DANILA KLIMOVICH – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #22 Vancouver Canucks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:37 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Last Year - 20th)
GM: TBD
COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025

Things went from bad to worse for the Vancouver Canucks in 2025–26, as the organization finally committed to a full-scale rebuild. With franchise cornerstone and captain Quinn Hughes no longer in the picture, a new era has begun in Vancouver — one centred on rising young players such as Zeev Buium. Complicating matters is a prospect system that currently lacks the kind of elite, high-end talent typically associated with rebuilding teams. That outlook could begin to change at the upcoming draft, where Vancouver holds an impressive 10 selections, including a top-3 pick. Still, it may take several draft cycles before those additions significantly reshape the organization’s pipeline.

There are, however, some encouraging signs within the system. Young defensemen Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson have already established themselves as full-time NHL contributors, while Sawyer Mynio (167th) and Kirill Kudryavtsev (174th) have become reliable presences on the blue line for the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. Meanwhile, Braeden Cootes (29th) currently sits atop the organization’s prospect rankings and has already appeared in three NHL games. While the AHL may be the most appropriate next step for the 2026–27 season under the league’s updated eligibility rules, he should remain firmly on Vancouver’s NHL radar. Jonathan Lekkerimäki (33rd) has also shown promising offensive instincts in the AHL, emerging as one of Abbotsford’s most dangerous goal scorers. However, injuries have slowed his development and prevented him from fully translating that scoring touch at the NHL level.

A rebuild is now firmly underway in Vancouver, and the road ahead may involve some difficult seasons in the standings. Yet, with the possibility of selecting near the top of the draft this June, the Canucks could take an important first step toward reshaping their future.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Van	1	Braeden Cootes	C	19	6-0/185	Sea-PA (WHL)	45	24	39	63	8
Van	1	Braeden Cootes	C	19	6-0/185	Vancouver (NHL)	3	0	0	0	0
Van	2	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	21	5-11/170	Abbotsford (AHL)	21	13	7	20	8
Van	2	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	21	5-11/170	Vancouver (NHL)	13	2	1	3	0
Van	3	Sawyer Mynio	D	21	6-1/175	Abbotsford (AHL)	58	3	18	21	42
Van	4	Kirill Kudryavtsev	D	22	5-11/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	44	2	18	20	4
Van	4	Kirill Kudryavtsev	D	22	5-11/200	Vancouver (NHL)	3	0	2	2	0
Van	5	Aleksei Medvedev	G	18	6-3/180	London (OHL)	36	16	15	3.26	0.891
Van	6	Victor Mancini	D	24	6-3/215	Abbotsford (AHL)	33	4	8	12	16
Van	6	Victor Mancini	D	24	6-3/215	Vancouver (NHL)	24	0	3	3	7
Van	7	Ty Mueller	C	23	5-11/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	61	16	21	37	30
Van	7	Ty Mueller	C	23	5-11/185	Vancouver (NHL)	6	1	0	1	2
Van	8	Wilson Bjorck	C	20	6-0/165	Colorado College (NCAA)	31	5	10	15	16
Van	9	Anthony Romani	D	20	6-0/185	Michigan State (NCAA)	37	14	14	28	12
Van	10	Riley Patterson	C	20	6-0/190	Niagara (OHL)	60	40	44	84	16
Van	10	Riley Patterson	C	20	6-0/190	Abbotsford (AHL)	4	1	1	2	4
Van	11	Nikita Tolopilo	G	25	6-6/230	Abbotsford (AHL)	19	8	8	3.07	0.897
Van	12	Danila Klimovich	RW	23	6-1/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	63	18	16	34	62
Van	13	Vilmer Alriksson	LW	21	6-6/215	Abbotsford (AHL)	43	6	3	9	56
Van	14	Kieren Dervin	C	19	6-1/180	Kingston (OHL)	53	17	25	42	20
Van	15	Matthew Lansing	C	19	6-1/185	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	40	8	10	18	20

Braeden Cootes, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Braeden Cootes surprised everyone when he made the Vancouver Canucks coming out of training camp. While that may have spoken as much to the Canucks depth (or lack thereof) at centre, it also spoke to Cootes’s pro-ready game. He averaged just under 11 minutes per game in three contests with the Canucks before being reassigned to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Cootes was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped the team win a bronze medal. After the tournament, he was traded to the Prince Albert Raiders. Cootes is a high energy, high motor forward who plays a 200-foot, detail-oriented game. His skating is a calling card and is already pro ready. He plays on both the power play and penalty kill at the junior level, but there’s some question as to how much of a scorer he’ll be as a pro. His forechecking and defensive play puts his floor as a third line center, but if his offensive skills and play driving continue to improve, he could be a dynamic second line player.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki is a talented offensive forward who has a great release that should net him a significant number of goals once he graduates to full-time status at the NHL level. Lekkerimaki can rip pucks home from the top of the circle, but he’s also got an extremely capable one-timer that can beat goalies cleanly on the power play. Lekkerimaki isn’t just a one-dimensional shooter, however; he also has a nice pair of hands to go along with a cerebral hockey sense that suggests he will pile up assists at the next level. Defensively, Lekkerimaki has gotten better at playing against men in his own zone, and while he isn’t the most physical of players, he competes well enough for pucks that Canucks fans shouldn’t be too worried about his lack of physicality. Lekkerimaki will definitely need to play with linemates that are willing to go grind to help him retrieve the puck, but once he finds those linemates, look out. This player is a 60+ point player in the making, and it’s only a matter of time before we see him break out with the Canucks.
Sawyer Mynio, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Sawyer Mynio has come along nicely as a defensive prospect within the Vancouver Canucks’ system, where he has been tasked with playing tough minutes this year for a post-championship (but depleted) Abbotsford Canucks team. Mynio’s game starts with solid play in his own zone. He’s as reliable as they come defensively, and at times this season with Abbotsford, he has looked like a player beyond his years in his own zone, exhibiting poise with the puck while facing extreme pressure from opposing players. Mynio is also a capable defender who can move the puck well in transition, which won’t harm his deployment at the NHL level. Mynio won’t become a power play option at the NHL level, but he should be able to carve out a nice career as a top four defender who can play reliable minutes on both sides of the puck. Expect Mynio to spend another season in Abbotsford building experience and confidence in his game, but once he gets his NHL opportunity, lookout. He won’t be in the AHL for too long.
Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Kirill Kudryavtsev is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Vancouver Canucks’ system; he is a sturdy defender who also has good offensive ability, and this combination of attributes is becoming more and more of a rarity in today’s NHL. When Kudryavtsev is in the offensive zone, he’s exceptional at using tight space along the wall to create give-and-go plays with his teammates. He’s also good at creating passing lanes using his deceptive stickhandling, and he has a nice release from the point that can beat goalies through screens. Kudryavtsev is also a capable defender in his own zone, but he still has room to improve the level of physicality and mean streak he displays in his own end. He can also be too passive at times with his gap control, which gives opposing forwards more time and space to make plays. Kudryavtsev ultimately projects as a bottom-pairing defender who can play on both sides of the puck and may develop into a second-unit penalty killer at the NHL level.
Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights (OHL)

Numbers-wise, Medvedev has seen a large dip in save percentage, but such is to be expected on a retooling London squad that lost loads of integral parts from their back-to-back championship runs. Medvedev has remained calm and composed in the Knights’ crease, with strong positioning and technical movement. His athleticism is very good, allowing him to get cross-crease quickly and deny one-timers. The key weakness to his game this year has been his tracking through traffic, and occasionally, he’s gotten beaten trying to lean off-center and peek through bodies. The Canucks did not hesitate to select Alexei in the top 50 in the 2025 draft, clearly seeing him as a potential successor to Demko. In terms of NHL projection, Medvedev projects as more of a 1B goalie in a tandem, as he’s been far more effective splitting time in the crease and rarely has faced a high work rate.
Victor Mancini, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) (Currently on Vancouver Canucks, NHL)

Victor Mancini is a strong defender with good size who competes extremely hard in his own end. Mancini is never going to wow you offensively, but he has a good first pass for a player of his size (6-foot-3, 229 pounds), and he can make simple plays in the offensive zone to keep the pressure alive for his forwards. Mancini’s bread and butter ultimately comes with his play in his own zone, where he’s excellent at using his frame to angle opposing players away from his own net. He’s also very good at using his stick to get into shooting lanes, which forces pucks away from his own goal and out of trouble. The Abbotsford Canucks have struggled this year in their own zone after their Calder Cup championship last season, but when Mancini is on the ice, their play in their own zone has vastly improved and it’s due in part to Mancini’s calming presence. Mancini ultimately projects as a bottom-pairing defenceman who can be counted upon to kill penalties at the NHL level.
Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Ty Mueller has really come a long way as a prospect since his freshman year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the NCAA. Drafted as an older forward, Mueller is a dependable player at both ends of the ice. He does not have any one standout offensive attribute that screams high-end NHL skill, but he is good at everything and can be a very good complementary piece to players that are more skilled on his line. Defensively, Mueller tracks pucks well and always puts himself into good positioning, which allows him to break up plays in his own zone before they happen with his impressive reads. Projecting Mueller to the NHL level is difficult, however, because he is not talented enough offensively to play in an NHL top six, but also not strong enough defensively to really occupy a checking role at the NHL level. Nevertheless, Mueller has continued to grind away at his game, particularly on the defensive side of the puck, and there’s a chance he could become a fourth line forward at the NHL level.
Wilson Bjorck, RW, Colorado College (NCAA)

Bjorck dominated in the Swedish J20 bracket last season. His motor was on full display, showcasing an unrelenting energy on the ice. His feet were always moving, either on the forecheck, on the back check, or to get into good spots for his teammates. Bjorck had a good feel for where to be, when to be there, and the proper angles to take to maximize what his end goal was. His skating was only above average, and some questions remained about his game translating to the smaller ice surfaces of North America. Bjorck would make the move overseas for this season, joining Colorado College. Despite the questions, his game did translate quite well to the college scene. Despite his production being only modest, his underlying stats show that he was an important piece of the team. His transitional game has been a bright spot, where he has been leaned on heavily by his peers. There are definitely still moments where he struggles with time and space with the puck on his stick, thanks to the smaller ice surface, but with another two seasons in the NCAA, he will almost certainly be adjusted and able to produce more offence. He projects as a potential middle six energy winger with center capabilities.
Anthony Romani, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Romani, a sixth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks, was drafted out of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion. His selection comes after he produced 111 points in 68 games, including 58 goals, after previously going undrafted in 2023. His shooting ability, as evidenced by his OHL-leading goal totals, was on display consistently. Romani’s playmaking ability was also evident at times, though it was overshadowed by his goal-scoring traits. The very next season, he would play just six games with North Bay, before being dealt to the Barrie Colts. In total, he played 35 games and registered 35 points, including 21 goals. While his regular season was nowhere near the same level as the previous season, it was in the playoffs where he shined. In 16 postseason games with Barrie, he posted 24 points. The following season, he made the jump to the NCAA, joining Michigan State. In 35 games this season he has produced 27 points. His shot is still a weapon, though he hasn’t been a dominant goalscorer just yet. With another year or two in the NCAA, as his role expands and he becomes more comfortable at the collegiate level, Romani has the skillset to shine. He projects as a middle six goal-scoring winger with power play upside.
Riley Patterson, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently on Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Patterson was traded over the offseason from Barrie to Niagara after wanting a fresh start, and he made his mark on a floundering Ice Dogs group. The Etobicoke native’s production has taken a massive step in 2025-26, bringing him within striking distance of the league lead in points. His shot is a great asset. He shoots low, rarely misses the net, and forces goaltenders to make difficult saves when coming across the crease. He gets power and a quick release from his wrister, and his one-timer is extremely consistent in forcing rebounds if not scoring. His wheels give him added depth, allowing him to contribute on the rush, and while he doesn’t throw hard hits, he uses his body effectively in battles to separate the puck from opponents. It’s clear the Vancouver Canucks made a savvy selection at 125th with Riley, and this past fall, they signed him to an entry-level contract. Most likely, expect Patterson to return to the OHL for the 2026-27 season, but with the dreadful outlook of the Canucks over the next 24 months, spots could open up if he puts on a masterclass at training camp.
Nikita Tolopilo, G, Vancouver Canucks (NHL)

