The Vancouver Canucks Announce Their Opening Night Roster

Via: Canucks Instagram

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The Vancouver Canucks have solidified their roster for opening day of the NHL season. The team’s general manager Patrik Allvin announced the 23-man roster on Monday.

Many fans were pleasantly surprised to see that Canucks’ first overall draft pick Braeden Cootes made the opening day lineup. Cootes had 26 goals in a 63-point season through just 60 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL last year. His maturity and tenacity with the puck impressed fans and management during the preseason. The rookie forward from Sherwood Park, Alberta will wear number 80 this season.

Another surprise from this announcement was hometown favourite Arshdeep Bains. The forward from Surrey, BC has played 21 total games for Vancouver over the past two seasons and has recorded just one point in his career. But his impressive 43-point season in 50 games with Abbotsford helped push the Canucks’ farm team all the way to the AHL Championship last year. Bains has proven to be a winning player and has earned his spot on the opening night roster. Bains will wear number 13 this year.

The Canucks’ roster is full of talented forwards backed by a strong defensive core and one of the best goaltending tandems in the league. Time will tell if the decision to bank on younger--and less-experienced--players in the depth lines will prove fruitful. The Canucks will face the Calgary Flames in their season opener at Rogers Arena on Thursday.