7 Canucks with the most to gain following Nils Höglander’s injury

Höglander was injured on a play in the second period of Wednesday’s preseason match against the Calgary Flames and did not return for the third. Following the contest, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that Höglander left the arena in a walking boot.

The 24-year-old Swede was skating with Conor Garland and Teddy Blueger during training camp, which was the presumed third line for the club. This now opens up a spot in the top nine, if Höglander is not available for the season opener on October 9.

Looking at the roster before the Höglander injury, we can imagine that the Canucks’ top-nine would consist of a variation of: Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Evander Kane, Filip Chytil, Conor Garland, Nils Höglander, Kiefer Sherwood and one of Teddy Blueger/Aatu Räty. That leaves an open spot for somebody to take.

One player’s injury is another player’s opportunity. So, which Canuck has the most to gain following Nils Höglander’s injury and could take his spot in the top-nine?

Drew O’Connor

O’Connor would be the presumed favourite to land a spot in the top nine, as he is the one on this list with the most NHL experience. The Chatham, New Jersey native played 31 games in Vancouver after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He scored four goals and nine points in 14:12 minutes of average ice time.

But he shouldn’t be a shoo-in to earn that role because of his experience. He played in the Canucks’ first preseason game, where he skated alongside Blueger and Danila Klimovich. O’Connor registered four shots on goal in 14:56 minutes of ice time, but did not hit the scoresheet.

The 6’4″ winger had an outstanding 2023-24 campaign, scoring 16 goals and 33 points in 79 games, but Canucks fans haven’t seen that type of player since coming to Vancouver. His role this season projects to be more of a penalty killing role, and if that branches out to their five-on-five play, then maybe O’Connor will go as far as Blueger goes. If Räty doesn’t do enough to earn that third line centre role and Blueger starts the season there, then we’re likely to see O’Connor promoted to the third line with Höglander out.

Braeden Cootes

There has not been a player in training camp or preseason who really stood out like Aatu Räty did last year, but Cootes has certainly been the most impressive. He hasn’t really looked out of place skating up against professionals at this level, standing out with his smooth skating and deceptive shot.

The 18-year-old skated with Arshdeep Bains and Kiefer Sherwood in the intra-squad scrimmage at training camp, and the trio was the best line on the ice. They carried that into their first preseason game, where Cootes and Sherwood assisted on Victor Mancini’s power play goal.

It was a long shot for Cootes to be given a nine-game audition to start the season. However, if he can continue to elevate his game throughout the preseason, the Canucks coaching staff will have a hard time telling him he didn’t do enough to earn his spot, especially with Höglander out.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

During training camp, Lekkerimäki skated in an elevated role with Evander Kane and Filip Chytil. But his role in the top-six, let alone on the Canucks roster, is far from guaranteed. However, this coaching staff is giving Lekkerimäki every opportunity to earn a spot on the roster; it’s just a matter of whether he can make the most of it.

He wasn’t a camp standout by any means, although we did like to see him using his body to protect the puck. But his job is to shoot and put the puck in the back of the net. In the Canucks’ preseason opener, he played on the top line with Höglander and Chytil but was held off the scoresheet. Lekkerimäki registered two shots on goal, two hits and one block with a minus-2 rating in 17:18 minutes of ice time.

The Swede will need to do more than that if he’s going to contend for a spot on this roster. We’ll see if he can do it tonight against the Seattle Kraken, skating with Kane and Cootes.

Linus Karlsson

Many had Karlsson pencilled in for the 12th spot in the forward corps, and for good reason after his Calder Cup playoff. He’s taken that mentality into his offseason training, camp, and his first preseason game on Wednesday. Based on his play thus far, the assumption that he makes the opening night roster seems accurate. However, can he do enough to earn a top-nine role?

Despite his larger frame, Karlsson brings a lot of similar skills to Höglander. He may not be as tenacious on the forecheck, but Karlsson is strong in that department; he’s good along the walls and puck retrievals, and might be better than his fellow countryman at finishing around the net in tight.

If the Canucks see Räty as their third line centre, pairing him with a familiar face in Karlsson might make some sense. The two played well during their time in Abbotsford, developing together. And let’s not forget, Karlsson was trusted to play on a line with Elias Pettersson in the 2023-24 playoffs.

Arshdeep Bains

Bains had a great scrimmage, but when he took that over to opening night of the preseason, the same success did not follow him. Individually, Bains did not create much offence, but when he was paired back up with Sasson and Karlsson in the Abbotsford Centre, their line was flying.

The Surrey product’s game doesn’t typically suit a bottom-six role, as he is more of a playmaker. However, playing in a more scoring third line role could help him make an impact. The Canucks gave him a two-year contract, with the second year being a one-way deal, so they clearly believe in the player’s ability to eventually make the roster. However, he’ll need to produce this preseason to earn that, as his lone goal in 21 games won’t cut it at the NHL level.

Max Sasson

If injected into the lineup, the speedy Sasson can certainly replace Höglander’s lost agility. While he didn’t find the scoresheet in Wednesday’s preseason game, Sasson was all over the ice making plays. Unlike Bains, the Michigan native has produced at the NHL level, scoring three goals and seven points in 29 games last season.

Although he is a natural centre, many believe that Sasson might be best suited as a winger in the NHL. Being able to play multiple positions might help Sasson earn that extra roster spot, especially with more performances like the one he had against the Kraken earlier this week.

Vitali Kravtsov

Kravtsov had a fantastic season in the KHL, one that earned him a one-year, $775,000 contract to give it another try at the NHL level. However, it hasn’t been a particularly strong showing thus far in training camp and the preseason. The Russian forward hasn’t done much to hurt his stock, but he isn’t standing out as a player who has done enough to earn a look at the NHL level quite yet.

While he looked decent at times when filling in for Höglander on Chytil’s line in Wednesday’s preseason game, he’ll need to separate himself from the rest of the group in tonight’s preseason game, skating on a line with Blueger and Sherwood.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Who do you think stands to benefit the most after the Nils Höglander injury?