<p>In what felt like a near-impossible feat, Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin and company rid themselves of 80 percent of Tucker Poolman’s $2.5 million cap hit and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/how-brannstrom-poolman-trade-canucks-cap-issues">acquired Erik Brännström</a> from the Colorado Avalanche in the process.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>After immediately placing the left-shot defenceman on waivers following the acquisition, we learned that he had successfully <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-erik-brannstrom-nhl-waivers-ahl-abbotsford">passed through and would be sent directly to Abbotsford</a> for deployment ahead of Friday&#8217;s season opener. While Brännström’s addition offers the Canucks another strong puck-moving defender for the farm, it raises a significant question: <em>W</em><em>here does everyone fit?</em></p>
<p>Currently, Abbotsford’s blueline consists of 10 defencemen, seven of whom are left-handed. With limited spots and a need to balance development with veteran presence, here’s a breakdown of how this crowded defence currently shakes out:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-132108 size-full" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/A.png" alt="" width="552" height="298" srcset="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/A.png 552w, https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/A-300x162.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px" /></p>
<p>With only three spots on the left side and plenty of talent to go around, finding enough ice time for all these players will be a challenge. Here’s a closer look at the potential scenarios that could help Abbotsford manage this logjam.</p>
<p>First, let&#8217;s look at the facts.</p>
<h1>The locks: Brännström and Wolanin</h1>
<p>Erik Brännström and Christian Wolanin are virtual locks for Abbotsford’s lineup. Both are proven puck movers with strong AHL resumes, having posted in-and-around .70 point-per-game clips over their respective careers.</p>
<p>Brännström, though sent down to Abbotsford, is now an intriguing option within the system and likely considered a &#8220;Wolanin upgrade.&#8221; While he’s struggled to maintain his (2017) 15th overall pedigree, the 25-year-old has some solid AHL numbers, with 63 points across 90 AHL games.</p>
<p>The same can be said for Wolanin, who, at 29, has been an incredible AHL veteran with 137 points in 180 games split between three AHL teams in seven seasons. While both are talented defencemen, they seem to fall directly into that awkward label of “too good for the AHL, not consistent enough for the NHL.”</p>
<p>Both players require waivers to be recalled or sent down, but Brännström, having cleared waivers, now offers the Canucks flexibility. Should he be recalled, he could play up to 10 NHL games or spend up to 30 days on the NHL roster without having to pass through waivers again.</p>
<p>With that in mind, he gets the immediate leg-up between the two in this system depth chart.</p>
<h1>Health concerns: Hirose and Brisebois</h1>
<p>While Akito Hirose and Guillaume Brisebois add depth to Abbotsford’s blueline, health concerns continue to cloud their futures. Hirose missed much of last season due to a leg injury, and now, after going down in last week’s pre-season match, it’s unclear whether he’ll be ready for game action by Abbotsford’s season opener. At 25, asking whether he&#8217;s a true piece to this club&#8217;s long-term plans has become a legitimate question.</p>
<p>Similarly, Brisebois has struggled with injuries over the years, including unconfirmed but long-expected post-concussion syndromes, which limited him to just eight games last season. Brisebois’ lengthy injury history, which has limited him to just 105 games (regular season and playoffs) across the last four years, may push him down the depth chart. Still, when healthy, he has always provided strong, low-maintenance defence for this Abbotsford team.</p>
<h1>The young guns: Pettersson and Kudryavtsev</h1>
<p>Elias Pettersson and Kirill Kudryavtsev represent the future of the Canucks&#8217; defensive corps, but balancing their development with playing time will be key. With both still in the early stages of their North American pro careers, you have to wonder if the coaching staff feels confident sending out a 20-year-old for two-thirds of your defensive shifts.</p>
<p>On nights when both are in the lineup, the Canucks would be icing a largely inexperienced blueline with just 65 AHL regular seasons between Cole McWard, Elias Pettersson, Christon Felton and Kirill Kudryavtsev.</p>