Just barely still eligible for our list due to his age, Tolopilo has strung together back-to-back solid AHL seasons and has been largely excellent in limited NHL action this year too. The big Belarussian goaltender may not be a future starter, but he does look like someone who could work in a platoon or back-up role moving forward.
Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

It seems like we’ve been waiting forever for a breakout from Klimovich, a big Belarussian winger. Instead, we’ve seen regression this year and that may mean that his time in the organization is drawing close to the end.
Vilmer Alriksson, LW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

While Alriksson does seem to have his fans in the Canucks’ fan base, having modest expectations for him is important. The big winger can bang bodies and he’s athletic for his size, but he’s not likely to develop into more than a fourth line option for the Canucks in the future.
Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston Frotencas (OHL)

Drafted out of the storied St. Andrew’s College program, Dervin has the skill and creativity to be a pro player. But, the physical tools need time to catch up. He’s been OK with the Frontenacs this year in the OHL, but the Canucks won’t know what they have in Dervin until he’s played a few years at Penn State.
Matthew Lansing, C, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Best described as a lunch pail type. Lansing is a hard working pivot who projects as a bottom six, penalty killer. However, he has had an impressive freshman season with Quinnipiac.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #20

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:31:46 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 20th (May 2025 - 18th)
GM: Patrik Allvin Hired: January 2022
COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025

After riding the highs of a strong 2023-24 campaign, the Canucks stumbled in 2024-25, weighed down by off-ice drama and inconsistent play.

There are, however, reasons for optimism. Vancouver added Braeden Cootes – a heart and soul type – with the 15th overall pick and landed a potential goaltender of the future in second-rounder Aleksei Medvedev. Behind the bench, Rick Tocchet’s departure paved the way for Adam Foote to take over as head coach, ushering in a new era in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite late-season stalls in contract negotiations, Tom Willander (11th overall, 2023) was ultimately signed to his entry-level deal. Fresh off a run to the NCAA Championship game and another standout World Juniors performance, Willander is now ready to push for a full-time NHL role as early as this season.

Meanwhile, the rest of the pipeline has shown encouraging progress. Jonathan Lekkerimäki made a dazzling North American debut, lighting up the AHL with his scoring touch and earning multiple NHL call-ups. While his production dipped during a Calder Cup championship run, he remains highly regarded within the organization. Fellow Swede Elias Pettersson seized a full-time spot on Vancouver’s blue line, playing with poise well beyond expectations and is already nearing graduation. In the AHL, Aatu Räty’s two-way play and steady output have him firmly in the conversation for a 2025-26 roster spot.

Fresh off the organization’s first championship in its history, Vancouver’s pipeline is pulling its weight. The challenge now is translating that success to the NHL level.

The Canucks’ prospect system may not yet rank among the league’s elite, but it’s clearly trending upward. If management can balance addressing immediate roster needs with nurturing its emerging talent, the franchise’s future could arrive sooner than expected.

Vancouver Canucks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Following his breakout season in the SHL with Orebro, Lekkerimaki’s first year in North America had to be considered a mild success. He split the year between Vancouver and Abbotsford and has shown considerable flashes of greatness at the NHL level. At the AHL level consistency was a bit of an issue but again there were great flashes. Obviously, his shot and shot generation ability thanks to his terrific hands and creativity are his standout traits. His ceiling as an offensive player in the NHL is extremely high. The former first rounder has the ability to be a perennial 30 goal…even 40 goal scorer in the NHL. So, what are the next steps? Lekkerimaki has to get stronger. He’s been too easily separated from the puck at the NHL level, and he’s had trouble seeking out scoring opportunities through the middle of the ice. The expectation is that Lekkerimaki should crack Vancouver full time next year and be a potential impact player on their power play.

2 - Tom Willander

Tom Willander needed some time to get comfortable on the smaller North American ice, but his growth over two seasons at Boston University has been steady and noticeable. The Terriers relied on the 2023 first-round pick in all situations last year, and he did not look out of place. Willander is a reliable workhorse that has the ability to control the pace of the game when he’s on the ice, largely thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s a weapon in transition, where he couples his skating ability with smart, quick passes. When defending, he closes gaps quickly, is steady positionally, and defends well with his stick. He is also competitive and unafraid to get involved physically. Willander will likely spend this year in Abbotsford but will make his way to Vancouver before too long, he has the potential to be a high-end shutdown defender with above-average puck moving ability.

3 - Braeden Cootes

Vancouver can be a tough hockey market to play in, so the Canucks have an enhanced need to find prospects with resilient mental fortitude. Cootes more than proved that he's that type of player throughout his 2024-25 season, leading the rebuilding Seattle Thunderbirds as their captain and most trusted forward, and then captaining Canada to a gold medal at this past spring's IIHF U18 tournament. He's a smart, consistent and dedicated center who is easy for any coach to heavily rely on. At first glance his recent scoring totals could seem underwhelming for a prospect who was drafted so high, but he's actually pretty dangerous as both a shooter and a playmaker, traits that he hasn't always been able to display because there hasn't been enough depth around him to properly share offensive responsibilities. Bo Horvat became a fan favourite in Vancouver because of his leadership and all the little things he contributed outside of his points, and Cootes is cut from a very similar kind of cloth.

4 - Elias Pettersson

The “other” Elias Pettersson was an absolute revelation for the Canucks this past year in his first professional season in North America. He started the season in Abbotsford, but after a very strong start, he was up with the Canucks, playing a steady third pairing role. He kept things simple with the puck, executing breakouts/chip outs, while limiting turnovers. But defensively, he was a standout. His mobility and length make him very difficult to beat off the rush; he’s a beast transitionally. He’s also been very effective in tight corners, showing the confidence already to play aggressively and physically. It remains to be seen how much offensive upside Pettersson possesses, however, there is no doubt that he can be a defensive stalwart and a penalty killing anchor. Expect him to play an even larger role for the Canucks next year, especially after another off season of training.

5 - Aatu Raty

The Canucks have to be really happy with the play of Raty last year, who was originally acquired as part of the Bo Horvat trade with the Islanders. The big pivot was consistently strong as an AHL player for Abbotsford, but with so many injuries to their bottom six, he was thrust into an NHL role later in the year and closed the season on a real high note. He was getting to the net. He was playing both ends. He was bringing a physical element. He was active in puck pursuit. Raty is never likely to be a top end offensive player at the NHL level. However, what he showed to end last season is that he can develop into the ideal third line center for the Canucks in the near future. One would have to believe that the expectation for Raty would be for him to grab a permanent NHL role next year.

6 - Alexei Medvedev

Medvedev is a phenomenal skater with excellent positioning and an ideal stance, maximizing efficiency for movement and filling the net. He also boasts some quick hands. Balancing that Canadian-developed technique, he still has the raw athletic nature of the Russian goalie. His agility and quickness are elite, while also having impressive joint mobility and flexibility. Where all of these attributes culminate is in his poise and decision making. Having such refined control of this level of athleticism is exceedingly difficult. But this is exactly where Medvedev shines. Skill set-wise, he lacks a true weakness. The problem with Medvedev as a prospect is his situation in London. Playing as a tandem on the best junior team in the world lightens the load on the goalie. Practically every game he played, he had adequate rest, along with having the far superior team in front of him. This has created a low-stress environment and has left him untested. How he adapts to a starter role facing adversity will dictate his future, but when looking at raw talent, one can believe he could be an NHL starter one day.

7 - Kirill Kudryavtsev

Much like Elias Pettersson, Kudryavtsev was a pleasant surprise for the Canucks in his first professional season. He stepped into an immediate top four role with Abbotsford and firmly put himself on the Canucks’ radar for a roster spot moving forward. He’s been highly effective at both ends and has worked really hard to refine his game in the last few years. Most impressive might be the transformation of his decision making with the puck, which was a weakness as a draft eligible player, but has now become a strength of his at the pro level. His four mobility also makes him an excellent transitional defender, and he’s aggressive with his gaps to make up for a lack of length. Kudryavtsev’s NHL upside may not be extremely significant, but there’s definitely a chance that he could be a long-time number-four-or-five defender for the Canucks; someone who can provide a steady two-way influence in a depth role.

8 - Sawyer Mynio

A member of the 2023 WHL championship-winning Seattle Thunderbirds, Mynio was exactly the type of defenceman that the Hitmen wanted for their own big playoff push this spring: experienced, tough, smart, reliable and versatile. Fast forward a few months post-trade and it's clear that the team received exactly what they paid for, with a torrid winning pace being compelling evidence of that, though their big playoff push was halted in the second round. You could go so far as to call him a "duct tape" kind of defender: maybe never the ideal tool for a certain job or situation, but he can almost always make it work in a pinch, and good coaches fully understand that kind of value in a player. Mynio has made a lot of progress during his tenure in the WHL, more than anyone probably expected, which is a very encouraging sign for his career moving forward. Canucks fans will appreciate what he brings to the table.

9 - Linus Karlsson

It was another good year in North America for Karlsson, as he finally broke through to play about a third of the year with the Canucks. When he wasn’t with Vancouver, he was operating at well over a point per game in the AHL, proving to be ready for that next challenge. Karlsson excels playing through the middle of the ice and near the net. He really embraced that net front presence role this year in his limited time with Vancouver; head coach Rick Tocchet even compared him to former Red Wings great Tomas Holmstrom. However, at the AHL level Karlsson has shown a few more levels to his game, as a lethal scoring option on the power play and as a strong, detail oriented two-way player. Next year will be a big one for Karlsson. He already earned a new contract, but he’ll try to establish himself as an everyday NHL player in the Canucks’ bottom six. Otherwise, he’ll require waivers to be sent down to the AHL and may find himself on the outside looking in long term in the organization.

10 - Arshdeep Bains

Originally a free agent signing by the Canucks out of Red Deer after Bains captured a WHL scoring crown, he’s been a standout at the AHL level the last two seasons. As such, he’s also seen a few cups of coffee with Vancouver. At the AHL level, he’s excelled as a playmaker who can create coming off the wall and bring a physical element. At the NHL level, the physical element has been there, but he’s struggled with the pace and making skilled plays against bigger defenders. This will be a big offseason for him, as he will no longer be exempt from waivers next year. It could be one final chance for him to crack Vancouver’s roster full time, likely in a bottom six role. Is Bains more of a conventional tweener or AAAA player? We may get the answer to that soon.

