As the National Hockey League and its Players’ Association continue their serve-and-volley lockout tie-breaker in New York, I’m not as worried as some people about the Canucks having to limbo under a 2013-14 salary cap that could be as low as $60 million.

It’s true Vancouver has already committed $55 million to just 13 players for “next” season, which in theory barely leaves enough money to fill a 20-man lineup let alone a 23-man roster. But three of the 13 players are deposed starting goalie Roberto Luongo ($5.33 million cap hit), depth defenceman Keith Ballard ($4.2 million) and 16-goal scorer David Booth ($4.25 million). They are The Expendables.

And Luongo should be traded when the lockout ends, hopefully for a package that includes someone capable of playing centre.

So the real alarm for the Canucks is that there is likely to be only one amnesty buyout. The Canucks will create cap space when they need it.

And, please, let’s hope they do.