The Canucks unloaded some cap problems earlier today when Tanner Pearson was sent to the Montreal Canadiens. The Canucks had an overload of wingers and needed room for the youngsters like Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Hoglander, who have outgrown the AHL.
The Canucks added Akito Hirose and Cole McWard late in the season, Filip Johansson joined the AHL affiliate after his season in the SHL, and then some were good when called upon, like Guillaume Brisebois, Noah Juulsen and the veteran Christian Wolanin.
Heading into training camp, we'll have an aggressive competition to see who manages a roster spot alongside Quinn Hughes, Carson Soucy, Ian Cole, Filip Hronek and Tyler Myers. Wolanin signed a new deal that'll keep him in Vancouver for the coming two years, and in an interview today, he gave his take on his place in the line-up:
Wolanin was outstanding with the Canucks in Abbotsford and received many individual awards, including a nomination on the AHL's 1st all-star team and even the AHL's Defenseman of the Year. He earned 55 points in 49 games, but will he be able to secure the remaining spot on the Canucks' blueline? He seems to be confident about it.
