Training camp is in the books, and it&#8217;s time to focus on the preseason. The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/jpats-vancouver-canucks-mailbag-camp-questions-preseason">Vancouver Canucks</a> have a jam-packed schedule, with five games in the next seven days starting Tuesday. They open the preseason against the Seattle Kraken, followed by a match against the Calgary Flames the very next night. Vancouver receives a one-day break before another back-to-back as they travel to Seattle on Friday and Calgary on Saturday and round out their road trip against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
&nbsp;
There are so many questions about position placement, defensive pairings and the goaltending situation that we&#8217;ll finally have the answers to this week as the preseason unfolds.
<blockquote>Who is going to play with Quinn Hughes?</blockquote>
Did training camp give us our answer? Hughes spent most of his time skating alongside Noah Juulsen. But does that align with what the Canucks did this offseason? The club extended Filip Hronek, re-signed Tyler Myers and brought in Vincent Desharnais. Those three right-shot defenceman were expected to round out the Canucks&#8217; right side.
What was most surprising was that Desharnais did not get time with Hughes. There had been rumblings throughout the offseason that he would be the beneficiary of the role, but he was paired with Carson Soucy instead.
Is this indicative of what&#8217;s to come? Has Juulsen not only earned a spot in the lineup, but a big one in that skating with Hughes? Or — and what&#8217;s most likely — was Juulsen just a placeholder for Hronek, who was in another group entirely.
Rick Tocchet remained consistent during his media availabilities, saying that there would be times when <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-docuseries-canucks-quinn-hughes-october-4th">Hughes and Hronek</a> would be split up. We should see some rotation in the preseason, and we&#8217;ll see which defenceman rotates in with Quinn.
<blockquote>How long of a leash does Jonathan Lekkerimäki have?</blockquote>
He&#8217;s who everybody is most excited to watch, and for good reason. Lekkiermäki played very well at the Young Stars Classic and carried that over to training camp. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-jonathan-lekkerimaki-elias-pettersson-jake-debrusk-camp">Skating alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, Lekkerimäki</a> didn&#8217;t look out of place. He turned heads in practice, often capitalizing on his scoring chances with DeBrusk.
But is that sustainable? He&#8217;s still just 20 years old and a measly 5&#8217;11&#8221; and 172 lbs. Is he ready for a full NHL workload against bigger, tougher competition? The preseason will likely iron some of that out, but we should see Lekkerimäki earn a healthy shot on the top line.
However, it was surprising to see nobody else rotate in with Pettersson and DeBrusk.
<blockquote>Who else do they tryout with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk?</blockquote>
As mentioned above, Lekkerimäki got all the run with Pettersson and DeBrusk, including the entirety of the scrimmage game. But believing in what this management group likes to do with their young prospects, it seems likely Lekkiermäki will start the season with the Abbotsford Canucks.
In that case, who plays on that top line?
After an impressive training camp, Nils Höglander could be the one elevated. He was Pettersson&#8217;s running mate on the top line to end last season and fit in for the most part.
Given that DeBrusk has proven throughout the last few seasons that he can be defensively sound, does Sprong — who lacks in his own end — get a shot? He turned heads with his blistering shot during training camp, and with back-to-back 20-goal, 40-point seasons despite averaging sub-12 minutes per game, he would be a nice offensive option.
Or, and this would be for the short term, could it be Conor Garland? Once Dakota Joshua returns, he&#8217;ll likely be back up with him, but in the meantime, why not Garland? He&#8217;s spent time with Pettersson throughout his time in Vancouver, including the start of last season when he scored the opening goal off a long saucer pass from Pettersson, as well as stints when Joshua was out last season.
This will most notably be something to keep an eye on as the preseason rolls along.
<blockquote>Is Danton Heinen&#8217;s role alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser secure?</blockquote>
Despite all the other winger additions made this offseason, once Heinen signed in Vancouver, he seemed pegged into this role on the left wing of Miller and Boeser&#8217;s line. He&#8217;s a speedy, defensively sound forward who similarly resembles the play of Pius Suter, who fit into that role perfectly last season.
During training camp, Heinen was glued on this line. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-boeser-offseason-training-chemistry-heinen">Boeser spoke about how playing with him went and discussed their early chemistry</a> early on — going as far as to say that he was excited to get some preseason action with Heinen.
His role seems locked in for now, but if he struggles, is there a better option for the duo? Sprong, perhaps? He&#8217;ll need to round out his game in the defensive zone, but he did skate with Miller and Boeser at the team&#8217;s skate at UBC.
<blockquote>With Dakota Joshua&#8217;s timeline in question, does this open an opportunity for Sammy Blais to make the team?</blockquote>
This set of preseason games may not be more crucial to anybody but Blais. As the only player currently on a professional tryout contract (PTO) — after <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-training-camp-cuts-2024-round-1">Dylan Ferguson was released from his PTO Sunday evening after the first round of roster cuts</a> — Blais will need to bring his A-game if he wants to make the opening night roster.
Although Tocchet came out and said that Joshua wouldn&#8217;t be out for too long, we are still left without a timeline for his return. With Joshua out and Vasily Podkolzin was sent to the Edmonton Oilers, there is a lack of toughness and hitting power — outside of Kiefer Sherwood — on this Canucks forward corps, opening up an opportunity for Blais to make the team.
Blais will bring his high-flying, energetic, hard-hitting play to each preseason game and be given all the opportunity to earn a spot. Will he capitalize on that? We&#8217;ll have to wait and see.
<blockquote>If Teddy Blueger&#8217;s not ready for the regular season, which centreman holds down his spot?</blockquote>
Another Canucks forward whose status remains in question, Blueger skated in a non-contact jersey on the opening day of training camp but still missed most of training camp. Even if he&#8217;s ready in time for the start of the season, it will be interesting to see who skates as that extra centreman.
Nils Åman was that fifth centremen option last season, but we didn&#8217;t hear much regarding him during camp. However, when Tocchet was recapping training camp, he highlighted that the line of <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-tocchet-training-camp-standout-player-more">Höglander, Garland and Aatu Räty was one of the best the entire weekend.</a>
With Tocchet impressed in his play, has Räty earned an extra look at becoming that extra centreman for the big club? If Blueger&#8217;s out, will Räty get the work? Or will we see Åman, the more defensively sound player, resume his role from last year? This preseason will likely determine this decision.
<blockquote>Which goaltender gets the nod on opening night?</blockquote>
As we inch closer and closer to the start of the season, it&#8217;s becoming more and more evident that Thatcher Demko will not be available to kick off the season. The Canucks made a goaltending addition this offseason when they signed former Nashville Predator Kevin Lankinen to a one-year, $875,000 contract to compete with last year&#8217;s playoff standout Arturs Silovs.
Lankinen arrived in Vancouver late on Sunday night, while <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/arturs-silovs-canucks-scrimmage-training-camp">Silovs impressed many with a stellar performance in the training camp scrimmage</a>. Given the lack of time spent around the team, Lankinen won&#8217;t likely see game action until the second series or Wednesday against the Flames at the very earliest.
So what wins? Silovs familiarity with the team? Or Lankinen and his 112 regular season games of NHL experience over Silovs&#8217; nine games? It will likely depend on how both goalies tend the net in preseason.
What do you think, Canucks fans? What are you most looking forward to seeing this preseason, and what are your answers to these burning questions?
Sponsored by bet365!
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Vincent Desharnais at Vancouver Canucks training camp in Penticton, BC.

