When the Vancouver Canucks add players this close to the start of the season, calculators come out of hiding. For all the criticisms of the team over the years, one thing you can’t say is they don’t use every penny.
Vancouver Canucks Add Player, Payroll
It was an unfortunate end to the pre-season games this year. Yes, the team won, but newly arrived defenceman Carson Soucy is now week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The already thin blue line is going to be challenged when the team starts five of six on the road.
So when news came that the Canucks were working the phones, it was hardly surprising. Everyone knows they have strength on the wing and could use some defence. Maybe get a bit more cap space.
What wasn’t expected was adding another winger at the cost of yet another entry draft pick. The pick was a low-risk one, being in the fifth round, and brought back a right-handed centre. Still, there is a little twinge whenever another pick leaves town.
Vancouver did have to waive Jack Studnicka and Chris Wolanin – as well as reassign Nils Åman – to make ends meet. There is some risk to the moves, as Studnicka has had an excellent training camp and pre-season. And Wolanin is a solid veteran defenceman they can ill afford to lose.
Add Tucker Poolman going to the long-term injury list and the team is now suddenly cap compliant. Sam Lafferty for a fifth-round pick is a pretty good deal. It becomes less so if it costs that pick and Studnicka or Wolanin.
Mikhey See, Mikhey Do
It’s not all bad for Canucks fans. The machinations of capologists can only mean one thing: Ilya Mikheyev will return soon. Otherwise, he’d be a prime target to join Poolman on LTIR. If the team did that, of course, he wouldn’t be available for the opening ten games of the season.
Mikheyev has moved from separate practice sessions to non-contact to full practice this month, and everyone is happy to see it. It was odd to see the Canucks add another forward, but there’s little risk it was because of Mikheyev.
Sam Lafferty, however much management likes him, isn’t seeing time on Vancouver’s top line. Neither was Studnicka, who Lafferty ostensibly replaces, but where the new name gets his shot is up to the coach.
Mikheyev isn’t likely to play the first couple games, at least. He’ll get his chance after a few more full-contact practices. While seeing two of the league’s fastest going head-to-head would have been a great way to open the season, we just need to be patient.
Unlike what the team had with his injury last season.
Main Photo: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
