The Vancouver Canucks‘ defense was all but set heading into training camp. Seven players are waiver-eligible, Ben Hutton is a lock despite waiver exemption, and Nikita Tryamkin has a European assignment clause. With that, at least one player needs to go to the American Hockey League through waivers no matter what.
But what about guys like Troy Stecher or Olli Juolevi?
Stecher was always a stretch to make the team out of camp. But in a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers, he displayed the ability to distribute the puck and quarterback the power play, which makes him the kind of defenseman the Canucks have been craving for.