Virtanen can go down without issue.
Biega won't be claimed. he is 28, owed 2 years on a one-way contract, and is an 8/9 defenseman when teams are usually still pretty healthy.
Biega on a one-way makes $700,000 in Vancouver or Utica. Okay with us. Like that idea Aquaman?
Pedan on a two-way makes $700,000 in Vancouver and in Utica makes $100,000.
More genius work by the big guy, eh?
And take a look at this:
Biega - $700,000
Megna - $600,000 one-way (sight unseen)
Chaput - $225,000 (sight unseen)
Billins - $225,000 (sight unseen)
Nilsson - $200,000 (sight unseen)
Bachman - $575,000
Grenier - $125,000
Zalewski - $100,000
Want to send Virtanen down? Gaunce? only $70,000 each
The prospects in Utica? Their salaries range from $50,000 to $60,000, to $62,500 to $67,500 to $70,000.
Want to deport Sbisa? $3,600,000
Granlund? $900,000
If you were paying for a team you knew was an AHL contender and that's what you were trying to do, you might invest the big $ numbers. The fewer the prospects on the farm, the more you'll have to pay to get replacements with NHL call-up abilities. The serious call-up prospects in Utica will be Biega/Pedan and Billins on D, Zalewski and Megna both play C or LW, and Grenier at /RW. Then you shoot for the sky with Subban on D and Chaput at forward. Pretty interesting that 2 of the 5 have never even been seen before in Vancouver and a large portion of the fan base has been meh on the other 3.
The dark horse is Stecher, but we don't know if he will be Hutton or Sautner until he plays vs. the pros.
If the Canucks are recalling Subban, Stecher, Sautner, or Chaput, it probably means the Canucks season is over anyways and they want to get a good look at what's left in the cupboard to work another prospect trade for another team's discard.