The Canucks end preseason against Seattle Saturday. Friday’s projections put Jonathan Lekkerimäki on the top line with Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson, Paul Cotter at fourth-line center, and Tom Willander with Jamie Oleksiak; Kevin Lankinen is projected to play the full game.
With Filip Chytil injured and Braeden Cootes assigned to Abbotsford, Lekkerimäki appears likely to make Vancouver’s opening-night roster. Cotter has mainly played wing, and the preview says his center role is unlikely to continue into the regular season. DeBrusk led Vancouver with seven shots in 17 minutes Thursday, though he did not score.
Willander, defenseman Elias Pettersson, Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson are set to play after sitting out Thursday. The game will offer a first in-game look at Willander with Jamie Oleksiak and his potential special-teams and overall workload. Lankinen stopped 29 of 32 shots Tuesday; with Thatcher Demko unlikely to be available for the regular-season start and Leevi Meriläinen claimed off waivers Friday, the preview calls Lankinen Vancouver’s only apparent goaltending certainty.
