Canucks reduce training camp roster by four

The Canucks have reduced their training camp by four players this morning.

None of these cuts are surprising given that they all had not played since the Young Stars Classic in Penticton.

Jakub Stukel had made the trip to Calgary with the Canucks, but did not suit up and remained there to join the Hitmen as their WHL season opens tomorrow. The 2016 6th round pick will look to round out his game after posting 23 goals and 30 assists in 70 games for the Hitmen last season. The Canucks retain the rights to the Surrey, B.C. native until June 1, 2018, so Stukel will have to prove that he worth an ELC and taking that next step to the AHL next season.

Anton Cederholm is in the final year of his ELC and is looking to stick in North America after spending last season with AIK in the Allsvenskan league and Rogle in the SHL. Known for his physical play, Cederholm could carve out a depth role for the Comets this upcoming season.

Like Cederholm, MacKenze Stewart is in the last year of his entry-level contract and hopes to stick in the AHL after spending all of last season in the ECHL. Given the depth on the back end, it’s unlikely that Stewart will be able to secure a spot with the Comets and will likely spend another season in the ECHL.

Lastly, Moynihan was another player that spent all of the 2016-17 campaign in the ECHL but he was one of their best players. He ended the season with 22 goals and 30 assists in 71 games for the Alaska Aces. Obviously, his goal will be to make the leap up to the AHL and stay there, and that isn’t far fetched given how well he played last year, his speed and his versatility. He is currently signed to an AHL deal with the Utica Comets.

With the Canucks playing a pre-season game in Edmonton tomorrow, and then the other game in China early Saturday morning, it’s fair to believe that a larger round of cuts will occur on the weekend or early next week. We will then have a better idea of how things will look for the Canucks and for the Comets.