Training camp is in the books, and it's time to focus on the preseason. The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/jpats-vancouver-canucks-mailbag-camp-questions-preseason">Vancouver Canucks</a> have a jam-packed schedule, with five games in the next seven days starting Tuesday. They open the preseason against the Seattle Kraken, followed by a match against the Calgary Flames the very next night. Vancouver receives a one-day break before another back-to-back as they travel to Seattle on Friday and Calgary on Saturday and round out their road trip against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
&nbsp;

There are so many questions about position placement, defensive pairings and the goaltending situation that we'll finally have the answers to this week as the preseason unfolds.
<blockquote>Who is going to play with Quinn Hughes?</blockquote>
Did training camp give us our answer? Hughes spent most of his time skating alongside Noah Juulsen. But does that align with what the Canucks did this offseason? The club extended Filip Hronek, re-signed Tyler Myers and brought in Vincent Desharnais. Those three right-shot defenceman were expected to round out the Canucks' right side.

What was most surprising was that Desharnais did not get time with Hughes. There had been rumblings throughout the offseason that he would be the beneficiary of the role, but he was paired with Carson Soucy instead.

Is this indicative of what's to come? Has Juulsen not only earned a spot in the lineup, but a big one in that skating with Hughes? Or — and what's most likely — was Juulsen just a placeholder for Hronek, who was in another group entirely.

Rick Tocchet remained consistent during his media availabilities, saying that there would be times when <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-docuseries-canucks-quinn-hughes-october-4th">Hughes and Hronek</a> would be split up. We should see some rotation in the preseason, and we'll see which defenceman rotates in with Quinn.
<blockquote>How long of a leash does Jonathan Lekkerimäki have?</blockquote>
He's who everybody is most excited to watch, and for good reason. Lekkiermäki played very well at the Young Stars Classic and carried that over to training camp. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-jonathan-lekkerimaki-elias-pettersson-jake-debrusk-camp">Skating alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, Lekkerimäki</a> didn't look out of place. He turned heads in practice, often capitalizing on his scoring chances with DeBrusk.

But is that sustainable? He's still just 20 years old and a measly 5'11" and 172 lbs. Is he ready for a full NHL workload against bigger, tougher competition? The preseason will likely iron some of that out, but we should see Lekkerimäki earn a healthy shot on the top line.

