Vancouver Canucks Left With Difficult Roster Decisions After Recent Announcement
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The Vancouver Canucks have some pretty difficult decisions to make when it comes to their opening night roster, which needs to be submitted to the NHL on Monday.
After a long offseason, the 2025-26 season is almost here and as the Vancouver Canucks wrap up their training camp in the next few days, we're going to get a better idea of who we'll see take to the ice next Thursday when they face the Calgary Flames in their first game of the new campaign.
For the most part, the Vancouver Canucks' coaching staff has a good idea on who we'll see on opening night, but there are still a few key decisions that'll need to be made between now and 2 p.m. PT on Monday, particularly with the team's the bottom-six forward group and with their young blueliners.
Vancouver Canucks left with difficult roster decisions ahead of opening night
In an article for Daily Hive, Trevor Beggs too an in-depth look at those impending roster decisions that'll come over the weekend and it's safe to say the forward battle will be the most intriguing.
According to Beggs, there are seven players, previously eight before Vitali Kravtsov was placed on waivers, that are competing for four, possibly five spots on the opening night roster.
Those players are - Aatu Raty, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Braeden Cootes, Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, Nils Aman and Max Sasson, all of whom have been working hard throughout training camp and the team's preseason games to prove that they're ready to be in the National Hockey League on a full-time basis.
Beggs believes that because Nils Aman hasn't had the best of training camp, along with the fact Max Sasson doesn't require waivers to be sent down, those two, along with the aforementioned Vitali Kravtsov, will be the team's final three forward cuts before Monday.
With that being said, and assuming that Aatu Raty is already a lock to make the big club, Begg has the following four players making the Vancouver Canucks out of camp - Arshdeep Bains, Braeden Cootes, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Linus Karlsson.
"Nils Aman was sent to the minors before the beginning of last season and hasn't been a standout at camp. Vitali Kravtsov has looked similar to the player who wasn't very good for the Canucks in 2022-23. Max Sasson likely has the best chance of the three forward longshots to make the team, but the fact that he doesn't need waivers works against him.
If the Canucks simply cut these three guys and run with 14 forwards, that would mean all of Braeden Cootes, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Arshdeep Bains and Linus Karlsson make the final roster." Beggs said.
If the Canucks simply cut these three guys and run with 14 forwards, that would mean all of Braeden Cootes, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Arshdeep Bains and Linus Karlsson make the final roster." Beggs said.
The fact that the Vancouver Canucks have this much depth on forward heading into the 2025-26 season is a great sign for the organization, especially when injury issues inevitably pop up throughout the year.
One of those forwards that Vancouver Canucks fans are hoping is on the opening night roster next week, even if it's just for a nine-game trial, is 2025 first round pick Braeden Cootes, who has shined throughout training camp.
Source: Trevor Beggs/Daily Hive
3 tough roster decisions Vancouver Canucks must make before opening night
3 tough roster decisions Vancouver Canucks must make before opening night
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