11 - Ty Mueller

Mueller has long looked like that kind of nice player who contributes in all three zones but was hard to get a read on with respect to upside. Over three years of college play, there was promise but no explosion offensively. However, his rookie season in the AHL was highly successful, seeing him contribute from beginning to end and add another 12 points in his team’s Calder Cup victory. In line for another cup of coffee in Vancouver this season?

12 - Danila Klimovich

Drafted off the strength of six goals in five U18 Worlds contests, Klimovich is a solidly built player who likes to rip pucks between the faceoff dots. Once quickly thrown into life in a new country while playing against pro men as an 18-year-old, the culmination of his first four seasons in North America was 25 goals and an AHL Calder Cup last season. His mere four points (all goals) in 16 playoff games is another matter. He should get an NHL look this season.

13 - Anthony Romani

Drafted in his DY+1 after exploding for 111 regular season points, Romani entered last season with some big hopes, but a broken clavicle bone in early October led to him missing almost 100 days of action. Before playing another game, he was traded to the Barrie Colts for whom he piled on the post-season points going 12-12-24 in 16 playoff games. He’ll be a freshman at Michigan State this fall, coming in to take on a scoring role right off the bat.

14 - Riley Patterson

Featuring good size and speed, Patterson often displays a shot and level of talent that makes one wonder why he’s not producing more. His draft season was just fine but his DY+1 was little more than a repeat performance of the prior season, albeit he certainly contributed nicely with 12 points in 16 playoff games. Still fairly young (turns 20 next March), he’s in line for a big season in Barrie, should he return.

15 - Kieren Dervin

Heading to Penn State as of the 2026-27 season, Dervin jumped from a strong showing as a go-to scorer at St. Andrew’s College to Kingston of the OHL to conclude the season as a depth player. Still lacking in strength and conditioning, a full season of OHL play should be exactly what the development coach orders. It’ll also be important to find consistency in applying his strong transition game as well as skating and passing skills. Long-term project.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #18 VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sat, 24 May 2025 12:19:04 +0000

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Vancouver 25 Prospects

NHL: BELL – Scout’s Notebook – Midseason Stock Watch on 10 Prospects

Josh Bell — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:28:09 +0000

HV71s Oscar Fisker Molgaard
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN /

We’re past the midpoint of the 2023-24 hockey season, with eyes already starting to look towards playoffs or in the case of some NHL teams - the NHL Draft.

Reaching this point in the campaign provides an excellent sample size to analyze which players are meeting expectations or which aren’t taking the steps forward that were hoped. There’s enough hockey left to be played that players' trajectories can still shift, but in all likelihood, the path they’re on at this point is how their season will be remembered.

I looked at prospects across the globe and highlighted 10 that have either raised their stock so far this season or have seen their stock fall. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but simply 10 that have stood out to me enough versus pre-season expectations - positively or negatively.

Stock Down: Xavier Bourgault, Bakersfield Condors, AHL (Edmonton Oilers)

Xavier Bourgault entered the AHL last season as a rookie and truly impressed, fitting in extremely well with the Bakersfield Condors. The Edmonton Oilers top prospect put up respectable numbers in his first year and all signs pointed to 2024-25 being another step in the right direction. That hasn’t been the case. Bourgault is on pace to fall below his stat totals in goals and assists this season, despite looking to play 10 extra games.

Drafted 22nd overall in 2021, there was hope from the Oilers that he would become an offensive threat in the NHL. Looking at where his points are coming from right now though, he may fall into a special-teams role in the long term. His ability to produce (especially to score) at even strength has taken a step backward if anything. There’s still potential here but right now, Bourgault is looking like a bottom-six, complementary player.

Stock Up: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, HV71, SHL (Seattle Kraken)

In his sophomore season in the SHL, Oscar Fisker Molgaard seems to be getting more comfortable with every game played. And it’s starting to show. The 52nd selection of the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL Draft, Fisker Molgaard returned to HV71 this season and has seen his time on ice slowly increase throughout. After helping Team Denmark to a World Juniors (D1A) Bronze Medal, he’s back in the SHL and on fire, with points in 10 of his last 14 games.

To make this even more impressive, he’s doing it playing as a centre. Most 18-year-olds in the SHL would be slid to the wing to play with a more veteran pivot. Not Fisker Molgaard, whose intelligence and improving playmaking have been making him look like a potential middle-six centreman in the NHL. What’s more impressive is that he’s likely to continue to get better. He currently weighs in at 168 pounds. How will he play with another 10-15 pounds? Could this be a potential 2C? This is very much a player to continue to keep an eye on as he develops.

Stock Up: Nikita Grebyonkin, Metallurg Magnitogors, KHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

He may not have heard his name until 135th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, but Nikita Grebyonkin is not looking like a fifth-round pick right now. After being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Russian forward returned to play in the KHL, leading all rookies in points (26) and earning the honour of the league’s Best Rookie Award. Now in his sophomore season, he’s looking even stronger, getting regular minutes on the power play and playing a more complete game.

The competitiveness that the young forward brings stands out in both ends of the ice. His shot looks better, in both his power and his accuracy, which has led to him being on pace to double his goal total from a year ago. This is all while playing LESS on average this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk than he did a year ago with Amur Khabarovsk. Grebyonkin will be an interesting name to keep an eye on in the coming months, as his KHL deal is over at the end of this season. Will the Maple Leafs be able to bring him to North America?

Stock Down: Noel Gunler, Karpat, Liiga (Carolina Hurricanes)

It wasn’t that long ago that public discussions about Noel Gunler were around whether or not he should be ranked in the top 10 of the 2020 NHL Draft. He ended up hearing his name called 41st by the Carolina Hurricanes, sliding out of the first round likely due to some off-ice issues that were discussed. Either way, the thought was maybe they got a steal. Since being drafted though, Gunler hasn’t developed into that player that many hoped. He did even head overseas to play in the AHL for the 2022-23 season but ultimately headed back to Europe this season.

Now playing in the Liiga with Karpat (he was in the SHL before his year with the Chicago Wolves), Gunler hasn’t been able to settle in, collecting just eight points in 24 games, including five goals. Not great for a player who is known for his goal-scoring. Now adding to this, Gunler hasn’t played since January 10th, due to a transfer dispute between the Malmo Redhawks and Karpat. So it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to bounce back at this point. Gunler’s future is in question at this point, and whether he’s still on a path to being an NHLer is up for debate.

Stock Up: Niko Huuhtanen, Jukurit, Liiga (Tampa Bay Lightning)

When you get into the later rounds of the NHL Draft, you’re really just crossing your fingers that you’re selecting a future NHLer. You bet on a trait or traits that your scouting department has put high value on (skill, physicality, size, etc.), and hope for the best. In the 2021 NHL Draft, with the final selection, the Tampa Bay Lighting were likely doing just that when they called Niko Huuhtanen’s name 224th overall. The next season, he led the WHL in goals for a rookie (37). In 2022-23? He led the Liiga in goals AND points from a rookie, earning Rookie of the Year honours. And now - he’s looking even better.

The Finn has truly taken steps forward in each season, and that has continued this year in the Liiga with Jukurit. He’s on pace to nearly double his output from his rookie year, largely thanks to his tremendous improvement in his playmaking. He’s very much a goal scorer, but his vision and ability to distribute the puck have stood out this season. With his contract up at the end of the season, perhaps a move to the AHL is next for Huuhtanen.

Stock Down: Danila Klimovich, Abbotsford Canucks, AHL (Vancouver Canucks)

The Vancouver Canucks made a fairly bold choice drafting Danila Klimovich 41st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. After all, it’s not often that a player gets drafted playing in Belarus. But the young prospect had done enough to show the Canucks’ brass that he was their guy. He immediately came overseas for the 2021-22 season and then took a noticeable step forward in 2022-23. All signs were positive.

This season though, has been a different story. He’s been in and out of the lineup, often scratched but there have also been some injuries along the way. His point totals are way down, across the board with just four points in 17 games, a long stretch from the 29 last season or even the 18 the year prior. There are aspects of his game to love, like his pace and creativity, but the rest of his game is falling behind. If he’s going to become an NHL regular, he’ll need to show some positive steps soon.

Stock Up: Robert Orr, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL (Carolina Hurricanes)

When the Carolina Hurricanes drafted the next Bobby Orr 136th overall in 2021, they were drafting a never-give-up prospect that plays a hard-nosed game. He was a younger player in the class, with a September 1st birthdate. Well, it looks like his development may be catching up. He’s among the QMJHL leaders in points this season with 63 in just 47 games, already setting a career-high in the league.

Orr was traded to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last season and seems to have settled in this year. He’s been playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and is already looking like a player destined for the NHL. I was high on him in his draft year, and it’s excellent to see him coming into his own. It’s important to note that he’s now an older player in the league, so this level of play is expected of him, but it’s fantastic to see him taking those steps. Look for him to jump to the AHL next season.

Carson Rehkopfi of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Stock Up: Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers, OHL (Seattle Kraken)

I’ve already covered Carson Rehkopf’s tremendous season in a previous article, but he’s very much worth the mention here as well. The Kitchener Ranger star forward has exploded offensively this season, currently sitting second in the league in goals (37) and eighth in points per game (1.57). His play this season even earned him a spot on Team Canada for the World Juniors, where he stayed hot with four points in five games.

Rehkopf’s ability to score goals might just be enough to carry him all the way to the NHL. That’s always been a staple of his game and while it’s gotten better this year, so has the rest of his game, elevating him to another level in the OHL. He’s showing the potential to be a top-six winger for the Kraken down the line, an excellent projection for the 50th overall pick in 2023.

Stock Down: David Reinbacher, Kloten, NL (Montreal Canadiens)

When the Montreal Canadiens shocked and drafted Austrian defender David Reinbacher fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, they put some lofty expectations on the defender. He was coming off an outstanding year, earning NL honours as Youngster (Rookie) of the Year, standing out at the World Juniors, and even earning a spot in the World Championships for Team Austria. To cap it off by being drafted fifth overall in a tough market, expectations skyrocketed for the young player.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as hoped for Reinbacher. Back in Switzerland with EHC Kloten, he’s struggled to match his rookie-year output. Part of this may be due to an injury he had to start the year, and he hasn’t exactly seemed 100% healthy. Looking at his game, it’s obvious that there are still strides needed in his development to become a potential top-four defender in the NHL. He has a lot of tools to like, such as his mobility and confidence defensively, but that two-way ability seems to have stalled. Still, I expect him to move to the AHL next season, where at least one full year would be helpful to his game.

Stock Up: Massimo Rizzo, University of Denver, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers)

The last highlighted prospect, Massimo Rizzo has been dominating the NCAA this season with the University of Denver. He currently leads the entire nation in points with 44 in just 28 games. Drafted way back in 2019 and way down at 216th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, this is outstanding progression for the young forward. For his efforts, he’s been nominated for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player.

