VANCOUVER – Eleven years since he was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, and after a series of serious injuries and seven contracts with the organization, 29-year-old defenceman Guillaume Brisebois will finally start a National Hockey League season with the team.

The Canucks’ only weekend roster move was waiving minor-league goalie Nikita Tolopilo, which left 23 players, including Brisebois, on their roster for Tuesday’s season-opening game in Edmonton against the Oilers.

Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson was still combing the waiver wire late Sunday but the team is expected to confirm this afternoon that the 23 healthy players left after Saturday’s final preseason game will be their opening-night roster.

Besides Brisebois, it is expected to include 22-year-old first-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki, defenceman Victor Mancini and winger Arshdeep Bains, an undrafted 25-year-old from Surrey, B.C. who cleared waivers in Vancouver last season.

Goalie Leevi Merilainen, claimed on waivers from the Ottawa Senators on Friday, dislodged Tolopilo as Kevin Lankinen’s backup.

Brisebois’ journey to the NHL is about perseverance, conviction and his relationship with Johnson, who convinced the defenceman from Longueuill, Que., to keep re-signing two-way contracts with the Canucks on the promise........

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