It’s happening. Real, meaningful NHL hockey will be played starting on Wednesday this week.

The Canucks start their season in Edmonton that night, but there are still some real questions about who, exactly, will be with the team in Alberta’s capital.

There are a handful of question marks closer at the bottom end of the roster, and after a preseason in which some of those players shined and others were just kinda sorta there, Canucks general manager Jim Benning and coach Travis Green have some tough decisions to make.

The first question is whether the Canucks with injuries are going to be good to go. Brock Boeser and Oscar Fantenberg were in the concussion protocol, while Tyler Motte was dealing with an upper body injury.

All three Canucks practised on Saturday, so we can assume that, even if they get placed on injured reserve to start the season, they will be with the team in short order.

If all three don’t join Antoine Roussel on IR, the Canucks will have to cut four players on Monday.

Here’s the current roster as we see it:

Forwards

Micheal Ferland-Elias Pettersson-Brock Boeser

Tanner Pearson-Bo Horvat-J.T. Miller

Sven Baertschi-Brandon Sutter-Jake Virtanen

Josh Leivo-Jay Beagle-Loui Eriksson

Nikolay Goldobin-Adam Gaudette-Tim Schaller

Tyler Motte

Defencemen

Alex Edler-Tyler Myers

Quinn Hughes-Chris Tanev

Jordie Benn-Troy Stecher

Oscar Fantenberg-Alex Biega

Guillaume Brisebois

So, how might the Canucks whittle it down to 23 players? Here are the on-the-bubble candidates and how we feel about them.

Guillaume Brisebois, D

Brisebois is an obvious cut candidate and will be sent down to Utica. He was the last extra defenceman kept, a sign that he might be one of the first called up.

Even that could come with controversy though, as Olli Juolevi has the pedigree and has been effective when healthy, while Brogan Rafferty also had a strong preseason. It was hard to envision Brisebois as an NHL player given his play this preseason.

Chance he gets sent down: 5/5

Alex Biega, D

The Canucks usually go with eight defencemen and 13 forwards, so it would be something of a surprise if Biega was dropped to waivers.

It’s possible, though. The Canucks forward group is going to present some tough decisions and mayyybe the team decides to only keep seven.

But more than likely not. Brisebois is probably only with the team because they don’t know if Fantenberg will be ready.

Chance he gets sent down: 3/5

Tyler Motte, F

Now we get into the tough ones.

As much as the Canucks are purported to like Motte (and they clearly do, they gave him 74 games in the NHL level last year, many more than any club dared to do before), he would make for a relatively easy send-down.

He’s missed some of the preseason and is generally a known commodity. He gives his all on every shift but his underlying numbers aren’t great and he doesn’t fill the net. He’s also somewhat unlikely to be claimed by another team.

Chance he gets sent down: 3/5

Tim Schaller, F

Another grinding, hustling forward, Schaller proved to be an unwise investment last season, as he made $1.9 million while sitting in the press box for a large portion of the year.

But he’s… actually looked pretty good this preseason? Green agreed, complimenting him in some of his postgame comments.

The Canucks have definitely tried to trade Schaller—the fact he’s still on the team isn’t exactly a great indication of his value. But there is a chance he gets claimed by a team with some space in the bottom six and under the cap.

Vancouver would probably like to keep him for one more campaign (or at least the start of it), but it just doesn’t seem like there’s room.

It’s probably either Schaller or Motte for the last forward spot on the team. 

Chance he gets sent down: 3/5

Nikolay Goldobin, F

One of the more divisive subjects of last season, all Canucks fans know the score with Goldobin. He’s talented, especially as a passer. But he does have some trouble in the defensive zone and he hasn’t been able to put up a ton of goals, or win many puck battles.

This preseason might have been his last chance to really secure a spot on a team with too many forwards—and Green hasn’t exactly showered the young Russian with praise during it.

It just really feels like we’re living in the last days of Goldobin as a Canuck. There’s a decent chance another team takes a shot on him, given his talent.

Chance he gets sent down: 4/5

Adam Gaudette, F

The Canuck who had perhaps the most impressive preseason showing, Gaudette doesn’t need waivers to be sent down to Utica. And that’s likely the only reason he’ll be going down.

He had a fantastic preseason and is likely to be the first forward call-up. But the fact remains that the team wants to play Gaudette at centre and they already have Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle clogging up that position.

We just can’t see the Canucks keeping Gaudette at the price of waiving another veteran.

Chance he gets sent down: 5/5

Loui Eriksson, F

A truly lifeless preseason was no surprise given what he’s shown during his time in Vancouver.

Yes, he can be useful on the penalty kill and on the fourth line, but there was really no sense of drive at all from the Canucks’ $6 million man.

He obviously wouldn’t be claimed on waivers if the Canucks sent him down, but it’s hard to see the team shoving that much cash down to Utica. Just don’t be surprised if he’s scratched at times this season—it’s pretty obvious Green can’t stand his lack of effort. But he’s stuck with him. For now.

Chance he gets sent down: 2/5

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