isn’t ideally suited if the Canucks wish to each keep away from LTI and carry an additional defender. He’s additionally waiver-exempt and will clearly profit by opening his first North American skilled season enjoying a significant position down in Abbotsford as a substitute of coping with the strain of enjoying NHL-level hockey proper off the bat.
Linus Karlsson has been stable all through the preseason and provides some components that the Canucks may make the most of — his work on the internet entrance on the ability play and total measurement profile are issues the Canucks want within the lineup — however it appears possible he’ll be misplaced within the numbers sport at this level, at the very least to open the marketing campaign.
Left defence
Locks: Quinn Hughes, Carson Soucy, Derek Forbort
Outdoors, wanting in: Kirill Kudryavtsev, Akito Hirose, Elias Pettersson, Christian Wolanin
There aren’t any actual surprises on the left facet of the Canucks defence corps. Group captain and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes goes to play large minutes for Vancouver this upcoming season, whereas Carson Soucy and incoming free agent Derek Forbort will flesh out the membership’s left-side depth to open the marketing campaign.
Kirill Kudryavtsev was a standout at coaching camp and in exhibition play, and possibly put himself on the radar to be the primary man up within the occasion of harm along with his NHL-level particulars and all-around sport.
Akito Hirose appears to have fallen down the depth chart, and on a one-way NHL contract, his identify is price monitoring as a commerce consideration, particularly given GM Patrik Allvin’s observe file of shifting on from gamers on one-way offers (Jack Studnicka and Jack Rathbone, specifically) once they fall out of the membership’s NHL plans.
Elias Pettersson has actual upside and confirmed enchancment all through the exhibition schedule. The gifted younger defender, nonetheless, seems to be like he’d profit most from gaining skilled expertise within the AHL to start his North American skilled profession.
Christian Wolanin is an elite AHL defender and will maintain down credible third-pair minutes for Vancouver on the NHL degree in a pinch. We’ll go away the preseason, nonetheless, questioning if he’s completed sufficient to carry off Kudryavtsev on the depth chart getting into the 12 months.
Might Akito Hirose change into a commerce consideration for the Canucks? (Sergei Belski / Imagn Pictures)
Proper defence
Locks: Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, Vincent Desharnais
On the Bubble: Noah Juulsen, Mark Friedman
Outdoors, wanting in: Christian Felton
Injured reserve: Tucker Poolman, Cole McWard
We all know Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers and Vincent Desharnais are the Canucks’ first-choice right-handed defenders to open the season. We all know too that Tucker Poolman will open the season on injured reserve or LTI relying on how the membership units its opening night time lineup.
Christian Felton had some stable moments at coaching camp and in exhibition play however is poised to open the season within the AHL.
Past that, the remainder of the appropriate facet is one thing of a query mark relative to Vancouver’s different place teams.
The uncertainty begins with Cole McWard, who was introduced as week to week when coaching camp opened and has but to play an exhibition sport. The younger right-handed defender underwent a surgical process late within the offseason and his standing is price monitoring intently this week. If McWard is unavailable to open the marketing campaign, he can’t be despatched down and his cap hit must be accounted for someplace, which may complicate Vancouver’s most well-liked plan to keep away from using LTI to open the 12 months.
If we assume McWard receives a transparent invoice of well being this week and that the Canucks can keep away from LTI, they’re prone to open the 12 months with simply 21 gamers on their roster (plus Poolman, Joshua and Thatcher Demko on injured reserve). That will imply Vancouver will solely be capable of have one depth participant on its roster for opening night time.
What does that imply for Noah Juulsen, an ace penalty killer who matches the template of what Tocchet and firm seem to need from their blueliners, and Mark Friedman?
If the Canucks are going to keep away from LTI, they’ll need to resolve between Juulsen and Friedman for cap math causes. The opposite must be lower and uncovered on the waiver wire earlier than being reassigned to Abbotsford.
In a vacuum, the Canucks would possibly favor Juulsen for his physicality and penalty-killing utility. In a world, nonetheless, the place you possibly can solely have one depth participant, there’s some actual worth in protecting a flexible participant like Friedman given his capacity to play the wing, the left facet and the appropriate facet ably.
That is shaping as much as be one of many hardest selections dealing with Canucks administration and coaches getting into the ultimate week of exhibition play.
Goaltenders
Locks: Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs
Outdoors, wanting in: Nikita Tolopilo, Jiřà Patera
Injured reserve: Thatcher Demko
Demko stays out indefinitely and that’s the guiding reality that can decide the Canucks’ plan in internet.
For now, assuming Demko opens the season on injured reserve, the Canucks will enter the marketing campaign with Kevin Lankinen and Artūrs Šilovs as their goaltending platoon on the NHL degree. Šilovs appears prone to get the primary shot at carrying the starter’s baton, however as Lankinen proved with a stellar outing in Edmonton on Monday night time, he’s a reputable possibility to spice up Vancouver’s depth between the pipes.
When Demko returns, the Canucks’ desire is to keep up three goaltenders on their 23-man roster, which is considerably unconventional however could possibly be a weapon given the remaining choices it will open up for his or her netminders.
Nikita Tolopilo and Jiřà Patera appear set to be a stable goaltending tandem on the AHL degree. After a tough camp efficiency, Patera carried out nicely in restricted run in the course of the preseason. Tolopilo was hardly ever used within the preseason however was a standout at Younger Stars and coaching camp.
The Athletic’s Canucks 23-man roster projection getting into last week of preseason:
Forwards:Jake DeBrusk, Nils Höglander, Danton Heinen, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Pius Suter, Teddy Blueger, Aatu Räty, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood, Daniel Sprong
Protection:Quinn Hughes, Carson Soucy, Derek Forbort, Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, Vincent Desharnais, Noah Juulsen
Goaltenders:Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs
Injured reserve:Thatcher Demko, Dakota Joshua, Tucker Poolman
(High picture: Sergei Belski / Imagn Pictures)