As well, Rizzo earned a sport with Team Canada this season, playing in the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, where he looked extremely comfortable playing against men. The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Rizzo in the offseason along with a 2025 fifth-round pick for the rights to David Kase, a deal that’s already looking excellent for the Flyers. Rizzo’s rights expire in August 2025, so you can bet that the Flyers will be looking to lock him up prior to that.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #22

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:39:11 +0000

Top 20 Vancouver Canucks Prospects

1. Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Lekkerimäki didn't have the smoothest post-draft season, but he's not the first or the last top prospect to experience that, especially among ones who still have a lot of physical development left to undergo. At his best he is an electrifying offensive winger, able to skate through or around traffic, control the puck at high speeds, and then beat a goalie with slick hands or a well-placed shot. Where he gets into trouble is in his lack of strength and resistance, as it isn’t hard right now for pro defenders to pin him to the boards, box him out of the slot, or otherwise neutralize him when they catch him. Conditioning can be a problem too, struggling to keep his engine running all game or through busy schedules. But once the training catches up to the talent, watch out. He finished his year on a high note , with postseason scoring totals that matched what he produced during the regular season.

2. Tom Willander

Willander’s rise up the draft rankings (including ours) was steady last year. Starting with a standout performance at the World Junior A Challenge and culminating with a steady showing at the U18’s, Willander made himself an attractive option to teams picking around where the Canucks ultimately selected him. One admirable element about Willander’s game is how consistent his decision making is with the puck. He has such a high panic threshold in the defensive end and he rarely gets hemmed in his own zone as he uses his feet and head-up approach to confidently clear the zone. One area of Willander’s game that really improved over the course of the season was his physical intensity level. He slowly became a defensive force and was very difficult to beat one-on-one. With a strong two-way base, good size, a right shot, and a high-end IQ, he has a chance to be a very good NHL defender. He will be taking a rather unorthodox route by attending Boston University next year and should be a standout right away at the NCAA level.

3. Aatu Raty

Räty has a reputation for swinging wildly between hot and cold, which dates back to his time in Finland's highest junior league and has now followed him all the way to British Columbia. It's a real shame too, because when he gets everything clicking in unison, he is legitimately one of the best prospects in the sport. He's at his best when the puck is on his stick and he's feeling determined and confident, maintaining possession in traffic, and making defenders look foolish by throwing them on his back, undressing them, or threading passes right through them. It remains a mystery why he has such a bad habit of taking his foot off the gas and being a passenger instead of a driver. Any coach that can light a consistent fire under him will look like a genius.

4. Jack Rathbone

Rathbone lost a lot of the momentum that he had going for him in 2021-22 and his point totals took a dramatic tumble. Vancouver's early struggles and desperate lineup turnover had ripple effects throughout the organization, and some players never fully regained their balance. The good news is that the Boston native is still wildly talented and should be more than fine in the long run. He is a premier puck-moving blueliner with plus offensive instincts, and that type of player is arguably more valuable in the NHL now than ever before. He manages opposing forechecks with his escapability since he doesn't have enough bulk to help him absorb a lot of hits. Vancouver will need to be careful with Rathbone next season, because he will require waivers to go to the AHL and a lot of teams would jump at the chance to acquire him for free.

5. Aidan McDonough

Convincing McDonough to sign with the team that drafted him instead of going the free agent route after college was a top priority for Vancouver, and they accomplished their mission. Promising him NHL games straightaway was a smart carrot to dangle, and he was rewarded for his loyalty to the team by scoring his first career goal in the show. He is a strong, shoot-first winger who is difficult to box out or tie up when he really wants to get to the net front. Staying with Northeastern for four seasons was a smart decision for the player, because that extra time in the gym allowed him to fill out his frame and improve his conditioning, two necessary gains that he should be easier to maintain moving forward. McDonough might have to start next season in the AHL, but some time down at that level won't stunt his long-term development or progress.

6. Hunter Brzustewicz

Brzustewicz requires many viewings to gain a proper appreciation for. He is far from flashy, but there is real value in his heads-up puck moving ability. Thanks to quick feet, he rarely gets trapped in his own end, making him a breakout machine. He was about as consistent as can be through his first OHL season and his leadership on the backend was one of the main reasons why Kitchener improved so drastically in the second half, enabling them to upset the Windsor Spitfires in round one of the OHL playoffs. His defensive play improved in the second half, too as he learned to use his mobility to put himself in better position to make defensive plays without elite physical tools. Of course, the real concern here is that Brzustewicz tops out as a really good junior defender, without a true role at the NHL level because his game lacks dynamic qualities. However, he’ll return to the OHL this season with an eye on improving his strength and projection, although it may be part of a new OHL organization with Kitchener set to rebuild.

7. Linus Karlsson

Karlsson transitioned quite nicely to North America in his first season, immediately slotting into a top six job in the AHL and eclipsing the 20-goal mark. That was what was expected, as an older prospect who has enjoyed a lot of professional success in Sweden beforehand, but it wasn't a guarantee. He is a Jack-of-all-trades forward who can play different forward positions, do damage as a shooter or a playmaker, handle and protect the puck well, and he doesn't usually sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to cheat for offense. Karlsson has been a go-to guy at times but might be better suited as more of a supporting piece. The Canucks acquired Karlsson from San Jose in exchange for Jonathan Dahlén, and since Dahlén played only one uneventful season with the Sharks before heading back to Europe, it's safe to assume that Vancouver is happy with how that transaction has worked out.

8. Arturs Silovs

Over the past few years, Silovs has played relatively little, even going back before the pandemic, but somehow it appears to have not really hindered his development, which can't be said for a lot of netminders in his age range. He's also one of the few pro-level prospects in the organization who maintained stability amid all the turbulence, and you always want to see unflappable composure in a goaltender. He has done a very good job taking the natural foundation provided by his huge frame and then stacking improvements in all areas on top. It's still not certain whether Silovs has what it takes to become a true NHL starter, but he has played well enough that the Canucks will now commit to try grooming him for that role.

9. Joni Jurmo

Jurmo is often the epitome of firewagon hockey and while it probably drives his coaches crazy, you can't deny that he's entertaining as hell to watch. Every time the big, mobile defenseman winds up behind his own net with the puck there is an exhilarating chance that something dramatic happens, though that could either be a highlight-reel-worthy rush that leads to a goal, or an utterly brutal turnover from close to his own net that leads to an easy goal against. While his macro game is high risk, high reward, his micro game and fine details are mostly riddled with concerns. It's difficult to rely on a blueliner too heavily when their puck management is not trustworthy. Still, Jurmo is worth continually investing development resources into due to the possibility that he can further utilize his fantastic raw tools to increase the good moments while significantly reducing the bad ones.

10. Josh Bloom

Acquired for depth defender Riley Stillman, Bloom has a chance to develop into a nice piece for the Canucks moving forward. He brings such great versatility to his coaches with his well-rounded game. Thanks to his strong skating base and high IQ, his mark is left all over the ice and he can excel in a variety of different roles. He can lead the charge on the counter-attack, playing an aggressive North/South game. He finds soft spots well in coverage that he can exploit as both a shooter and passer. Over his OHL career, Bloom also developed into a tremendous penalty killer, a role that he should be able to continue to fill at the pro level. Is he the most skilled or creative player? No, and that may ultimately cap his upside as a future NHL winger. We feel that Bloom is an underrated prospect who could make an immediate impact in Abbotsford this season as a first-year pro.

11. Elias Pettersson

The second coming of Elias Pettersson in Vancouver, this one is a mobile defender with the potential to develop into a standout in the defensive end. He’ll return to Sweden this year to play with Orebro and look to continue improving his play with the puck.

12. Danila Klimovich

At first glance, Klimovich’s production in the AHL last year was disappointing, but his 17 goals were tied for second on Abbotsford. He can really shoot the puck and he works hard to use his size to his advantage in that home plate area.

13. Jett Woo

After a weak rookie year with Abbotsford, Woo was much better as a sophomore last season. He may never reach the ceiling that was once prognosticated for him, but he can still be a quality NHL defender, likely in a third pairing, PK role because of his physicality and mobility.

14. Arshdeep Bains

The Canucks signed Bains out of Red Deer after he led the WHL in scoring in 2022. He proceeded to have a solid rookie year in the AHL. A well-rounded offensive player, there is a lot of hope that Bains can develop into a solid bottom six option for the Canucks in the future.

15. Akito Hirose

Signed out of Minnesota State late last year, Hirose was a pleasant surprise as he closed out the year with the Canucks. It’s clear that his high-end hockey sense and mobility will give him a chance of being a longtime pro. The primary remaining question is how well can he defend at the pro level?

16. Filip Johansson

A former first round selection of the Minnesota Wild, the Canucks signed the strong skating defender after the Wild elected not to sign him (a rarity). There is some concern that he’ll never defend well enough to be an NHL defender, but more will be known after his upcoming first AHL season.

17. Tristen Nielsen

Playing on an AHL deal with Abbotsford the last two seasons, the Canucks signed Nielsen this offseason after a strong 2022-23 year. He is a competitive, two-way center who brings versatility to a lineup. Like Arshdeep Bains, there is some hope that he can become a quality bottom six player in the future.

18. Kirill Kudryavtsev

There wasn’t a lot of hype attached to Kudryavtsev’s year in the OHL given his late round selection and how poor the Greyhounds were, however he nonetheless took a very nice step forward. He is continuing to refine his approach, improving the picking of spots to activate, while also improving in the defensive end.

19. Cole McWard

Signed out of Ohio State late last year, McWard finished the year with Vancouver and did not look out of place on the blueline. At the very least, he projects as a quality defensive player because of his size and mobility combination. More will be known about his upside this year over a full year of pro.

20. Max Sasson

Signed out of Western Michigan late last year, Sasson is a potential future bottom six center thanks to his strong two-way commitment. The offensive upside may ultimately be limited, but he could develop into a shutdown, PK type.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #23 Vancouver Canucks

Derek Neumeier — Sun, 14 May 2023 14:48:30 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 23rd (28^th last year)

The Jim Benning era as GM came to a close December 2021, and new GM Patrik Allvin has been adding his imprint to the team since then, running last year’s draft and selecting Jonathan Lekkerimaki 15^th overall. It may be early to draw any conclusions as he inherited a complicated cap situation, that remains an issue to be resolved this offseason. Bo Horvat was moved for a 1^st from the Islanders (18^th overall) for 2023, along with prospect Aatu Raty (plus Anthony Beauvillier). He then traded that pick plus a second for Filip Hronek and a fourth from Detroit. Are they sellers or buyers? They have some foundational pieces in Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. The supporting cast is generally in their mid-20’s. Their graduated prospects are solid pieces in Nils Hoglander, Vasily Podkolzin and Quinn Hughes. However, they are forced to clear some cap space this offseason, perhaps surrendering more future pieces to get the relief they need.

They retain their first three picks for 2023,2024, and 2025 with a healthy slate of picks. Having only made the playoffs once in the last eight years, the fan base is growing impatient given the young stars are entering their prime. Rumours attached to Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and even J.T. Miller have been rampant in a dispirited season, in which their coach, Bruce Boudreau, was left twisting in the wind for much of it. They get a fresh start this season, but Allvin has a complicated puzzle to untangle before they begin to make progress.

VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 24: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Jack Rathbone (3) passes the puck during their NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Rogers Arena on October 24, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Lekkerimäki hasn't had the smoothest post-draft season, but he's not the first or the last top prospect to experience that, especially among ones who still have a lot of physical development left to do. At his best he is an electrifying offensive winger, able to skate through or around traffic, control the puck at high speeds, and then beat a goalie with slick hands or a well-placed shot. Where he gets into trouble is due to his strength and resistance, as it isn’t hard right now for pro defenders to pin him to the boards, box him out of the slot, or otherwise neutralize him when they catch him. Conditioning can be a problem too, struggling to keep his engine running all game or through busy schedules. But once the training catches up to the talent, watch out. He is finishing his year on a high note though, with scoring totals that match what he did during the regular season.

