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Decisions, decisions.

The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Canucks have just two games remaining on their preseason schedule, which wraps up on Saturday. Next Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. PT, they’ll need to submit their official 23-man opening night roster to the NHL offices.

On Monday, 11 players were cut from the Canucks’ training camp roster. Here’s a closer look at the players who are currently on the bubble — what they’ve done in camp so far and their chances of being part of that opening-night roster next week.

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FORWARDS (13 or 14)

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Guaranteed to make the team (11):

Sven Baertschi, Alex Burmistrov, Derek Dorsett, Loui Eriksson, Sam Gagner, Markus Granlund, Bo Horvat, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Brandon Sutter, Thomas Vanek

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Injured: Cole Cassels, Brendan Gaunce, Ryan White

– Injured players can remain with the Canucks until they are healthy without taking up a roster spot

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Hopefuls, fighting for two or three roster spots:

Brock Boeser – After scoring four goals in nine games when he made his debut with the Canucks last season, this sharp-shooting right-winger from the University of North Dakota has picked up right where where he left off.

Boeser’s six points in his first three games have him ranked among the NHL’s top preseason scorers. As a rookie, he wouldn’t need to clear waivers to be sent to Utica but it doesn’t matter. The Canucks need more scoring and Boeser looks like he’s the man for the job.

Off the ice, he’s hitting P.R. bulls-eyes as well. Boeser with a girl with Down syndrome after she invited him to her high school prom via Instagram in 2016, then in a showcase game for charity as part of Minnesota’s offseason Da Beauty League.
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Brock boeser with his sister who scored!

— DaBeautyLeague (@DaBeautyLeague)

Next question: Will Boeser open the season riding shotgun with the Sedins? It could happen.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 85 per cent

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Nikolay Goldobin – A skilled, speedy 21-year-old, Goldobin scored three goals in 12 games after he was acquired by the Canucks at last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Jannik Hansen.

Despite his talent, Goldobin had a hard time earning the trust of now-departed coach Willie Desjardins. It looks like he’s walking the same path this year in training camp. Goldobin has a goal and two assists in three preseason games but his effort level has been spotty and his defensive awareness still needs work.

One area where Goldobin excels: personal style.
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A post shared by Nikolay Goldobin (@goldy_78) on Aug 19, 2017 at 7:46pm PDT

Goldobin’s still waiver exempt, so unless he’s the best player on the ice in the last two preseason games, expect to see him pedal that bike to Utica to start the season.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 15 per cent

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Anton Rodin – A nasty skate cut abruptly ended an MVP season for Rodin in the Swedish Hockey League in 2015-16. The Canucks had originally drafted the winger in the second round back in 2009 and convinced him to give the NHL another try, but knee troubles persisted last year and another surgery was required.

Rodin teased his potential during the 2016 preseason with five points in five games before his knee flared up, so he’s being observed with some scepticism this year. The 27-year-old says he’s now 100 percent, and he scored in back-to-back games in Alberta last week. He’s trending in the right direction to be a dark-horse contender for one of those last roster spots.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 55 per cent

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Scottie Upshall – With 696 NHL games played, Upshall is by far the most experienced player fighting for one of the Canucks’ final roster spots. Now 33, he’s not much of a scorer but he’s known as a good team player and a strong penalty killer.

Upshall didn’t help his chances of making the team in the Canucks’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. He took two penalties and was on the ice for all three of the Kings’ goals.

Unless Travis Green is dead set on adding defensive grit, Upshall will probably be released from his Professional Try-Out contract.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 25 per cent

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Jake Virtanen – Lean and mean, Jake Virtanen reported to camp 15 pounds lighter than last year and impressed on the ice, skating with confidence and playing a physical game. A week ago, he looked like he’d make it tough for the team to send him to Utica to start the season, but the Canucks’ first-round draft pick from 2014 struggled with consistency in last week’s games in Alberta.

After spending most of last season working with Virtanen in Utica, coach Travis Green would probably like nothing better than to see his pupil succeed at reclaiming a spot with the Canucks. It could still happen, but Virtanen will need to be lights-out in all situations in his remaining exhibition games.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 20 per cent

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Long Shots: Darren Archibald, Michael Chaput, Joseph LaBate, Jayson Megna

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DEFENCE (7 or 8)

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Guaranteed to make the team (7): Michael Del Zotto, Alex Edler, Erik Gudbranson, Ben Hutton, Troy Stecher, Chris Tanev, Patrick Wiercioch

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Injured: none

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Hopefuls, fighting for probably one roster spot:

Alex Biega – A former Utica team captain, Biega made the Canucks’ opening-night roster last season as an extra defenceman. He stayed with the team all season and played in 36 games.

At 29, Biega isn’t harmed by spending time in the press box as an extra skater. He’s lacking a bit in both size and skill, but always brings a good effort and is more than willing to use his body to throw hits.

Like last year, Biega’s the safe choice as the extra defenceman.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 70 per cent

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Jalen Chatfield – Now 21, Chatfield was an undrafted defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League. The Canucks signed him as a free agent last March, before he went on to win a Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires in May.

Through the Canucks’ summer development camp and into the Young Stars tournament, Chatfield has looked solid on both sides of the puck. He has continued to impress in training camp, especially when he put up five points in two games in Alberta last weekend.

Chatfield’s strong play may have tested the team’s assertion that if a player earns a spot, they’ll make room for him, but Travis Green and company still elected to assign him to Utica on Wednesday. If he performs well in his first taste of pro hockey, he could follow in Troy Stecher's footsteps as an early call-up when injuries arise.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 2̶0̶ p̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶e̶n̶tÌý ÌýNONE – Chatfield has been assigned to the Utica Comets.

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Philip Holm – Signed as a free agent after being part of Sweden’s gold-medal team at last spring’s IIHF World Championship, Holm has been prominent in his four preseason games, but not always for the right reasons.

At 25, Holm has the hockey sense to run a power play, but holes have been exposed in his defensive game. He has a goal and an assist, but is also a team-worst minus-six so far in preseason.

Holm’s high-risk game could be too much of a gamble for the Canucks to start the season. He is waiver-exempt; after a little time acclimating to the North American game in the AHL, Holm could become a useful NHL player.

Odds of making opening-night lineup: 10 per cent

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Long Shots: Guillaume Brisebois, Olli Juolevi, Andrey Pedan

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Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Canucks remaining preseason schedule

Thursday, Sept. 28 vs. Calgary Flames 7 p.m. @ Rogers Arena

Saturday, Sept. 30 vs. Edmonton Oilers 7 p.m. @ Rogers Arena

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Opening night roster submission deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m. PT

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Opening night: Saturday October 7 vs. Edmonton Oilers 7 p.m. Rogers Arena

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Follow Carol Schram on Twitter .

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