The Wolves have one more game left in their season on Sunday night at home against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Following the conclusion of the game, the Canucks are expected to exercise its two available recalls for playoff depth.

NHL rules permit four recalls from the trade deadline and the end of the regular season. The Canucks used two of their four recalls on deadline day to “paper” down Nicklas Jensen and Zack Kassian to make them eligible for the AHL playoffs.

Once the NHL regular season ends, the Canucks can recall as many players as they like for the playoff run—commonly referred to as “Black Aces.”

From the Philadelphia Flyers website:

The term “Black Aces” originally had a negative hockey connotation. It originated with the legendary Eddie Shore, who purchased a minor league team in 1940, and began to refer to spare roster players by that term in reference to the bad omen that superstitious card players believe comes about from being dealt the ace of spades. Shore said that the team was in bad shape if it had to use its Black Aces in a game, especially during the playoffs.

Over the years, however, Black Aces have come to have a much more positive meaning; more akin to an “ace up the sleeve” that a hockey team can draw upon to help win a game in times of adversity.

The Canucks didn’t have any Black Aces or need it last year because both the team and the Wolves were eliminated in the conference quarterfinals.

In 2011, when the Canucks went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, they called up Cody Hodgson and Victor Oreskovich after the regular season ended. Then, after the Manitoba Moose season ended in mid-May, the Canucks recalled five more players: goaltender Eddie Lack, defenceman Chris Tanev, and forwards Aaron Volpatti, Sergei Shirokov, and Alexandre Bolduc.

The Black Aces do not practice, travel, or share the same dressing room with the team. They practice regularly at Rogers Arena to maintain game shape and only join the Canucks when they are needed.

After calling up defenceman Derek Joslin last Wednesday, the Canucks will presumably be calling up 5-6 more players.

Goaltender Joe Cannata will certainly be called up since he is the only other goaltender in the organization and the Black Aces will need one to shoot on.

Jim Vandermeer, who is a veteran of 461 NHL games, is the leading candidate to get called up on defence. Frank Corrado might get the call as well given the team’s shortage on right-handed defenceman.

Forwards Nicklas Jensen, Andrew Gordon, and Bill Sweatt are the other candidates since they all played games with the Canucks this season and know the system.

“Vancouver is not saying ‘no’ and not saying ‘yes’ [to whether they would like to renew their agreement],” Wolves general manager Wendell Young told the Vancouver Sun’s Elliott Pap on Monday.

This news come on the heels of reports that the Abbotsford Heat will be moving to Utica, New York for the 2013-14 season. The report has been refuted by the Calgary Flames, who say they are not intending to move to Utica, but they did acknowledge they have been contacted by city representatives.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Young sounded like he would like to know one way or another soon so his team can begin preparations for next season.

“I don’t want to sit in June or July and [not] have a selection [of parent teams], and I got to take what’s left,” Young told the newspaper. “It’s getting to be crunch time pretty soon. I don’t know what’s going and it’s frustrating.”

Where there is smoke, there is fire?

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis tells the Province they are in discussions to renew, but they are also exploring their options. In the same report, Young says he would like some kind of answer by the end of March.

Photo Credit: Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves via TheAHL/Flickr

The affiliation agreement between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Wolves expire at the end of the season, but the Wolves are hoping it gets extended.

Speaking with News 1130, Wolves general manager Wendell Young said he has spoken with Canucks management regarding the possibility of extending their affiliation agreement. He says a decision will need to be made soon and the Wolves would “love” to continue the relationship.

Young says he talks with Van management about new deal and realizes a call has to be made soon either way. Would love to re-sign with Van.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) December 4, 2012

The Canucks signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Wolves in June 2011 after the Manitoba Moose relocated to St. John’s to become the IceCaps and the Winnipeg Jets minor league affiliate.

The Wolves were also left without an affiliate after the Atlanta Thrashers became the Jets. All other teams, in both the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, had affiliation agreements in place already, so it was only logical these two became affiliates.

However, according to Young, other NHL teams were willing to abandon their agreements to sign on with the Wolves.

Wolves general manager Wendell Young said the organization was approached by several NHL teams, but the Canucks best matched the Wolves’ criteria, which included having an affiliate with a good corps of players and a desire to develop in a winning atmosphere.

“We were the pretty girl, and everyone was trying to get us to the prom,” Young said of the pursuit. “Our franchise is known in the hockey world because we take care of our players and do whatever we can to enhance their careers.”

The Canucks were not about to let another team snatch up the Wolves and be stuck with one of the lesser-quality teams after a model relationship with the Moose for a decade. In the past two years, the Canucks have had the opportunity to explore their options—specifically an agreement with the Abbotsford Heat.

It was too tricky for the Canucks to sign an agreement with the Heat back in 2011 since the Calgary Flames own them. The Canucks would have to purchase the Heat. It was not possible to complete a deal in a few weeks and have AHL Board of Governors approval.

Photo Credit: Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves via TheAHL/Flickr