<p>Sure, the AHL is considered a developmental league, but at what point is it &#8220;<em>too much</em>&#8221; development?</p>
<p>With the facts now on the table, let&#8217;s consider some options to shore up and spread out the minutes on this crowded blueline.</p>
<h1>The right-side fix: Moving players over</h1>
<p>One obvious solution to the left-side logjam is to move a player to their off-hand. Brännström has publicly stated that he feels comfortable playing on the right side and actually prefers it. This move would instantly shore up the right side and provide a dynamic puck-moving option to formulate a few intriguing offensive/defensive pairings. An all-Swedish pair of Elias Pettersson and Erik Brannstrom, anyone?</p>
<p>Guillaume Brisebois has also played on the right side occasionally, and Kirill Kudryavtsev was tested on his off-hand during the Young Stars tournament and Abbotsford’s training camp, having shown experience in his junior career. Though Kudryavtsev has handled the switch well so far through Young Stars and even recently in the Abbotsford training camp scrimmage, asking him to do so in his first full pro season may be a tall ask.</p>
<h1>The Kalamazoo option</h1>
<p>Another possible solution is sending a player down to the Canucks’ ECHL affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings. While the ECHL is often viewed as a step down in development, several NHL teams, including Vancouver, have used it to find prospects&#8217; minutes.</p>
<p>Just last season, the league saw several mid-tiered prospects stew among the third-tier feeder system, including Lukas Svejkovsky (Tampa Bay), Luke Prokop (Nashville), Dmitri Kuzmin (Winnipeg), Ty Smilanic (Montreal), Tucker Robertson (Seattle) and goaltender Thomas Milic (Winnipeg), just to name a few.</p>
<p>The Canucks have already announced that Josh Bloom will join Kalamazoo to start the season, and with the addition of Jiri Patera rejoining the organization, there’s a good chance that netminder Ty Young will get his first reps as a professional developing in the third tier.</p>
<p>While there is a certain stigma around having players develop in the ECHL, playing heavy minutes among men at a young age has perks. Dropping Kirill Kudryavtsev, for example, may allow for top pair minutes and powerplay time, which would certianly not be the case in Abbotsford.</p>
<p>Heck, Canucks legend Alex Burrows and, even currently, Dakota Joshua, spent time in the ECHL early in their careers, and it allowed them to develop and eventually break into the NHL. Sending Kudryavtsev to Kalamazoo might be a tough pill to swallow for some, but it could offer a nice, stable environment to kick off and accelerate his long-term development.</p>
<h1>Trade speculation?</h1>
<p>Given the current logjam, the Canucks could also explore trade options. Both Brännström and Wolanin, while valuable as depth pieces, may serve as trade assets if Vancouver looks to open roster spots and address other areas of need.</p>
<p>Brännström, though only 25, has yet to live up to his first-round pedigree. However, his strong AHL numbers could appeal to other teams should he burst out of the gate strong in Abbotsford. Similarly, Wolanin has been a consistent producer in the AHL and could provide depth to a team looking for a veteran presence and a viable call-up option in a pinch.</p>
<h1>The expiring contracts</h1>
<p>One final factor to consider is the contract status of several key players. Brännström, Hirose, Wolanin, and Brisebois are all on expiring contracts, meaning Abbotsford could see significant turnover by this time next year. With an eye toward the future, the Canucks may prioritize the development of younger players like Pettersson and Kudryavtsev over older veterans, ensuring that the next wave of defensive talent is ready to contribute to the NHL roster.</p>
<h1>What happens next?</h1>
<p>The Abbotsford Canucks are in a unique position with a surplus of left-handed defencemen, creating both challenges and opportunities for the upcoming season. Whether moving players to the right side, utilizing Kalamazoo for development, or exploring trade possibilities, several scenarios could unfold in the coming weeks. With a new coaching staff in place and a galvanized focus on development within the entire organization, the Canucks may need to get creative in order to walk the fine line between winning games and managing development.</p>
<p>What do you think will happen on Abbotsford’s blueline this season?</p>
<p><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev during the Vancouver Canucks' 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2024 Young Stars Classic from Penticton, BC

