The Vancouver Canucks may be somewhat pleased that the Vegas Golden Knights selected Luca Sbisa in the expansion draft, as general manager Jim Benning is now cleared of a $3.6 million cap hit for 2017-18.
But with Sbisa heading to Vegas, it now means the Canucks have less depth on their defence. Alexander Edler isn’t reliable enough to stay healthy, Erik Gudbranson is no sure-thing and youngsters Troy Stecher and Ben Hutton continue to develop in the pros.
Then there’s Chris Tanev, far and away the Canucks’ best defenceman over the past three seasons.