The Vancouver Canucks have sent nine players to the AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks and placed four on waivers for the purpose of assigning them to the AHL.
Forwards Linus Karlsson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Ty Mueller, and Max Sasson, defensemen Christian Felton, Cole McWard, Kirill Kudryavtsev, and Elias Pettersson, and goaltender Nikita Tolopilo were sent down.
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Forwards Phillip Di Giuseppe and Nate Smith, defenseman Christian Wolanin, and goaltender Jiří Patera were placed on waivers.
Karlsson lead Abbotsford in points with 60 in 60 games last season, he and Nils Åman were the lone Canucks to average a point-per-game.
Lekkerimäki is the most notable name sent down, the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft, he recorded three points in four preseason games and looked dangerous offensively. He should immediately slot onto the Abbotsford top line and first powerplay unit.
Di Giuseppe played 51 NHL games for Vancouver last season, Karlsson four, and McWard one.
Should he clear waivers Patera and Tolopilo will begin the season as the Canucks AHL goaltending duo, with Ty Young and Jonathan Lemieux also in the mix.
Karlsson, Sasson, McWard, Tolopilo, and Wolanin were regular on Abbotsford last season, while Pettersson and Lekkerimäki played under 10 games.
Kudryavtsev, Felton, and Mueller all enter their first professional seasons.
The Hockey News Vancouver covered the roster moves here.
The Abbotsford Canucks open their season against the Calgary Wranglers on Oct. 11.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News’ AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
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