So with Ballard bought out the Canuck's need to fill seven positions and have $7.5 million in cap space.
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Chris Tanev and Frank Corrado look most likely to be defenders 5 and 6 - Tanev, of course, still needs to be resigned.
Prospects like Jordan Schroeder, Brendan Gaunce, Nick Jensen and Peter Andersson would each make $1 million or less in the NHL; expect them to be given good shots at making the roster in September.
Other guys like Darren Archibald, Kellan Lain and Bill Sweatt also have a shot up front, but should be considered serious long shots at this point.
If Tanev gets $2 mil that will leave $5.5 mil for 6 players, or an average of just over $900k a piece, going to be very, very tight. If it is much more than that they will need to trade him and if he gets an offer sheet well bye, bye. No wonder they are still looking to move Edler.
The Nucks really need about 4 rookies to make the team. Out of Hovart, Shinkurak, Jensen, Guance, Lain and Corrado they'd be happy in a normal year to have 2 of them graduate but this is not a normal year. And oh yea, both their Swedish goalies would be better off with 30 games in the AHL rather than opening doors at this point but doubt they can afford a capable backup either so that makes a need for maybe 5 rookies.
Going to miss Lapierre, great 4th liner and capable of 3rd line fill in duties but the Nucks just can't afford him. And good bye to the very stalwart Alberts I presume.
Nashville is letting Jonathan Blum go, at 24 years of age perhaps he maybe a worthwhile reclamation project, he's expressed interest in the Canuck's and it would be nice to have an xGiant in the lineup. Speaking of xGiant reclaim projects wonder what Gilbert Brule is doing these days.