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There are duelling leads on this one:

Option one: And then there were three.

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Option two: Two’s company.

Either way, Dmitry Zhukenov, the Russian centre drafted by the Canucks in 2015, has signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. Zhukenov played for Omsk’s junior team before being drafted; he then played the last two years with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, posting a point per game for the Sagueneens.

Because he was drafted from a European club, the Canucks retain his NHL rights until June 1, 2019.

His departure means the Canucks only have three players left in their system from the 2015: Brock Boeser, Guillaume Brisebois and Adam Gaudette. Carl Neill and Tate Olson were both put back into the draft pool this year after the Canucks elected not to sign them to pro contracts; neither was drafted. Neill has committed to play for Concordia University in 2017-18.

In May, Czech forward Lukas Jasek, another 2015 draft, signed a two-year deal with Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech Extraliga. Like Zhukenov, his NHL rights are held by the Canucks for another two years.