In what felt like a near-impossible feat, Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin and company rid themselves of 80 percent of Tucker Poolman’s $2.5 million cap hit and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/how-brannstrom-poolman-trade-canucks-cap-issues">acquired Erik Brännström</a> from the Colorado Avalanche in the process.
<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;

After immediately placing the left-shot defenceman on waivers following the acquisition, we learned that he had successfully <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-erik-brannstrom-nhl-waivers-ahl-abbotsford">passed through and would be sent directly to Abbotsford</a> for deployment ahead of Friday's season opener. While Brännström’s addition offers the Canucks another strong puck-moving defender for the farm, it raises a significant question: <em>W</em><em>here does everyone fit?</em>

Currently, Abbotsford’s blueline consists of 10 defencemen, seven of whom are left-handed. With limited spots and a need to balance development with veteran presence, here’s a breakdown of how this crowded defence currently shakes out:

<img class="alignnone wp-image-132108 size-full" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/A.png" alt="" width="552" height="298" />

With only three spots on the left side and plenty of talent to go around, finding enough ice time for all these players will be a challenge. Here’s a closer look at the potential scenarios that could help Abbotsford manage this logjam.

First, let's look at the facts.
<h1>The locks: Brännström and Wolanin</h1>
Erik Brännström and Christian Wolanin are virtual locks for Abbotsford’s lineup. Both are proven puck movers with strong AHL resumes, having posted in-and-around .70 point-per-game clips over their respective careers.

Brännström, though sent down to Abbotsford, is now an intriguing option within the system and likely considered a "Wolanin upgrade." While he’s struggled to maintain his (2017) 15th overall pedigree, the 25-year-old has some solid AHL numbers, with 63 points across 90 AHL games.

The same can be said for Wolanin, who, at 29, has been an incredible AHL veteran with 137 points in 180 games split between three AHL teams in seven seasons. While both are talented defencemen, they seem to fall directly into that awkward label of “too good for the AHL, not consistent enough for the NHL.”

Both players require waivers to be recalled or sent down, but Brännström, having cleared waivers, now offers the Canucks flexibility. Should he be recalled, he could play up to 10 NHL games or spend up to 30 days on the NHL roster without having to pass through waivers again.

With that in mind, he gets the immediate leg-up between the two in this system depth chart.
<h1>Health concerns: Hirose and Brisebois</h1>
While Akito Hirose and Guillaume Brisebois add depth to Abbotsford’s blueline, health concerns continue to cloud their futures. Hirose missed much of last season due to a leg injury, and now, after going down in last week’s pre-season match, it’s unclear whether he’ll be ready for game action by Abbotsford’s season opener. At 25, asking whether he's a true piece to this club's long-term plans has become a legitimate question.

Similarly, Brisebois has struggled with injuries over the years, including unconfirmed but long-expected post-concussion syndromes, which limited him to just eight games last season. Brisebois’ lengthy injury history, which has limited him to just 105 games (regular season and playoffs) across the last four years, may push him down the depth chart. Still, when healthy, he has always provided strong, low-maintenance defence for this Abbotsford team.
<h1>The young guns: Pettersson and Kudryavtsev</h1>
Elias Pettersson and Kirill Kudryavtsev represent the future of the Canucks' defensive corps, but balancing their development with playing time will be key. With both still in the early stages of their North American pro careers, you have to wonder if the coaching staff feels confident sending out a 20-year-old for two-thirds of your defensive shifts.

On nights when both are in the lineup, the Canucks would be icing a largely inexperienced blueline with just 65 AHL regular seasons between Cole McWard, Elias Pettersson, Christon Felton and Kirill Kudryavtsev.

