"Alex Burrows is looking forward to playing some pre-season games. He'll likely have a to wait.

Head coach Alain Vigneault said he will ask most of his veterans to stand down for Thursday night's game in Edmonton, where the Canucks are expected to ice another team loaded with prospects and journeymen.

It leaves Saturday's home game against Anaheim as the likely slot to get most of the old gang back together. The Canucks play again Sunday, and you'd assume there won't be many vets asked to play back-to-back. From there, the Canucks have just three pre-season games left. That's not much time.

Burrows said he's now expecting to play just two or three games. It indicates how quickly the prep time for the regular season can evaporate."