2. Aatu Raty

Räty has a reputation for swinging wildly between hot and cold, which dates all the way back to his time in Finland's highest junior league and has now followed him all the way to British Columbia. It's a real shame too, because when he gets everything clicking in unison, he is legitimately one of the best prospects in the sport. He's at his best when the puck is on his stick and he's feeling determined and confident, maintaining possession in traffic and making defenders look foolish by throwing them on his back, undressing them or threading passes right through them. It remains a large mystery why he has such a bad habit of taking his foot off the gas and deciding that he's content being a passenger instead of a driver. Any coach that can light a consistent fire under him will look like a genius.

3. Jack Rathbone

Rathbone lost a lot of the momentum that he had going for him last season, and his point totals took a dramatic tumble. Vancouver's early struggles and desperate lineup turnover had ripple effects throughout the organization, and some players never fully regained their balance. The good news is that the Boston native is still wildly talented and should be more than fine in the long run. He is a premier puck-moving blueliner with plus offensive instincts, and that type of player is arguably more valuable in the NHL now than ever before. He manages opposing forechecks with escapability since he doesn't have enough bulk to help him absorb a lot of hits. Vancouver will need to be careful with Rathbone next season, because he will require waivers to go to the AHL and a lot of teams would jump at the chance to acquire him for free.

4. Aidan McDonough

Convincing McDonough to sign with the team that drafted him instead of going the free agent route after college was a top priority for Vancouver, and they accomplished their mission. Promising him NHL games straightaway was a smart carrot to dangle, and he was rewarded for his loyalty to the team by scoring his first career goal in the show. He is a strong, shoot-first winger who is difficult to box out or tie up when he really wants to get to the net front. Staying with Northeastern for four seasons was a smart decision, because that extra time in the gym allowed him to fill out his frame and improve his conditioning, two necessary gains that he will now have an easier time maintaining moving forward. McDonough might have to start next season in the AHL, but some time down at that level won't stunt his progress.

5. Linus Karlsson

Karlsson transitioned quite nicely to North America in his first season, immediately slotting into a top six job and eclipsing the 20-goal mark. That was what was expected, since he's an older prospect and enjoyed a lot of success professionally in Sweden beforehand, but it wasn't a guarantee. He is a Jack-of-all-trades forward who can play different forward positions, do damage as a shooter or a playmaker, handles and protects the puck well, and doesn't usually sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to cheat for his offense. He has been a go-to guy at times but might be better suited in general as more of a supporting piece The Canucks acquired Karlsson from San Jose in exchange for Jonathan Dahlén, and since Dahlén played one uneventful season with the Sharks before heading to Europe it's safe to assume that Vancouver is happy with how that transaction is currently looking.

6. Arturs Silovs

Over the past few years Silovs has played a relatively sparse number of games for a goalie, even going back before the pandemic hit, but somehow it appears to have not really hindered his development, which can't be said for a lot of netminders in his age group. He's also one of the few pro-level prospects in the organization who maintained stability amid all the turbulence, and you always want to see unflappable composure in a goaltender. He has done a very good job taking the natural foundation provided by his huge frame and then stacking improvements in all areas on top. It's still not quite certain whether Silovs has what it takes to become a true NHL starter in the future, but he has played well enough that the Canucks will now commit to try grooming him for that role.

7. Joni Jurmo

Jurmo is often the epitome of firewagon hockey, and while it probably drives his coaches crazy at times you can't deny that it's entertaining as hell to watch. Every time the big, mobile defenseman winds up behind his own net with the puck there is an exhilarating chance that something dramatic happens, though that could either be a year-end highlight-reel-worthy rush that leads to a goal, or an utterly brutal turnover barely past his own net that leads to an easy goal against. And while his macro game is high risk, high reward, his micro game and fine details are mostly riddled with concerns. It's difficult to rely on a blueliner too heavily when their puck management is not trustworthy. Still, Jurmo is worth continually investing development resources into due to the possibility that he can further utilize his fantastic raw tools to increase the good moments while significantly reducing the bad ones.

8. Danila Klimovich

Klimovich has taken a genuine step forward this season compared to last season, though the question still persists about whether spending the last of his teenage years in the AHL was the right decision for his long-term development. With his combination of size, athleticism, puck skill and long skating strides he has so much growth potential, but the less a young guy plays, the harder it is to master those tools. After his breakout performance for Belarus at the 2021 IIHF U18s it wouldn't have been surprising to see him once again dominate against his age group, this time in the QMJHL, as Rouyn-Noranda held his North American rights. Luckily for him, Vancouver's shallow prospect depth puts him in a favourable position to play a prominent role and log a lot of ice time for the Canucks in the foreseeable future. However, will the finished product be as good as it could have been?

9. Elias Pettersson

No, that's not a typo: there is another Elias Pettersson in the Canucks organization. This one is nowhere near the same caliber of player as the older, 100-point-scoring forward, but don't assume that Vancouver drafted him for some kind of novel reason: the young blueline is a top-notch prospect, and that selection is already looking like one of the smartest mid-round picks from the 2022 draft. He scored at a point-per-game pace in Sweden's top under-20 league this season, but his ability to defend is his real bread and butter, and that's how he carved out a role on his SHL club that carried over into the playoffs. With a good blend of size, skating, puck control, smarts and grit, Pettersson is ideally equipped to eventually become a bottom four NHL defenseman and might even reach a top pairing with the right partner to work with.

10. Jett Woo

The hype that once followed Woo has disappeared, and it's never coming back. The big question now, however, is whether he will ever actually make the cut as an NHLer in any capacity. There are things to like about his game, such as his heavy shot from the point and his propensity to throw thunderous hits. The problem is that he just doesn't leave enough of a positive impact on a regular basis. He goes through long stretches where he is unnoticeable, but then pops into focus for an unwanted reason. Even though there aren't really any red flags to worry about he desperately needs to find another element in his game that he can really hang his hat on, whether that's puck transportation, playmaking, off-puck defending or something else. If Woo isn't careful his shot at making the NHL could dry up sooner than he might think.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:51:37 +0000

211021 Djurgårdens Jonathan Lekkerimäki under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Djurgården och Oskarshamn den 21 oktober 2021 i Stockholm.
Foto: Andreas L Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 106 / AE0062

1 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki RW

Lekkerimaki was recently selected with the 15^th pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022 NHL draft. He is the first of three Djurgårdens teammates who played together in the J20 this year to be selected in the first round, alongside Noah Ostlund (16^th) and Liam Ohgren (19^th). Lekkerimaki’s best offensive trait is his shot. He is able to set it up with slick hands allowing him to get into shooting position. When he shoots, he has a deceiving release, which helps to fool goalies. He has a habit of firing shots near the lower half of goaltenders, either five-hole or low blocker side. On top of his goal scoring ability, Lekkerimaki has immensely improved his playmaking ability, in part due to his sly hands. This past season he split time between J20 and the SHL. In the former level, he scored 20 goals and 35 points in 26 games, enough to impress Djurgårdens to give him 26 games in the SHL, in which he contributed nine points in a larger role than most draft eligible get in the top Swedish men’s league. Lekkerimaki really shined in this past April’s U18 tournament, where he led Sweden to gold and finished the tournament with a competition-leading 10 assists and 15 points in six games. With that performance, he was named to the U18 all-star team. Lekkerimaki looks to play the entirety of next season in the Allsvenskan with Djurgårdens and to continue to carve out a top-six role. - ZS

2 - Jack Rathbone D

The former Harvard standout is well positioned to take on a permanent role with the Vancouver Canucks this season. Among defenders who played 35 games or more in the AHL last season, Rathbone was one of two (along with Jordan Gross) to average over a point per game. Simply put, he was dominant at the AHL level with Abbotsford. In his short stints at the NHL level so far, things have been a little different. He has struggled in the defensive end, and he has looked tentative with the puck; that definitely wasn’t the case in the AHL. You can likely just chalk that up to nerves and a lack of confidence because Rathbone has the skill set to be a top four NHL defender. He skates well. He is electric when leading the attack out of the defensive zone with his ability to control the puck at full speed. He shows great offensive instincts inside the opposing blueline and is aggressive in looking to pinch down low to earn scoring chances. His mobility also helps him to defend well in transition. His zone coverage needs to improve, and he needs to get stronger on attackers down low, but if he is creating offense the way that he is capable of, these types of things can be overlooked (especially if he continues to work on them). Right now, the Canucks are heading into training camp with a hole in their top four, a hole many people are expecting Rathbone to fill. If he finally gains the confidence, he could be a sneaky Calder candidate. - BO

3 - Dmitri Zlodeyev C

It is extremely easy to root for Zlodeyev, as while he isn’t that naturally gifted in terms of size or athleticism – both particularly important in playing his natural position up the middle - he has the smarts to process the game in the right way. Last season was pretty tough for him, as he was first stuck playing junior hockey in the MHL and then he was traded to the Spartak organization, which was more willing to provide him the right development opportunities. Zlodeyev didn’t disappoint his new bosses, as he played well at all the levels for them, even if his stats didn’t always reflect that assessment, and he was ultimately rewarded with a two-year contract extension. As he is highly unlikely to be NHL ready in that timespan, the new contract should not be seen to alter his likelihood of coming to North America, and the fact that his Russian team was open to releasing him to join Vancoiver’s prospect camp is another good sign in that regard. There are good reasons to be excited about Zlodeyev’s near-term future, considering his great KHL preseason and the availability of KHL opportunities with his new team. On the other hand, he displays late-blooming qualities suggesting that the best is yet to come. Stay tuned. - VF

4 - Aidan McDonough LW

Aidan McDonogh was a seventh-round pick at the 2019 draft, coming off of a productive goal-scoring season in the USHL. McDonough had gone undrafted the year prior, having played at the high school level, but the Canucks evidently saw enough from him in the USHL to deem him worth a seventh-round investment as a wait-and-see prospect who would likely spend significant time at the college level. At Northeastern, McDonough has made the Canucks’ investment look shrewd. McDonough was one of the best pure goal scorers in the NCAA last season, potting 25 goals in 38 games. He has scored double-digit goals in each college season he’s played. McDonough has a filled-out six-foot-two frame and is quicker and better on his feet than one might expect from a seventh-rounder with his size/weight profile. That doesn’t mean McDonough is particularly fast, of course, it simply means he’s shown himself to be more capable of keeping up with an up-tempo offensive pace at the college level than might have been expected of him. McDonough’s shot is his best tool, but his goal-scoring is a bit too one-dimensional. He doesn’t attack the dirty areas of the ice like other goal scorers and doesn’t deviate from reliance on his shooting talent enough for me to have confidence that he’ll find other ways to contribute when he’s having an unlucky stretch with a low shooting percentage. His shot and overall level of skill offensively gives him a chance to be something more, but whether or not he has real NHL upside will depend on if his goal-scoring can translate from the NCAA to the pro level. - EH

