Rob The Hockey Guy

With the regular season mere days away, the NHL is conducting it’s annual fourth line/seventh defenceman/AHLer shuffle. The Canucks, who are tight against the cap are doing about as much shuffling as anyone at the moment, trying to finalize their roster. The Canucks traded Shane O’Brien and his $1.6 million cap hit along with prospect Dan Gendur (he’s more suspect than prospect) to the Nashville Predators for Ryan Parent ($925,000 cap hit) and Jonas Andersson. The Canucks immediately placed Parent on waivers with the intent to put him in the minors.

Make no mistake, this trade was about money. O’Brien was going to be playing in Manitoba this year, eating up $1.6 million of Francesco Aquilini’s money. Having Parent in the minors instead saves ownership $675,000. Cap-wise, Parent can be recalled with less risk than O’Brien, as both would be subjected to recallable waivers. The other two parts of the deal, Gendur and Andersson, are likely career minor leaguers.

Ryan Parent was a blue chip prospect not long ago. He was a first round pick in 2005 and was a standout in the World Junior Championships for Canada. He’s only 23 and still has some upside. Unfortunately there’s no room on the Canucks roster for him this year but should he clear waivers he might have a future with the Canucks.

In other news, Jeff Tambellini has been placed on waivers. The good news is that should he clear, he can be recalled without having to be subjected to recallable waivers.

Ian MacIntyre from the Vancouver Sun sees the Tambellini move as an indication that Peter Schaefer has indeed made this team. Schaefer is still unsigned but his contract should be a formality according to MacIntyre.

If true, that leaves the Canucks opening night roster as such:

Sedin-Sedin-Samuelsson

Raymond-Kesler-Torres

Hansen-Malhotra-Schaefer

Desbiens-Bolduc-Glass

Hamhuis-Bieksa

Edler-Ehrhoff

Ballard-Alberts

Luongo

Schneider

Aaron Rome is the seventh defenseman, and Rick Rypien is injured. Cody Hodgson is currently still with the team be I expect him to be sent to Manitoba. Sami Salo and Alex Burrows will be on long term injury reserve.