Growing youth movement evident, especially on defence

Now that they have 19 players signed to NHL contracts for next season, it’s pretty clear that the youth movement is in getting into full swing for the Canucks.

It’s most evident on defence, where it appears that Frank Corrado, 21, and Adam Clendening, 22, will get their chance to play full-time in the NHL. Both require waivers next season, so it’s time to show they belong.

The Canucks are also trying to re-sign Yannick Weber, 26, but he can explore free agency after not receiving a qualifying offer Monday.

The signing of all three would give the Canucks eight D-men, but the expected trade of Kevin Bieksa brings that number to seven. And if Weber moves on, it’s further reduced to six and brings the need to sign another defenceman.

After signing forward Linden Vey and backup goaltender Jacob Markstrom to new deals on Monday, the NHL team has 12 forwards, five defencemen and two goalies under contract.

NHL clubs are limited to a 23-man roster and typically go with 13 or 14 forwards and seven or eight defencemen to go along with two goalies. Keep in mind, though, that these numbers only apply at the start of the NHL’s regular season.

Right now, the Canucks have room for, at most, two forwards. Or one, if you assume they are keeping a spot open for last year’s sixth-overall draft pick, Jake Virtanen, 18.

That one spot is almost certainly going to winger Sven Baertschi, who Canucks GM Jim Benning gave up a second-round pick to the Flames for last season. You can expect that Baertschi, a 13th overall pick by the Flames in 2011, isn’t going anywhere.