With the Sedin twins retiring, the Vancouver Canucks had two roster spots open up for the 2018-19 season, and the early assumption was that they’d be replaced by a couple of young players ready for more responsibility.
Instead, general manager Jim Benning surprised many when he decided to add more veteran grit, signing tough guys Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel and Tim Schaller. That doesn’t look good for young forwards Adam Gaudette and Nikolay Goldobin, who looked primed for more ice time and opportunities in 2018-19.
So with Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter, Markus Granlund and Schaller all locks to make the team, Vancouver has four NHL-caliber centres right there.