5 - Jett Woo D

Woo’s transition to the pro level has been quite interesting thus far. For one, the offensive prowess that he showed in the WHL has not translated at all, with Woo showing himself to be more of a potential shutdown type at the pro level. For two, Woo’s second season in the AHL saw him playing on the wing to close out the year, with the coaching staff unimpressed with his development as a defender. Obviously, his future is still on the blueline, but it is also obvious that he will need to improve in his upcoming third pro season if he wants to remain in Vancouver’s long-term plans. Even if the offensive game only improves moderately, Woo still has the capability of being a defensive specialist at the NHL level. His mobility is excellent. He hits like the truck. He has a good stick in the defensive zone. However, if his confidence with the puck does not improve, his ceiling is likely limited to being more of a depth type who can play the PK and pair with an offensive type on the third pairing. In the final year of his ELC, Woo will be looking to earn another contract with improved play this coming season. - BO

6 - Michael DiPietro

Has there been a prospect whose development has been more mishandled than DiPietro’s thus far? A once promising goaltending prospect out of the OHL, his career has been sidetracked by mismanagement. First the Canucks embarrassed him in an emergency callup, allowing him to be shelled because they did not have the necessary organizational depth to cover for injuries. Then, in his second pro season, they opted to keep him on the taxi squad all year rather than allow him to play games in the AHL. Last year, he looked lost at times, with his confidence clearly broken. As such, his agency had asked for a trade out of Vancouver, but a partner has not yet been found. DiPietro still has NHL potential. He is extremely athletic. He never quits on a play and his maturity off the ice and his practice habits were lauded by those in the know in the OHL. There was always going to be a learning curve for him. He is not a huge goaltender, and his scrambling tendencies were going to have to be replaced by a more technically advanced approach. He showed great potential in his pro season, but then it all went downhill. So what’s next for Dipietro? His relationship with the Canucks’ organization appears fractured and it would be shocking if he were still part of the team next year. Wherever he goes next, there is a strong chance that he turns things around and re-establishes himself as a quality netminding prospect. - BO

7 - Arturs Silovs G

The 6’4”, 203-pound Silovs is coming off his first complete season of professional play in North America, consisting of 10 AHL appearances and another 10 in the ECHL. He also split the goaltending duties for Latvia at the men’s World Championship in Finland where he put up an outstanding 1.22 GAA and .952 save percentage. His play for the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL – an assignment that was all about getting playing time – was promising with a solid 2.37 GAA and .920 save percentage. Those numbers were not duplicated with AHL Abbotsford, where he allowed 3.10 goals against per game while footing a sub-.900 save percentage. After Spencer Martin and Michael DiPietro assumed most of the AHL duties last season, Silovs will now have to duke things out with DiPietro and incoming veteran Collin Delia, should he not be loaned out to another club. Drafted as a player with 20 games of pro play in Latvia already under his belt, Silovs then split duties for the OHL Barrie Colts in his DY+1, before seeing very little play in the 20-21 season, meaning he's had some catching up to do. A tall goaltender with generally strong post-to-post movement, the hope is that he will take additional steps next season, ideally legitimizing his prospect status as a future NHL option. Alas, the competition within the organization is heavy and Silovs simply needs to see more action to earn continued reps. – CL

8 - Linus Karlsson C

Karlsson was selected in the third round, 87^th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL draft. His best attribute is his shooting ability. He is often able to find the holes in the offensive end and set himself up for a scoring chance. When he receives the puck, he utilizes a quick release to beat goaltenders. On top of his offensive game, Karlsson also plays a strong two-way game. He has consistently been solid in the faceoff circle and is willing to be the first forward back on every shift. Something he should look to improve is the quickness in his skating stride. Adding some more strength to his frame could improve his first step, giving him an extra boost of speed. Since he was drafted by the Canucks, he has spent majority of his time in Sweden’s second league, the Allsvenskan. His game was truly elevated during the 2020-21 season, when he produced 51 points in 52 Allsvenskan games. That year he also helped his team qualify for the SHL, finishing second on his team in points in the qualification tournament with 15 in 11 games. He carried that success into the SHL this year where he scored 26 goals and 46 points in 52 games. This production led to the Canucks signing him to an entry level contract. This upcoming season, Karlsson is expected to play for AHL Abbotsford. The hope is that he can transition smoothly to North American ice and contribute for the Canucks as soon as next season. - ZS

9 - Danila Klimovich RW

Klimovich was selected in the 2^nd round of the 2021 draft after he opened eyes at that year’s U18 Worlds with six goals in five games for his native Belarus. His 6’2”, 200-pound build was already mature and several of his goals were downright Ovechkin-esque in nature. He immediately moved to North America last season, a big jump in quality of competition to the AHL from the Belorussian league. His season with Abbotsford was statistically underwhelming, but was nonetheless quite impressive for an teenager. Physically and athletically, he did not look out of place in the AHL by season’s end. Making use of considerable lower body strength, Klimovich skates with bent knees and rather straight upper body posture. He has become adept at the forecheck and will bust his behind to get back to his own end. The speed of the AHL game has forced him to make quicker decisions with and without the puck, but his hard, accurate shot still gets released quickly and from as many angles as possible. His wrist shot, his snapshot, and his slapshot – including the one-timer – are all NHL-level and will be his calling card as a pro. Klimovich loves to shoot and although he has some moves and is willing to pass, especially in transition, his propensity for shooting is what will be his calling card as a pro. - CL

10 - Will Lockwood RW

The 64^th overall selection in the 2016 draft by the Vancouver Canucks, Lockwood has had a long journey from there to his NHL debut. He was originally drafted after showing his two-way, tenacious game playing for the USNTDP. While his offensive skill wasn’t necessarily shining, his combination of speed, grit, and ability to play a 200-foot game made him a valuable asset that the Canucks were happy to add. After his selection, Lockwood elected to take the NCAA route, committing to play for Michigan. In his first season with the Wolverines, he showed intriguing offensive skill, netting 20 points in 30 games. Through the rest of his four years at Michigan he continued to play at just under a point per game pace. Lockwood was named captain as a senior in 2019-20. After completing his time at Michigan, he signed an entry level contract with the Canucks, and has spent the majority of the past two seasons playing in the AHL, producing 36 points in 70 games. During that time, he also made his NHL debut, appearing in 2 games during 2020-21 season and an additional 13 games last season, however he is yet to record his first NHL point. With his two-way ability, Lockwood projects to be valuable depth forward for the Canucks and an option for their NHL team if needed. - ZS

11 - Arshdeep Bains

The WHL’s leading scorer from last season inked an entry level contract with the Canucks and will begin his pro journey this year. Bains is skilled and smart, but is he a strong enough skater?

12 - Filip Johansson

A former first rounder of the Minnesota Wild, they opted to let Johansson walk to get a second-round compensatory pick in 2022. The Canucks signed the mobile puck moving defender and will loan him back to Frolunda for the year.

13 - Lucas Forsell

A speedy playmaking winger, Forsell had a strong finish to last season in the SHL. Now he will try to play a larger role with Farjestad this season and become a more consistent point producer.

14 - Connor Lockhart

A recent trade to the Peterborough Petes (OHL) should do well for Lockhart’s development. Lockhart is both a strong skater and scorer, but the rest of his game is a work in progress. He will need a big year to be signed.

15 - Daimon Gardner

A McKeen’s hockey favourite heading into the 2022 draft, offers an intriguing package of size and skill from the center position. He is a long-term project. Gardner will play in the BCHL with Chilliwack this season before attending Clarkson (NCAA).

16 - Elias Pettersson

Yes, it is hilarious that the Canucks selected Pettersson in 2022, given that they already have one (terrific) Elias Pettersson. However, this Elias is a potential two-way blueliner because of his strong mobility and assertiveness.

17 - Jacob Truscott

Truscott has been good, but not great through his two seasons at Michigan. He has a well-rounded skill set but may lack a true standout quality that makes him an NHL defender.

18 - Jonathan Myrenberg

A right shot defender with good size and intriguing athleticism, Myrenberg will try to be a full-time pro defender this year in Sweden, switching to Mora in the Allsvenskan (second tier).

19 - Joni Jurmo

The big and mobile defender is coming off his best season yet in Finland as a full time Liiga player. The former third round pick is still a project whose long-term upside remains a bit of a mystery.

20 - Jackson Dorrington

One of the most physically imposing defenders available in 2022, Dorrington will head to Northeastern this year where he should be able to solidify a full-time lineup spot as a freshman.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: VANCOUVER CANUCKS- RANK: #27 – TIER V

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:14:09 +0000

Vancouver Canucks

#27 Vancouver - Too many low upside picks limit the overall upside of the Vancouver system.

PLANO, TX USA - APRIL 27: Belarus's Danila Klimovich #20 controls the puck against Switzerland's Lilian Garessus #22 in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Children’s Health StarCenter on April 27, 2021 in Plano, TX USA. (Photo by Ryan McCullough/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Vasili Podkolzin

Podkolzin had a rather uneven season last year, as he was not able to fully convince his KHL coaches that he could be a key player for the team and therefore was given a rather limited role and opportunity. He was a true leader and captain of the U20 Team Russia at the World Juniors though; however, it would be fair to say that his offensive production underwhelmed in the same way that it did in the KHL. In general, the season showed that he is still undergoing some "growing pains" and has some deficits in his attacking game, making people question his overall upside as a skill-based player.

Next season will be an interesting one for him as he begins his journey in North America with the Canucks, after signing his ELC. With some unanswered questions about his potential, he will look to earn the trust of the coaches in training camp to earn a roster spot with the Canucks to further his development at the NHL level. However, he may have to start in the AHL. Given his high energy level and strong two-way abilities, Podkolzin should have little difficulty transitioning. However, just how much he produces offensively remains to be seen. At this point, Podkolzin is beginning to look more like a high end third line center than a top six forward, but this year will tell us more. - VF

Jack Rathbone

A scouting find for the Canucks, Rathbone was a pre-school wunderkind who actually stayed at school for an extra year after being drafted, before finally moving on to Harvard. While Ivy League schools usually keep their players on campus for at least three, if not four years before they turn pro, Rathbone left after only two seasons, partially because the school wouldn’t be playing hockey this year anyway, in light of the pandemic, and partially because he had little left to learn by playing against collegians. He was very good as a freshman, but as a sophomore, Rathbone was a First-Team All-Star among his conference peers, finishing the season with over one point per game as a defender.

His rookie pro season was a little up-and-down, but the downs only meant that he spent the first chunk of the abbreviated campaign on Vancouver’s taxi squad, not seeing game action until he was sent down to the AHL in late February. He was immediately too good for the AHL and by May, he was in the NHL. Rahtbone’s speed and dynamic puck game are reminiscent of another young Vancouver defender, Quinn Hughes, although it is hard to assume that kind of upside for anyone. The additions of Ekman-Larsson, Schenn, and Poolman will have eased the pressure on Rathbone to make the NHL roster right away, but he just might get there anyway. - RW

Michael DiPietro

It was a very weird year for DiPietro’s development in 2020/21. He spent the majority of the year on Vancouver’s taxi squad, rather than getting in games with Utica to aid in his development. This brought forward a lot of criticism towards Vancouver’s development model. The reality is that the pandemic situation (coupled with the US/Canada border issue) forced the Canucks’ hand as they needed a third goalie up with them and could not risk the quarantine policy in place given possible emergency situations. What effect playing four games in his second year as a pro has on his development remains to be seen.

