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It hasn’t been as clear to the Vancouver Canucks, but Philip Holm has always said his ambition this season was to make his mark in the NHL.

Now, he’s on the verge of realizing that goal.

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True, he invested more than four months in Utica, N.Y., this season attempting to convince the Canucks of his preparedness. And he’s spent the last 10 days hanging around Vancouver waiting for his shot.

But, it now seems the 26-year-old Swedish defenceman will make his long-awaited debut with the Canucks on Friday night in Las Vegas. Which just means one thing: he better not waste his time making an impression on head coach Travis Green.

“When I signed with Vancouver (last May), I said I was going for the whole season and I wasn’t giving up if I had to start in Utica,” Holm said Thursday following a Canucks practice and just before the team’s flight to Sin City. “We’ll see what happens.”

Yes, finally we will.

Holm, you may recall, was signed amid some fanfare this offseason after a breakout season with Vaxjo in the Swedish elite league and a solid turn with the national team at the world championship.