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Like Horvat did a year ago, McCann has demonstrated a good two-way game and is challenging Linden Vey for the fourth-line centre position. On Monday night, Desjardins played McCann on left wing on a line with veterans Alex Burrows and Brandon Sutter.

“I think he has had a real good camp,” Desjardins said of McCann. “That’s out of position for him and it’s a tough move when you are a young guy. I want to see if there is any flexibility there with him. Can he play wing if he has to?”

McCann said he’ll play anywhere he’s asked if it helps his chances of avoiding being sent back to his junior team in Sault Ste Marie.

“The coaches are giving me every opportunity to prove myself to them,” McCann said Monday. “So I can’t ask for any more … I feel like every game is a huge confidence-booster for me. I have been very fortunate they have put me in quite a few games.”

McCann acknowledged he has little experience on the wing.

“I haven’t played much wing, but I should be fine,” he said. “I’ve got a good centreman (Sutter), who will help me out quite a bit.”

Virtanen, meanwhile, was scheduled to skate with the Sedin twins on Monday night.

“He had a pretty good game in Calgary,” Desjardins said of Virtanen. “He skates well, he can play physical, we had a look at (Alex) Grenier there, we have had a look at a different number of guys there. Like I said at the start, we know what Vrbata can do there, we know what Burrows can do there, we know what Hansen can do there. We don’t have to look at those guys. So it’s a good time to look at other guys.”