VANCOUVER — Jordan Schroeder was the last to go.
The diminutive centre was the Vancouver Canucks’ final cut Friday as the team reduced its roster to the 23-man limit. Schroeder is heading back to the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves, joining eight others who were sent down earlier in the day.
Schroeder, who does not require waivers, was the easiest to demote. His deletion also means that Andrew Ebbett will start the season on Vancouver’s second line, replacing injured centre Ryan Kesler. Newcomers Cam Barker and Jim Vandermeer made the team as well.
The Canucks will start the season with 12 forwards and nine defencemen, with Vandermeer considered a swingman capable of skating on left wing on the fourth line.
Another player heading back to Chicago was defenceman Kevin Connauton, Vancouver’s third-round pick in 2009. Connauton was one skater among the Wolves group who was thought to have a chance to stick but once the team signed both Barker and Vandermeer, Connauton’s fate was sealed.
Also sent down Friday were forwards Darren Archibald, Anton Rodin, Bill Sweatt and Andrew Gordon while blueliners getting the tap were Peter Andersson and Derek Joslin. Goalie Joe Cannata was the eighth player returned to Chicago.
The Canucks also dispatched junior Frank Corrado, 19, to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.
Schroeder had an excellent scrimmage Thursday night, nicely setting up Mason Raymond for two of the latter’s three goals, but his size, inexperience and waiver situation obviously cost him the opportunity.
Prior to the decision on Schroeder being made public, GM Mike Gillis told the Canucks flagship radio station that he expects to see the Minnesota native back at some point during the abbreviated season.
“If Jordan Schroeder doesn’t start with us, we fully anticipate him playing meaningful games for us very shortly,” Gillis said.
According to Vigneault, Gillis and his assistants, Lorne Henning and Laurence Gilman, examined “all the dynamics” when making their roster moves.
“There is not just the on-ice component that’s going to go into the decision,” Vigneault said. “There are (salary) cap dynamics.”
The Canucks cancelled practice Friday. They open the season Saturday, 7 p.m. at Rogers Arena, against the Anaheim Ducks.
“We’re giving our guys a rest day and it’s due,” Vigneault said. “We got everything we wanted accomplished this week. We had five days of practice, we had 10 video sessions, we had a lot of off-ice work and we had two game-day run-throughs. As a coaching staff, we got what we needed.”
David Booth (groin) and Kesler (shoulder, wrist) will start the season on the injured list.
epap@vancouversun.com
