All of a sudden the Vancouver Canucks have a numbers problem.
With 24 healthy skaters (15 forwards and nine d-men) available for tonight’s home game versus the Flyers, coach Willie Desjardins is being forced to make some tough decisions.
“It’s really tough and that’s one of the strengths of our team right now and it’s kind of how we handle it,” Desjardins said yesterday, per The Province.
“It doesn’t matter who comes out, it’s going to be questioned because whoever I take out doesn’t deserve to come out. They’re all good players. If I say this guy is coming out, people will say: ‘Why him?’”
As of this afternoon, there was no word which forward would come out to make way for the expected return of Alex Burrows. Candidates include wingers Ronalds Kenins, Derek Dorsett, and Zack Kassian.
Except...
--- Kenins provides a ton of energy and has developed some real chemistry in a bottom-six role with fellow rookie Bo Horvat.
--- Dorsett, another bottom-six energy player, just had a 3-point night Saturday versus the Leafs.
--- Kassian has been skating on the first line with the Sedins, and has five goals in his last 10 games.
For Desjardins, it’s one of those good problems to have.
“It could work for veterans, they could get a day’s rest and that could help because we have to give ourselves the best chance to win,” he said.