How many spots of the Canucks 50 are still open? They are close to the magic number now. Hansen and Burrows came off, but Goldobin went on. You're talking about signing more.
Who do you expect to come off the list to make room for bottom level players. The summer still remains to potentially add better guys than are already in the mix. I would think they'd have to leave some available slots open for just such possibilities. eg NCAA UFAs in the next few weeks.
Right now its 47 not counting MacEven or Chatfield and assuming Juolevi/Brisebois remain as "slides"
Basically 18 forwards, 9 D, 3 goalies in the NHL (30)
17 + 2 slides + 2 recent signings
As far as coming offs... i would expect we only keep a few of:
Rodin
Gaunce
Cramarossa
Boucher (who is trending up lately)
Skillie
Labate
Megna
Shore
Chaput
I expect no more than 4 of the above unless its for AHL purposes (Chaput could be worthwhile for the AHL as a Vet). So that leaves 4 - 5 openings. Nilsson and Billins really don't deserve new contract so that's probably 2 more spots. Larsen is a UFA and i don't really see any reason to resign him. That makes basically 7 - 8 spots.
Not sure if Rendulic is worth a 2 way contract either since he's more or less playing on the 3rd line now i think @ Utica? 200k for that seems a tad on the high side but that's debatable. I hope we resign Grenier for Utica but if we don't, there really won't be an opening since we'll need a 2 way contract to replace his spot. Zalewski and Archibald (who doesn't have a NHL contract) are 2 i hope to resign but i doubt Zalewski will be offered a 2 way contract while Archibald probably needs a 2 way contract (so that's probably a wash too). McEneny deserves another contract and i'll be surprised if he doesn't get signed. Pedan, due to his physical skills (not his mental skills) probably gets another contract but its all due to potential instead of his actual play (which i know has been pretty bad...
). That said he's basically like Sbisa... a project that Benning isn't likely to give up on.
Garteig is an unknown at this point. Last year there were a ton of teams interested in him but do we really "need" to carry 5 goalies? If Miller is gone, he'll be replaced by an outside source since Demko is no way ready to be a NHL backup and Bachman's contract is really thanks to Vegas/expansion draft rules. He's a capable AHL goalie but i don't see him as a NHL backup (at least not one for an unproven #1 in Markstrom)... his salary is also inflated to a point where i doubt it leaves much room for Garteig (450k for basically a 1A/B AHL goalie seems very high, i think he might be the highest paid goalie who's job was basically to be in the AHL/not buried).
That basically leaves us with 8-9 spots (assuming 4 goalies). Expansion draft probably takes out 1 other contract (Sbisa unless Gaunce gets picked but i'll assume its Sbisa like i have since the season started...). Making a total of 9-10 spots. 2 of those spots will likely go to AHL Ds whoever they are, we'll need the depth regardless. There's 3 spots right now used solely for AHL players (pending injuries), i expect at least 2 more goes there for "vets" (or maybe Valk?) so that leaves room for probably 5 more prospects. Like i said in another thread, i'm pretty sure Neill will get a contract (will be shocked if he didn't). Pretty sure Olson gets one too because #1 Benning draftee (even if its 7th round) and we really don't have that many Ds who like to play physical even in Utica. Juolevi will likely slide again (can't see him making the team next year and if we rush him its a huge mistake).
That leaves room for basically 3 more signings. Kerfoot is one of the few highly rated NCAA prospects we've been linked to. Reese was another but he already signed with the Pens. I don't know if we make any move towards a NCAA D given the number of Ds we already have signed. I mean if someone like Brickley actually decides to sign with us then its a different story but i don't see any connection with us (nor any of the other sought after NCAA Ds).
One player who is interesting is John Stevens... he played for Northeastern (Gaudette connection), has a coach as a father, and seems to be a smart 2 way player (based on reports and watching him play due to watching Gaudette). Signing him might be tough unless we hire his dad as our next coach (and even that's hard since its rumor he's waiting for the LA king job) but there could be some connection there (with Gaudette/our scouts likely there often). We won't be favorites to sign him but likely at least have a chance (even if its very small).