However, it was surprising to see nobody else rotate in with Pettersson and DeBrusk.
<blockquote>Who else do they tryout with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk?</blockquote>
As mentioned above, Lekkerimäki got all the run with Pettersson and DeBrusk, including the entirety of the scrimmage game. But believing in what this management group likes to do with their young prospects, it seems likely Lekkiermäki will start the season with the Abbotsford Canucks.

In that case, who plays on that top line?

After an impressive training camp, Nils Höglander could be the one elevated. He was Pettersson's running mate on the top line to end last season and fit in for the most part.

Given that DeBrusk has proven throughout the last few seasons that he can be defensively sound, does Sprong — who lacks in his own end — get a shot? He turned heads with his blistering shot during training camp, and with back-to-back 20-goal, 40-point seasons despite averaging sub-12 minutes per game, he would be a nice offensive option.

Or, and this would be for the short term, could it be Conor Garland? Once Dakota Joshua returns, he'll likely be back up with him, but in the meantime, why not Garland? He's spent time with Pettersson throughout his time in Vancouver, including the start of last season when he scored the opening goal off a long saucer pass from Pettersson, as well as stints when Joshua was out last season.

This will most notably be something to keep an eye on as the preseason rolls along.
<blockquote>Is Danton Heinen's role alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser secure?</blockquote>
Despite all the other winger additions made this offseason, once Heinen signed in Vancouver, he seemed pegged into this role on the left wing of Miller and Boeser's line. He's a speedy, defensively sound forward who similarly resembles the play of Pius Suter, who fit into that role perfectly last season.

During training camp, Heinen was glued on this line. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-boeser-offseason-training-chemistry-heinen">Boeser spoke about how playing with him went and discussed their early chemistry</a> early on — going as far as to say that he was excited to get some preseason action with Heinen.

His role seems locked in for now, but if he struggles, is there a better option for the duo? Sprong, perhaps? He'll need to round out his game in the defensive zone, but he did skate with Miller and Boeser at the team's skate at UBC.
<blockquote>With Dakota Joshua's timeline in question, does this open an opportunity for Sammy Blais to make the team?</blockquote>
This set of preseason games may not be more crucial to anybody but Blais. As the only player currently on a professional tryout contract (PTO) — after <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-training-camp-cuts-2024-round-1">Dylan Ferguson was released from his PTO Sunday evening after the first round of roster cuts</a> — Blais will need to bring his A-game if he wants to make the opening night roster.

Although Tocchet came out and said that Joshua wouldn't be out for too long, we are still left without a timeline for his return. With Joshua out and Vasily Podkolzin was sent to the Edmonton Oilers, there is a lack of toughness and hitting power — outside of Kiefer Sherwood — on this Canucks forward corps, opening up an opportunity for Blais to make the team.

Blais will bring his high-flying, energetic, hard-hitting play to each preseason game and be given all the opportunity to earn a spot. Will he capitalize on that? We'll have to wait and see.
<blockquote>If Teddy Blueger's not ready for the regular season, which centreman holds down his spot?</blockquote>
Another Canucks forward whose status remains in question, Blueger skated in a non-contact jersey on the opening day of training camp but still missed most of training camp. Even if he's ready in time for the start of the season, it will be interesting to see who skates as that extra centreman.

Nils Åman was that fifth centremen option last season, but we didn't hear much regarding him during camp. However, when Tocchet was recapping training camp, he highlighted that the line of <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-tocchet-training-camp-standout-player-more">Höglander, Garland and Aatu Räty was one of the best the entire weekend.</a>

With Tocchet impressed in his play, has Räty earned an extra look at becoming that extra centreman for the big club? If Blueger's out, will Räty get the work? Or will we see Åman, the more defensively sound player, resume his role from last year? This preseason will likely determine this decision.
<blockquote>Which goaltender gets the nod on opening night?</blockquote>
As we inch closer and closer to the start of the season, it's becoming more and more evident that Thatcher Demko will not be available to kick off the season. The Canucks made a goaltending addition this offseason when they signed former Nashville Predator Kevin Lankinen to a one-year, $875,000 contract to compete with last year's playoff standout Arturs Silovs.

Lankinen arrived in Vancouver late on Sunday night, while <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/arturs-silovs-canucks-scrimmage-training-camp">Silovs impressed many with a stellar performance in the training camp scrimmage</a>. Given the lack of time spent around the team, Lankinen won't likely see game action until the second series or Wednesday against the Flames at the very earliest.

So what wins? Silovs familiarity with the team? Or Lankinen and his 112 regular season games of NHL experience over Silovs' nine games? It will likely depend on how both goalies tend the net in preseason.

What do you think, Canucks fans? What are you most looking forward to seeing this preseason, and what are your answers to these burning questions?

Sponsored by bet365!
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

7 burning Canucks questions heading into NHL preseason games

Recent articles from Tyson Cole

Breaking News