Team recalls Vasily Podkolzin while sending Akito Hirose and Cole McWard to minors to get cap compliant
Team recalls Vasily Podkolzin while sending Akito Hirose and Cole McWard to minors to get cap compliant
The Vancouver Canucks have set their 2023-24 National Hockey League season opening roster. The club doesn't play its first game until Wednesday night, so more roster maneuvering could take place between now and the time the puck drops against Edmonton on October 11th.
However with three games to kick-off the new NHL season on Tuesday night, the Canucks, like all teams, had to set a season-opening roster by Monday's 2pm Pacific time league deadline. All clubs had to be compliant with the league's $83.5M salary cap.
To make the money make sense, the Canucks have recalled Vasily Podkolzin and his $925K contract while shipping both Akito Hirose ($787.5K) and Cole McWard ($922.5K) to the minors -- for the time being. Both defensemen signed with the Canucks late last year and are waiver exempt.
With Carson Soucy (knee) injured and unable to start the season, Hirose practiced with the Canucks on Sunday and looked poised to be in the team's opening night line-up. That could still happen, but would require further roster moves.
The Canucks will start the season with 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Injured Carson Soucy remains on the team's active roster while Ilya Mikheyev does not.
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