from Thomas Drance of Sportsnet,
A full generation has passed since Vancouver Canucks president Trevor Linden made his NHL debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old way back in 1988. And in that time only five teenaged players have appeared in so much as a single NHL game for the franchise.
On Wednesday night when the club kicks off the 2015-16 regular season in Calgary, that number may balloon to seven, with the anticipated NHL regular season debuts of a pair of 19-year-old forwards: Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen.
While it’s still possible that one of Virtanen or McCann will watch the regular season opener from the press box, there’s no question following Monday’s roster manoeuvres that the two 2014 first-round picks have made the team.
While McCann’s and Virtanen’s inclusion on the opening day roster is representative of a bona fide sea change for an organization that has so often been described as “aging rapidly” in recent years, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Rookie defenceman Ben Hutton, 22, has also made the club with a surprising showing in training camp, and Bo Horvat, 20, and Sven Baertschi, 22, will likely play prominent offensive roles on Wednesday night.
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.