Vancouver Canucks preseason: Top 5 players too risky to put on waivers
By David Joun
No.5 D Andrey Pedan
Though the Canucks did sign Andrey Pedan to a one-year, one-way contract for this season, there is absolutely no chance that Pedan makes the Canucks as a top-seven defenceman on opening night.
As things stand today, this is how the top six looks, with newcomer Patrick Wiercioch as the seventh defenceman.
Alexander Edler – Troy Stecher
Ben Hutton – Chris Tanev
Michael Del Zotto – Erik Gudbranson
Pedan can provide size and grit on the ice but with the return of Gudbranson from his injury and the addition of feisty blueliner Del Zotto, Pedan is becoming slightly expendable from the NHL roster.
He, however, is pretty essential for the Utica Comets. After a poor showing by the entire blueline in preseason game number two against the Vegas Golden Knights, Pedan’s presence on the Utica blueline as an experienced and physical player is absolutely mandatory.
I understand that I may be contradicting myself here. I am saying he is needed more in Utica than he is in Vancouver, which essentially is a way to say that he should be on the waivers. My main point is that because he is such an invaluable asset for the Comets now, it will be a huge risk putting him on waivers, regardless of whether he should or should not be.