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A lot was made last season about the Vancouver Canucks lack of centres, more specifically the third-line opening.

Fans are hoping for a three horse race between Schroeder, Gaunce and Horvat. I hate to be the barer of bad news, but I believe it will be none of the three occupying the third-line centre slot when the dust settles.

Meet the next third-line centre: Mike Santorelli

The No. 1 key to any good third-line centre is to win face-offs.

Santorelli's faceoff stats for the past three seasons

10/11- 50.2%
11/12- 45.2%
12/13- 59.6%

The nearly 60% he posted in his small sample size last season makes me wonder if Gillis believes he has found a poor man's Manny Malhotra, who has a much better career best in goals.

Now 59% is very unlikely given his career numbers are right around 50%, but if he can find a way to win 52-53% of his draws and help out the PK he's pretty much a shoe-in for the third-line job.

And when you add that his cap number is half of what Gaunce and Horvat's is, I think you'll see him beat those two out for sure.

So that really leaves Richardson and Schroeder to compete with for the job. Schroeder was a fairly disappointing 43% last season, which makes me thing that you will see Vancouver start trying him on the wing a little more in camp. And honestly, slotting him in on the second-line with Kesler and Burrows might work wonders for his confidence.

Richardson has better career face-off numbers, but he also has a smaller sample size. Because his sample sized isn't there and his career best numbers are a tad lesser that Santorelli's, I think you'll see him on the fourth-line.

So, those of you wanting to see the kids this season may be disappointed. I see this as the likely line combos out of camp.

Sedin/Sedin/Kassian
One of the kids or Booth/Kesler/Burrows
Higgins/Santorelli/Hansen
Weise/Richardson/Archibald
Sestito

Until tomorrow my friends, stay classy

Ian

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