(Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa is reportedly “fine” after taking a hit from Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp in Tuesday’s game.

The defenceman left briefly in the third period favouring his left knee after being hit by Rupp behind the Canucks net, but returned to finish the game. Afterwards, head coach Alain Vigneault told the media that he was not concerned about a possibly injury.

Bieksa told Ann Schmaltz of News 1130 he was feeling fine, but Schmaltz cautioned that “tomorrow will be a telling sign” as the knee may swell up between now and tomorrow morning.

The Canucks do not play their next game until Friday against the Dallas Stars, so Bieksa has three days to heal up. If swelling does occur and does not get better by Friday, it would likely mean Andrew Alberts will draw into the lineup for the first time in ten months. Alberts last played on April 3, 2012 against the Anaheim Ducks, which was 315 days ago.

Since Bieksa plays the right side, a defenceman will have to slide over to the right side in the event he is out of the lineup. During Bieksa’s brief absence, Keith Ballard played on the right side in Bieksa’s place on the second pairing with Jason Garrison. Ballard has played the right side in the past, but has shown that he is much a strong performer on the left side in both the offensive and defensive zone. There is also the option of promoting Chris Tanev to the second-pairing and have Alberts play smaller minutes on the third pairing on the right side. In the event Bieksa is injured, it would create quite a hole in the Canucks defence.

Andrew Alberts (Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports)

Vancouver Canucks defencemen Andrew Alberts and Cam Barker have yet to appear in a game this season even though the season is entering its third week this weekend.

Neither player has been able to draw into the lineup due to the strong play of Keith Ballard and Chris Tanev on the third pairing. Canucks associate coach Rick Bowness, who runs the team’s defence, says the two have been his best defence pairing and is comfortable playing them against any line in the league.

While Barker played 23 games with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, Alberts has not seen game action in nearly ten months. He last played a game on April 3, 2012 when the Canucks defeated the Anaheim Ducks in the third-to-last game of the 2011-12 season.

The Canucks will need to find a way to get both players in the lineup for some game action soon. One option is to send Alberts down to the Chicago Wolves on a conditioning assignment. The other is for the team to dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen for a game or two.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher has regularly dressed seven defencemen throughout his coaching career.

“I’m welcoming it, for sure,” Boucher said in 2011. “That’s what I like. I’ve done that in midget, in junior, in the American League, and last year that’s what I did most of the year when I could in the NHL.”

Even though this is unorthodox, Boucher reasons it is beneficial and gives him flexibility in a game.

“When you have an injury during a game, you’re down to five defensemen. If you have a guy in the penalty box, you’re down to five defensemen again. So, if you have an extra defenseman it levels the playing field because you have six and aren’t stuck with playing five for two periods or whatever it is.”

As for using only 11 forwards, when there usually is 12: “It really depends on who is in my lineup. But you have a spot to fill there, a blank with whoever you want. So if somebody is playing great that night, you can have that guy get more ice time. You can spot your better players in that hole. It just creates an open spot, and you can create with some freedom.” (Lightning Strikes)

It makes it difficult for team’s to match as well.

With 11 forwards, one in the top six can get spot duty on a third or fourth line. That way, Boucher said, “you’re tough to match.” (Tampa Bay Times)

Forwards Jordan Schroeder and Maxim Lapierre are both dealing with strained groins, while Dale Weise has a sore neck. If one of the three are unable to play, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault should consider dressing seven defencemen as a way to get Alberts and Barker into the lineup.

Alain Vigneault (Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

The Vancouver Canucks decision to send centre Jordan Schroeder down to the minors on Friday and to include nine defencemen on the 23-player roster was a surprise.

The Canucks currently have no extra forwards and three extra defencemen: Andrew Alberts, Cam Barker, and Jim Vandermeer. According to Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault, the team will be making a move to rectify the situation.

AV: “I would not predict that we would keep 9 defensemen for very long” #canucks

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) January 19, 2013

Alberts, Barker, and Vandermeer will all need to clear waivers prior to being re-assigned to the minors, but are not subject to recall waivers since re-entry waivers has been removed in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players who are earning more than $900,000 will continue to have his cap hit count against the team’s salary cap even if he is sent to the minors. Since Alberts carries a cap hit of $1.225 million, the Canucks will receive no cap relief if they send him down to the minors, so it is safe to assume his job is safe.

Barker is on a one-way contract, but his cap hit is $700,000 (less than the $900,000 threshold), so if he is sent to the minors, his cap hit will come off the books and a roster spot will be opened. Same goes for Vandermeer, but he will be earning less in the minors since he is on a two-way contract.

If I were to take a guess, the Canucks will try to trade Alberts since he and Vandermeer play a similar game. The only difference is Vandermeer brings more to the table in terms of fisticuffs and has experience playing left wing.

By moving one of their defencemen, it will clear up the roster space for Schroeder to join the team. This might be the Canucks plan all along.

Mike Gillis on radio: “If Jordan Schroeder doesn’t start with us, we fully anticipate him playing meaningful games for us very shortly.”

— Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) January 18, 2013