Opening Day Roster Notes: Etem will be placed on waivers; Canucks working on deal with Skille

With the roster deadline approaching at 2PM PT, Canucks GM Jim Benning made himself available for a press conference this morning where he mentioned that Emerson Etem will be placed on waivers tomorrow, and the Canucks will look to work out a contract with Jack Skille. 

Based on pre-season performance, these moves makes sense.

Etem did not make enough of an impression to warrant keeping his roster spot. Simply he didn’t show enough throughout the pre-season, like he had in the latter parts of last season. He struggled to push the play, and often looked to be behind the puck. He posted a CF% of 45.77% throughout the pre-season and was held pointless, finishing with 10 SOG.

The Canucks twitter mentioned that Etem is on waivers already, but because he wasn’t placed on waivers for 12PM ET today, he will make his way there tomorrow.

Skille on the other hand, played like it was his last shift every time he hit the ice. Posting a far more respectable 56.63% CF% throughout the pre-season, Skille gave everything he had to try to secure a spot. He finished the pre-season with zero points and 5 PIM.

If you are looking solely at their pre-season play, Skille gave the Canucks everything they were looking for in a depth role. He skated well, created offence and wasn’t a liability defensively. But given Skille’s age, we know what we are getting with Skille. Someone who will not hurt your team, but won’t help push the needle offensively.

Nikita Tryamkin and Brendan Gaunce have also made the opening day roster for the Canucks:

Anton Rodin will start the season on IR recovering from swelling and minor pain in his surgically repaired knee.

Earlier today, it was announced that the Canucks released Tuomo Ruutu from his PTO.

One reminder – it’s a long season, all these moves are made for the first day of the year. Things will change, and players will move throughout the season.