When he did play with Utica towards the end of the year, DiPietro performed well. His performance even earned him a spot on Team Canada at the World Championships, where he was the third goalie. Always lauded for his athleticism and professionalism, DiPietro has the work ethic and the talent to be an NHL netminder and is one of the top goalie prospects on the planet for a reason. With the Canucks’ AHL team moving North to Abbotsford this season, he will get in another full year as a starter at that level and will be ready to contribute in the NHL should Demko or Halak get injured. - BO

Jett Woo

It was a year of transition for Woo, who embarked on his pro career with a shortened season for the AHL’s Utica Comets, posting five points in 28 games. It was a solid start for the young blueliner, who brought his physical brand of hockey to the pro level and finally began to see some secondary powerplay duties towards the end of the season.

A throwback style defenseman, Woo is known most for his aggressive, physical style that gets in the face of opponents. He is an excellent skater who can move the puck effectively and likes to jump into the rush. He has good instincts offensively but needs to continue to improve positioning without the puck and gain a better understanding of when to go for the big hit. In junior, he was able to recover from these situations due to his great mobility, but the pro level doesn’t afford those mistakes to the same degree. Additionally, his shot is accurate but lacks velocity from the point. Woo projects to be a solid #4-5 at the NHL level if he can continue to develop his game in the next couple of seasons. A full AHL campaign awaits. - AS

Olli Juolevi

It is hard to believe that Juolevi still has prospect eligibility as it feels like the 23-year-old former fifth overall selection has been around forever already. However, injuries have really derailed his development. Last year, Juolevi did spend the whole year with the Canucks, but was in and out of the lineup (as a scratch). In 23 games, he played relatively sparingly as part of Vancouver’s third pairing.

A competent two-way defender, the key for Juolevi is finding that niche at the NHL level. He skates well. He shows promise as a puck mover. He can be an effective player in the defensive end with his four-way mobility and transitional strengths. However, his decision making needs to tighten up and he needs to increase his physical intensity level. A long shot to be the kind of impact player normally expected of fifth overall selections, Juolevi still has a chance to develop into a serviceable #4-5 defender for Vancouver. However, he needs to stay healthy, and he needs to re-discover his confidence as a puck mover. There is an opportunity for him to grab an everyday lineup spot this season, but without significant progression, he runs the risk of being passed by others like Jack Rathbone and Jett Woo soon. - BO

Danila Klimovich

After tearing up the Belarussian junior league last season, Klimovich went to the World U18 Championships and put himself firmly on the draft radar, with six goals in five games. An offensive machine, both his shot and puck skills stand out as high-end. While the rest of his game is raw and in need of development, his strengths are strong enough to work with him to get his weaknesses mitigated enough to play. That is why the Canucks made him an early second round pick in 2021.

Like many players with his obvious offensive tools, Klimovich’s play off the puck needs some work. He will work hard in his own zone, but he is too often in the wrong spot to be really effective. He is very much a shoot-first forward, so his decision making with the puck is also at times lacking. Playing with a more uniformly higher quality of teammate and against a more uniformly higher quality of opponent will be necessary for him to begin to eliminate those bad habits. Despite the flaws in his game, Klimovich’s upside is rare, with easy top six potential. Vancouver will need to be patient, but the payoff is possibly immense. He was drafted in the CHL Import Draft last year by Rouyn-Noranda, but the pandemic prevented most imports from coming over for the 2020-21 season. Playing in the Q is an option this year, but he does look to be playing in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jonah Gadjovich

The Vancouver Canucks have to be really happy with the way Gadjovich has steadily improved in each of his first three pro seasons in the organization. His goals per game mark have steadily risen each season (0.09, to 0.34, to 0.79). The big power forward finally looks like he is ready for an NHL role this upcoming season, where he will compete for a bottom six role in training camp.

The key to Gadjovich’s improvement on the ice has been directly tied to his ability to become quicker. A big power forward, Gadjovich has always found his way to the net and brought a physical element, however with improvements to his explosiveness and agility, he has become a consistent scoring threat. Armed with an extremely heavy shot and great scoring instincts, the next test will come at the NHL level. Can Gadjovich keep up? Just how much has his skating improved? Vancouver will have a tough choice to make, as Gadjovich is out of options and will need to be rostered in order to avoid waivers. The hope is that he can play a consistent fourth line role this upcoming season and then slowly become more involved offensively as he gains confidence. His high-end upside is that of a middle six scoring winger and powerplay threat. - BO

Will Lockwood

With the possible exception of his junior year in Ann Arbor, Lockwood has always shown himself to be an energy winger with just enough skill to allow teams to hope for more than bottom line production at his best. The junior year was an exception (maybe), as it was the only season since his U16 days in which he even approached point-per-game production. Lockwood’s senior season with Michigan saw his numbers regress back to his normal range (23 points in 33 games) and his rookie professional season last year was even lower, although the smaller sample size may have prevented him from showing adjustments, and in fairness, he did end the year on a three-game point streak.

At the end of the day, though, Vancouver will not be looking to Lockwood for more than moderate, supporting offense. They would be happy for him to be effective as a disruptor and agitator on a bottom six line, possibly supporting the penalty kill while he’s at it. He is a solid skater, plays a ‘hit first, ask questions later’ style game, and has just enough skill with the puck that the opposition can’t take him for granted. Given the Canucks’ lack of forward depth, he will likely have a chance to open the season in the NHL, but his general lack of professional experience indicates that more AHL time would be ideal. - RW

Jacob Truscott

Going from a depth role with a strong USNTDP to a depth role in a ridiculous Michigan program, Truscott has seen his chances to show what he can do limited of late. Our belief in him stems from the variety of things he showed as capable during his pre-draft year, indicative of a player with a broad skill set, if not the deepest skill set, and the creativity and quickness of thought to always be capable of surprising.

Watching him in his bottom pairing job last year, we saw a defender who was playing somewhat tentatively, overly carefully, trying to earn the trust of his coaching staff, and by extension, a greater role in the following seasons. He avoided overt displays of rugged physicality, seemingly to avoid spending time in the penalty box. To his credit, Truscott held his own in his own end, earning some regular penalty killing duties in the process, and hopefully setting the stage for an expanded role there next year. And every now and then, if you watched closely, he demonstrated that his offensive tools could work at this new level. Continued progress would mean the removal of his shackles – whether they were put on himself or placed upon him by the coaching staff – and working to expand his comfort zone. We will know more about his ultimate projection once we see him play more comfortably in college. - RW

Carson Focht

Carson Focht seemingly plateaued over his WHL career. He never reached a point per game pace even in his last season. However, Focht is a hard nose player that brings a bit of grit and sandpaper to your line up. He seems destined for a bottom-line role where he can be an effective agitator and good sized player who can lean on opponents and patrol the center of the ice. He is a pretty sound player in his own end and plays a simple and effective game. His speed is fine, and he is willing to throw his body around, especially on the forecheck. His hands are average, but he doesn’t flash high end skill when he has the puck on his stick.

Certainly, his effort and attention to details away from the puck give him a shot at carving out a bottom six role. His production in his first AHL season while not spectacular was enough to show he can translate his game to a bottom six pro style role. He will return to the AHL this year, now with the newly minted Abbotsford Canucks and will look to improve his offensive production, while also becoming an elite level shutdown forward. - VG

Karel Plasek

Drafted in 2019, the Canucks are still looking for Plasek to find greater consistency in his game. He has all the tools to become a solid middle six winger, but his performance in the Czech men’s leagues has been underwhelming thus far. He will finally make the trek to North America to play in the AHL next season and Canucks’ fans are incredibly interested to see how he performs.

Joni Jurmo

A third-round selection in 2020, Jurmo combines size and mobility on the back end and was drafted because of his projectable skill set. Most certainly a project, Jurmo will look to play full time at the Liiga level this coming season, joining the Jukurit organization.

Dmitri Zlodeyev

Injuries were a bit of a problem for the competitive two-way center this past season, but he still managed to win an MHL Championship with MHK Dynamo Moskva. Next season, the Canucks will be looking for Zlodeyev to finally get some experience at the KHL level, in addition to making the Russian World Junior’s roster.

Aidan McDonough

The first two seasons at Northeastern have gone swimmingly for McDonough as he has become a go-to offensive weapon for the program. A big winger with a goal scorer’s touch, McDonough is deadly in tight. As he returns to college for his junior season, the Canucks will be looking for him to take that next step and become one of the better offensive players in the Hockey East.

Arvid Costmar

A strong two-way forward, Costmar has performed exceptionally well at the J20 level in Sweden since being drafted. However, his offensive production at the SHL level has been underwhelming. Costmar will attempt to breakthrough this season with Linkoping and take that next step to prove to Vancouver management that he is deserving of an NHL ELC.

2021 NHL DRAFT: PACIFIC DIVISION REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 20:13:36 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Pacific Division

Mason McTavish. Photo Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Anaheim Ducks

1 (3) Mason McTavish, C, EHC Olten (SL)/ Peterborough (OHL)

2 (34) Olen Zellweger, D, Everett (WHL)

3 (66) Sasha Pastujov, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

3 (76) Tyson Hinds, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)

4 (98) Josh Lopina, C, UMass (NCAA/Hockey East)

5 (130) Sean Tschiegerl, LW, Calgary (WHL)

5 (148) Gage Alexander, G, Winnipeg (WHL)

6 (162) Kyle Kukkonen, C, Maple Grove HS (USHS-MN)

Going into Day One of the draft, it was widely considered that Buffalo would select Owen Power first overall. If not a lock, it was over 90% certain. With the second pick, it was again generally assumed that Seattle would tab Power’s Michigan teammate Matthew Beniers, as their first ever draft pick. Less certain that Power at #1, but still in the 75-80% range. So, we presumed, like many, that the mystery of the draft would really begin to unravel with Anaheim at third overall. The smart money was on a forward, but which one? There were a few that were reasonable candidates for the pick, including William Eklund, Dylan Guenther, Mason McTavish, and even the third Michigan draft eligible, Kent Johnson. I picked McTavish in my mock drafts, but I was never more than 50% sure that was the pick. Maybe even 40%. I ended up correct in that assumption, and now Anaheim has a high-end finisher for the future to go along with the two future faces of the franchise in the playmaker (Zegras) and the puck rusher (Drysdale). The Ducks won’t re-emerge from the wilderness with that one pick, but the core of a future powerhouse is being built.

Anaheim’s eight picks this year skewed towards the offensive, with five forwards, complemented by two blueliners and a goalie. The forwards all have strong histories of offensive production, with a clear lean towards goal scoring over play creation. To be honest, even the two defenders they selected each have promising offensive track records on their respective resumes. The other interesting trend spotted was their reliance on North American talent, with all either being raised on this side of the planet. Sure, McTavish spent time this year in Switzerland, what with the OHL not happening – he was even born in Switzerland, when his father was playing there – but his game was formed and developed in Canada. Also interesting, on a more personal level, for the first time in a while, the Ducks did not draft a player with ties to the Chicago Steel.

First pick – Mason McTavish, C, EHC Olten (SL)/Peterborough Petes (OHL), 3^rd overall

A high-profile prospect from early youth, McTavish wowed OHL watchers as a rookie in 2019-20, scoring 29 goals in 57 games before the pandemic brought an early end to the season. After waiting for a stretch last year in the hopes that the OHL would be able to start, he finally gave up on that dream and returned to Switzerland, the land of his birth, to play with fellow OHL prospect Brennan Othmann at second division Olten. McTavish showed zero difficulties lighting it up overseas as well, scoring nine goals in 13 games. His season proceeded to the WU18s, where he captained Canada to a Gold, and led with his production as much as his example, with 11 points in seven games. Not the fastest, he nonetheless gets going quickly and his hands contain magic. A full season back in the OHL should be enough to ready him for the NHL. He has first line upside and high top six probability. “Zegras to McTavish for the goal” will be heard regularly over the next few years in Orange County.

