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Four of those faces will have to go: two forwards and a defenceman, or three forwards if coach Travis Green decides to have two spare defencemen, as he’s often done in the past.

Alex Biega: The Bulldog is a known quantity. He works hard. He’s not afraid to rush the puck. He’ll lay the body. He’s ready to play but knows he’s there to be a good character guy, who will wear a suit and enjoy most games from the press box.

He needs to clear waivers to go to Utica, so maybe he gets claimed because of all these qualities, but he’s also on the wrong side of 30. Seems likely he’ll be waived.

Oscar Fantenberg: The 27-year-old Swede played 61 dependable games between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames last season. He shoots left and with left-handed Jordie Benn above him on the depth chart but also able to play on the right, that seems like less of a worry than right-side-only Biega.

He could also be waived, but is the sort of depth defenceman who gets picked up on waivers at this time of the year and given the Canucks just signed him in the off-season, would they really risk him there?

Photo by Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

Loui Eriksson: Everyone’s favourite overpaid fourth liner might have been in trouble had Boeser’s contract come in higher, but at this point, there’s no sense in even trying to farm him out.

He may not score like he did before he signed with the Canucks and his wheels, such as they ever were, aren’t there either, but he really does still do a lot of little things. He’s going to start the year with the Canucks, like it or not.