With three preseason game remaining, the Vancouver Canucks still have more questions than answers regarding the final makeup of their forward lines.
Can Brendan Morrison(notes), the huge hometown favourite, make the team after coming to camp on a tryout contract?
Does top prospect Cody Hodgson(notes), now healthy after suffering through a year of back troubles, have enough time left in the preseason to show he belongs?
Might Jeff Tambellini(notes) win the job as the short-term replacement for Alex Burrows with the Sedins?
"Some spots are open, and the guys that play well are the ones you're going to keep," said Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault. "Some guys have some moments where their play might put them ahead, but in other cases those same guys their play is just average. We've got three [preseason] games left and we're going to try to use them the best way they can."
Vancouver's regular season starts Saturday, Oct. 9, at home against the L.A. Kings.
The Canucks will likely keep 13 forwards, but it isn't quite as simple as handicapping who is fighting for how many spots. In some cases, the winner of a job in one area of the roster might have some influence on another battle.
After the Canucks reduced their roster to 33 players on Monday, Vigneault laid out the fourth-line battle.
"I think we've got quite a few guys who are trying to fight for that position," said Vigneault, listing off veterans Darcy Hordichuk(notes), Rick Rypien(notes) and Tanner Glass(notes) as well as unproven Victor Oreskovich(notes), Guillaume Desbiens(notes) and Alexandre Bolduc(notes).
"There's a place for those players on our team—whether it's one, two or three—I don't know. Those are all guys who are fighting for that job on the fourth line and maybe the third line. Those guys have to crash and bang, and sometimes that leads to other things."
As for who centres that line, it may depend on whether Morrison, 35, continues to impress and perhaps makes the club at that position. He's clearly not your classic fourth-line centre, but his versatility is a bonus. Otherwise, the bigger, younger, less-experienced Joel Perrault(notes) has been the obvious candidate since he was signed in the summer.
With Sergei Shirokov(notes) likely out of the mix due to fitness issues, Tambellini appears to have a leg up on a job with the Sedins after a strong game with them on Saturday that included lots of chances but no finish.
"I thought Tambellini had a lot of Grade A chances with the twins. Unfortunately, he didn't finish," said Vigneault. "I thought Brendan had his best game on Saturday and [Sunday] he wasn't as effective. Those guys are right there. I'm not sure what we're doing with that other spot. Nobody has come out and grabbed it, or whether it's putting [Mikael] Samuelsson with the twins and putting somebody else there."
That brings us to Hodgson, who showed some promise in his first NHL-level game in more than a year on Sunday in Edmonton. He skated on right wing with Ryan Kesler(notes) and Mason Raymond(notes) and will again tonight against San Jose.
Clearly, Vigneault wants to see if there is some chemistry there. If so, it may allow him to play Samuelsson with the twins. Of course, that could affect Tambellini's prospects.
As well, winger Peter Schaefer(notes)—another veteran player on a tryout—may still have a say as a bottom-six forward. His eye was swollen shut after being hit into the boards from behind in Saturday's game but may play on Wednesday.
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