Dollars determine positional battles

As much as we’d all like to believe that the best 23 players in the Canucks’ organization will be on the roster to open the season, the reality of professional sports dictates otherwise.

Make no mistake, every player on the team will have a valid argument for being there, but there will be some players who get the short end of the stick for financial reasons.

The battle between Kyle Wellwood and Jason Krog is a perfect example. Wellwood has produced more offense in the preseason, but Krog has played a much better all-around game. Wellwood’s production gives him a valid argument for cracking the club, but given Krog’s ability to win faceoffs and kill penalties, his case may be even stronger. However, the majority of Krog’s contract is being picked up by the Manitoba Moose, whereas Wellwood is on a one-way ticket funded by Vancouver. Unless Krog severely outperforms Wellwood, it makes sense for the former to ply his trade in the minors.

A similar situation may allow Lukas Krajicek to remain on the roster. Lawrence Nycholat has been better than Krajicek over the past two weeks; in fact, Nolan Baumgartner could make the same argument. But Krajicek is the only one whose contract is being paid solely by the Canucks, which gives him a distinct accounting advantage.

These decisions aren’t set in stone; just ask Jeff Cowan, who was waived on the weekend in favour of the younger, cheaper, AHL-eligible Rick Rypien. However, in today’s world of the NHL salary cap, the bottom line often dictates which line you’re playing on.

• It’s taken fourteen games, but the B.C. Lions once again control their own destiny in the West. Thanks to a 24-20 win over Toronto, B.C. enters the final month of the season in a three-way tie for first place with both Calgary and Saskatchewan.

The Leos already hold the tiebreaker on the Roughriders, which gives them the edge should the two teams end up with identical records. The Stampeders have already won the season series with the Lions, but the two teams play in the final game of the year.

If Calgary and B.C. are still tied in wins and losses going into the finale, the winner could conceivably clinch the right to host the West final and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Lions have won the West four years in a row, advancing to the Grey Cup on half of those occasions.

– Scott Rintoul is a college athlete, sports fan and broadcaster. He can be heard Monday-Friday on the TEAM 1040 from 6-9 a.m.