The Vancouver Canucks roster doesn’t have many pending unrestricted free agents. Certainly none that can change the long-term outlook of the franchise. Their coaching staff does, though. It’s looking like they might take a significant hit, too.

Kevin Woodley, a reporter for www.NHL.com and editor for InGoal Magazine, is reporting that Rollie Melanson is expected to leave the Canucks this off-season. Melanson, who has been the Canucks goaltending coach since the 2010-11 season, is in the final year of his contract and not expected to renew at season’s end.

Melanson was first hired by the Canucks on June 22, 2010. He has served as the Canucks goaltending coach since and survived multiple regime changes behind the Canucks bench and in their front office since. In the wake of constant change, Vancouver has enjoyed the sixth-highest 5-on-5 Sv% in the league with a .926 mark.

Woodley broke the news on a guest appearance on Kurtenblog radio earlier this afternoon. It’s hard to decide which goalie or season is Melanson’s best work, but that’s the product of such a sterling resume. In his five seasons with the Canucks, Melanson has helped the franchise develop Cory Schneider, Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom. This says nothing of the fundamental changes Melanson made to Ryan Miller and Roberto Luongo’s game in this span, which helped the netminders find another gear on the wrong end of the development curve.

Should the Canucks lose Melanson, and that’s seeming more likely with each passing day, it will be a devastating loss for the franchise. There will be no shortage of suitors for the Canucks, should the position make itself available. The Canucks have two starting caliber netminders in the making between Markstrom and Thatcher Demko, and that will likely prove an appealing pair of students to make your mark on as goaltending coach.