Sure, the AHL is considered a developmental league, but at what point is it "<em>too much</em>" development?

With the facts now on the table, let's consider some options to shore up and spread out the minutes on this crowded blueline.
<h1>The right-side fix: Moving players over</h1>
One obvious solution to the left-side logjam is to move a player to their off-hand. Brännström has publicly stated that he feels comfortable playing on the right side and actually prefers it. This move would instantly shore up the right side and provide a dynamic puck-moving option to formulate a few intriguing offensive/defensive pairings. An all-Swedish pair of Elias Pettersson and Erik Brannstrom, anyone?

Guillaume Brisebois has also played on the right side occasionally, and Kirill Kudryavtsev was tested on his off-hand during the Young Stars tournament and Abbotsford’s training camp, having shown experience in his junior career. Though Kudryavtsev has handled the switch well so far through Young Stars and even recently in the Abbotsford training camp scrimmage, asking him to do so in his first full pro season may be a tall ask.
<h1>The Kalamazoo option</h1>
Another possible solution is sending a player down to the Canucks’ ECHL affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings. While the ECHL is often viewed as a step down in development, several NHL teams, including Vancouver, have used it to find prospects' minutes.

Just last season, the league saw several mid-tiered prospects stew among the third-tier feeder system, including Lukas Svejkovsky (Tampa Bay), Luke Prokop (Nashville), Dmitri Kuzmin (Winnipeg), Ty Smilanic (Montreal), Tucker Robertson (Seattle) and goaltender Thomas Milic (Winnipeg), just to name a few.

The Canucks have already announced that Josh Bloom will join Kalamazoo to start the season, and with the addition of Jiri Patera rejoining the organization, there’s a good chance that netminder Ty Young will get his first reps as a professional developing in the third tier.

While there is a certain stigma around having players develop in the ECHL, playing heavy minutes among men at a young age has perks. Dropping Kirill Kudryavtsev, for example, may allow for top pair minutes and powerplay time, which would certianly not be the case in Abbotsford.

Heck, Canucks legend Alex Burrows and, even currently, Dakota Joshua, spent time in the ECHL early in their careers, and it allowed them to develop and eventually break into the NHL. Sending Kudryavtsev to Kalamazoo might be a tough pill to swallow for some, but it could offer a nice, stable environment to kick off and accelerate his long-term development.
<h1>Trade speculation?</h1>
Given the current logjam, the Canucks could also explore trade options. Both Brännström and Wolanin, while valuable as depth pieces, may serve as trade assets if Vancouver looks to open roster spots and address other areas of need.

Brännström, though only 25, has yet to live up to his first-round pedigree. However, his strong AHL numbers could appeal to other teams should he burst out of the gate strong in Abbotsford. Similarly, Wolanin has been a consistent producer in the AHL and could provide depth to a team looking for a veteran presence and a viable call-up option in a pinch.
<h1>The expiring contracts</h1>
One final factor to consider is the contract status of several key players. Brännström, Hirose, Wolanin, and Brisebois are all on expiring contracts, meaning Abbotsford could see significant turnover by this time next year. With an eye toward the future, the Canucks may prioritize the development of younger players like Pettersson and Kudryavtsev over older veterans, ensuring that the next wave of defensive talent is ready to contribute to the NHL roster.
<h1>What happens next?</h1>
The Abbotsford Canucks are in a unique position with a surplus of left-handed defencemen, creating both challenges and opportunities for the upcoming season. Whether moving players to the right side, utilizing Kalamazoo for development, or exploring trade possibilities, several scenarios could unfold in the coming weeks. With a new coaching staff in place and a galvanized focus on development within the entire organization, the Canucks may need to get creative in order to walk the fine line between winning games and managing development.

What do you think will happen on Abbotsford’s blueline this season?

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Where will everyone line up on the Abbotsford Canucks’ crowded left side defence?

Recent articles from Dave Hall

Breaking News