Photo credit: YardBarker
The Canucks just kicked off their training camp, and as expected, Rick Tocchet showcased what could be his opening night lines.
When the Canucks' group one stepped on the ice, we learned about Jonathan Lekkerimaki's huge opportunityto play alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake Debrusk.
Another duo that needed completion was the Canucks' top-scoring pairing of J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser. While Pius Suter did a respectable job, Tocchet announced that Suter would be used as a centerman for the time being and that Danton Heinen would be allowed to start the training camp with the 9 and the 6.
Based on what Tocchet showcased today, here's what we could expect to be the Canucks starting line-up on the season opener:
DeBrusk. Pettersson. Lekkerimäki.
Heinen. Miller. Boeser
Höglander. Räty. Garland.
Bains. Suter. Sprong
Extra: Sherwood. PDG
IR: Joshua. Blueger
Hughes. Hronek
Soucy. Desharnais
Wolanin. Myers
Extra: Juulsen. Forbort
With the extra set of wingers the Canucks brought on in the summer, the expected step Aatu Raty brought to his game, and the emergence of Jonathan Lekkerimaki as a solid contender for the Rookie of the Year Calder Trophy, the Canucks possibly have one of the NHL's deepest forward group.
Tocchet has 20 proven goal-scorers on all four of their lines, so there will be many possibilities and hard choices, especially once Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger are back from their injuries. If everybody performs up to expectation during camp, it may give the Canucks the trading chip they need to acquire another solid defenceman.
