"With the injury to Alex Burrows, a top-six forward spot is sitting there waiting to be taken by either Jordan Schroeder, Raffi Torres or even Jeff Tambellini at the Vancouver Canucks' main camp and during preseason this year.

If somebody comes in and makes an impact and can keep up the solid start after the return of Cody Hodgson to the mix, the Canucks would eventually have the luxury of moving either Burrows or Mikael Samuelsson to the third line, something that would make this team much better long-term.

Schroeder, for one, is well aware of that opportunity and he knows this might be an unexpected bonus if Hodgson is indeed slowed by whatever medical concerns he may have. Then Schroeder can come in and make everyone forget Michael Grabner.

"That's the plan," said Shroeder with a confident little grin, last year's first-round pick in the draft having already shown he can put up points at the American Hockey League level, albeit on a short-term trial basis last season. "I've just got to go out and battle for it and outwork and outskill the competition."

The other candidates may have something to say about that, but this little tussle should be fun for those watching in Penticton and then later on during the exhibition games.

The battle for that spot, perhaps only a temporary spot, and the scramble for third- and fourth-line positions will be amusing, but it's a lot more settled than who will actually play on the back end. The positioning for the future will be something to watch closely.

In a perfect world, Chris Tanev would be a world-beater surprise, a right-handed shot who comes to camp and so impresses he grabs a spot and allows the team to make a move on some other defenceman. Ditto Kevin Connauton, but he's a left-handed shot and so is Evan Oberg and Yann Sauve.

But that's not going to happen. None of them are ready and that's not the way to develop young defencemen anyway, barring a minor miracle."