Best value pick(s) –Sean Tschigerl, LW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL), 130^th overall

I considered third rounder Pastujov, another pure goal scorer here, but his lack of foot speed helped him fall to where Anaheim picked him. Tschigerl, on the other hand, had less reason to still be on the board in the fifth round. Once the fourth overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, he struggled as a WHL rookie, but came on in the short season last year, with a goal-heavy point-per-game performance for the Hitmen. Although prone to a few too many mental mistakes, his physical tools all show middle six promise, and his general intensity will help him find a role as a bottom six contributor if he falls short of his ceiling. He is one of the higher probability picks you are bound to find in the fifth round.

Worst value pick – Tyson Hinds, D, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), 76^th overall

Hinds is certainly an intriguing prospect, with great size, albeit in need of muscular development. He has a big point shot and can be tough to play against in his own zone, given his strength, reach, and intensity, but there are enough questions about his mobility, puck managements, and decisions making, that the risk attached to his profile would dissuade me from picking earlier than the fifth round. If the Hinds and Tschigerl picks were reversed, we would have seen more logic. As is, Anaheim gets both, so all is good.

Matthew Coronato. Photo by Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

Calgary Flames

1 (13) Matthew Coronato, LW, Chicago (USHL)

2 (45) William Stromgren, LW, MODO Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)

3 (77) Cole Huckins, C, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

3 (89) Cameron Whynot, D, Halifax (QMJHL)

5 (161) Cole Jordan, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

6 (168) Jack Beck, LW/RW, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (173) Lucas Ciona, LW, Seattle (WHL)

7 (205) Arseni Sergeyev, G, Shreveport (NAHL)

For the third year in a row, the Flames used their first-round pick on a scoring forward, with Harvard-bound Matthew Coronato following the footsteps of CHL’ers Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary. It some ways, for the floundering club, it is a mildly implicit suggestion that they recognize that the run with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan at the top of the lineup will soon be coming to an end – that is if they don’t simply trade one in the run up to the 2021-22 season. Obviously, the NHL is not like the NFL or NBA where drafted players step right into the lineup and assume the roles they were selected for. Zary could plausibly play in the NHL next year, having spent some time in the AHL last year while the WHL plotted its return to the ice. Pelletier has completed his junior hockey eligibility, and will play professionally, although he never has before, and seems likely to at least spend some time on the farm before being considered for the NHL. Finally, 2021 first rounder Coronato will be heading from the USHL to Harvard, where I would expect him to spend three years, as very few go to Harvard for shorter stints. So, the turnover in Calgary promises to be gradual.

As for the rest of the Flames’ 2021 draft class, it was very North American-centric, with only second-rounders William Stromgren having spent the entirety of his development in Europe. Like Anaheim above, Calgary’s picks also leaned towards the offensive, with five forwards, and then adding in two defenders and finishing things off with a netminder. Each CHL league was represented, as were the top two development tracks in the US. Height may not have been a factor, but five of the seven skaters selected were 6-1” or taller, and one of the shorter ones, Coronato is pretty well-built and stocky for his 5-10” height.

First round pick – Matthew Coronato, LW, Chicago Steel (USHL), 13^th overall

As mentioned above, the pick of Coronato will require some time before Calgary sees the fruits of his development, as not only is he college-bound, but he is headed for premier Ivy League school Harvard. The most skillful offensive weapon in the USHL last year, where he led the league in goals on his way to being named the league’s forward of the year. He can beat you with his wheels, featuring both speed and impressive agility, his whippy and powerful shot, or his playmaking ability. The main area of development he needs to improve before turning pro is in utilizing his linemates more readily in the offensive zone and spending less time trying to win shifts by himself. He has great talent, but without quicker puck touches he will be less successful at the higher levels. He has first line upside.

Best value pick – Arseni Sergeyev, G, Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL), 205^th overall

The NAHL is oft overlooked as a source of talent, except when it comes to goalies. Sergeyev, who backstopped Shreveport to a Robertson Cup title last year, came over from Russia two seasons ago, coming a long way both literally and figuratively. He has ideal size, promising athleticism, and reads the game well. Like Coronato, he will be a long-term project, expected to move to the USHL for one year starting now, and then on to the University of Connecticut, to be bested against the NCAA. His trajectory is exciting, and Calgary was fortunate to grab him with their final selection.

Worst value pick – Cole Huckins, C, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL, 77^th overall

Calgary did well to get value with every pick they made, including this one. We chose Huckins simply because we think he is overvalued due to his size and being a key player on one of the QMJHL’s strongest teams last season. He is hard to play against, but his feet are heavier than I prefer, and we think he profiles as more of a fourth line presence with hopefully just enough skill in his hands to be able to take on a net-front role at his peak. That is absolutely worth a draft pick, but we would have been far more interested in Huckins one or two rounds later.

Xavier Bourgault. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL

Edmonton Oilers

1 (22) Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

3 (90) Luca Munzenberger, D, Kolner Junghaie U20 (DNL U20)

4 (116) Jake Chiasson, RW, Brandon (WHL)

6 (180) Matvei Petrov, LW, MHL Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

6 (186) Shane LaChance, LW, Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC)

7 (212) Max Wanner, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

In the not too distant past, when the Oilers were in the midst of a seemingly endless run of futility, those who didn’t follow the draft closely sometimes publicly wondered how the team could keep losing, even though they had some high-end talents on the roster. This extended to the early days of Connor McDavid’s career, so it wasn’t just people overestimating the likes of Adam Larsson. It took analysts who understood the draft to see that the team repeatedly failed in the most abject ways possible on literally every pick out of the first round. Between 2007 – 2014, the team drafted only eight players who have reached 100 games played in the NHL. With the exception of Erik Gustafsson, who never even signed with Edmonton, much less played for them, none of those eight were impact players. The team was drafting skill in the first, and size and grit in all latter rounds.

Edmonton hasn’t received much out of the first round since 2014 either, but they did sometimes seem to be drafting for skill with later picks, such as the selections in 2020 of Carter Savoie and Tyler Tullio in the fourth and fifth rounds. Unfortunately, their 2021 draft class looks to be typical of their lean years. First rounder Xavier Bourgault looks like areal keeper. Of the other five players they selected, all position players, they are more notable for being large, than having NHL skillsets. The ongoing experience of the Oilers of the last 15+ years has done more to convince me that NHL teams should draft for skill in all rounds than has the continued success of teams that have followed that advice, like Tampa Bay.

First round pick – Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL), 22^nd overall

Not a high-end prospect in his QMJHL draft year, Bourgault has worked hard to raise his game in his time in the QMJHL, where he has emerged as a legit offensive weapon, playing with speed, skill, and just as important, consistency. While Bourgault does not at all resemble Edmonton’s 2020 first rounder, the wrecking ball named Dylan Holloway, he is the type of forward who would benefit from the room created in the offensive zone by the likes of Holloway. His game is well-rounded, and his versatility will help him grab a toe hold on an NHL job sooner than later, while he works his way up to an eventual top six role.

Best value pick – Matvei Petrov, LW, MHL Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL), 180^th overall

If there is any upside past Bourgault in Edmonton’s draft class, it resides in Petrov. The numbers thus far in his career have been only moderate, but there are some markers in his game that suggest better things to come. He skates quite well for his size, has a strong shot with a knack for finishing, and he puts his strength to good use in puck battles. We will need to see how he handles a move up to senior hockey in Russia, but more than any of the other Day Two picks made by Edmonton, Petrov could wind up as more than NHL roster filler.

Worst value pick – Luca Munzenberger, D, Kolner Junghaie U20 (DNL U20), 90^th overall

The top draft prospect out of Germany this year, Munzenberger did not make anyone forget about last year’s trio of Stutzle, Reichel, and Peterka. There are things to like in his profile. He is a big man who skates well and can be physical in his defensive stops. Unfortunately, due to COVID shutdowns in Germany, Munzenberger barely played this year, with his time with Germany’s WJC squad representing just shy of half of all of his annual game action. He looked like a reasonable gamble for the bottom two rounds. The third round was just way too high. Heading to North America to play collegiately for Vermont this year, I will be looking to see him play with greater poise with the puck and looking for competence in his own end.

PLANO, TX USA - APRIL 28: Canada's Brandt Clarke #5 shoots the puck against Latvia in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Children’s Health StarCenter on April 28, 2021 in Plano, TX USA. (Photo by Ryan McCullough/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Los Angeles Kings

1 (8) Brandt Clarke, D, HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)/Barrie (OHL)

2 (42) Francesco Pinelli, C, HDD Jesenice (AlpsHL)/Kitchener (OHL)

2 (59) Samuel Helenius, C, JYP (Liiga)

3 (84) Kirill Kirsanov, D, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

The Kings were not the only team to make four or fewer picks at the draft this year. They were, however, the only team to finish making selections before the draft was halfway through. The traded away a fifth rounder in order to move up in the second. They added an additional second round pick from Carolina in in exchange for picks in the third and fourth rounds. Their sixth rounder was sent to Calgary in order to move up five spots in the third. Their seventh pick was dealt away during the 2020 draft, another cost of moving up back then. The end result is a draft class that makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity. One could argue that they could have kept at least some of those late picks and possibly still drafted the players they targeted when they moved up, but there are no guarantees. The fact is that LA has one of the deepest and richest prospect pipelines in the sport, one we are ranking third overall in this year’s Annual Guidebook (buy it now!) So, adding a few more lottery tickets won’t really move the needle. The four players LA drafted this year all have a good chance to rise above the players already in the system and be impactful when the Kings are ready once again to compete.

First pick – Brandt Clarke, D, HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)/Barrie Colts (OHL), 8^th overall

One of the top tier of defenders available this year, Clarke took his game to Slovakia as the OHL was still unsure of whether it could have a season at all. As it turned out, he made the correct decision. Playing against men in Europe, even though Slovakia is not the top level of competition on the continent, proved that he could succeed against men, even if his skating is not exactly a strength. Clarke plays with extreme poise and top-of-the-line puck skills for a defender. Unlike many teenaged offensive defenders, his game away from the puck is notably responsible. I don’t think he will need to be sheltered once he gets accustomed to the pace of play in the NHL. He is a play driver who makes his teams better, as he demonstrated repeatedly for Gold Medal winning Team Canada at the WU18s. Clarke is a future #1 defender on a good team in the NHL.

Best value pick – Francesco Pinelli, C, HDD Jesenice (AlpsHL)/Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 42^nd overall

One of the better players left on the board after the end of the first round, Los Angeles did well to trade up to draft him, losing only a fifth round pick to move up seven spots. As with Clarke, there are those who have concerns about Pinelli’s skating, but no one argues about his results. He plays a smart East-West offensive game, forechecks hard and heavy – albeit clean – finds open space and capitalizes. He has remarkably soft hands and creates for others just as well as he can finish the play himself. There are many successful forwards in the NHL who produce at high rates without having the quickest feet. There is nothing to suggest that Pinelli can’t join them.

Worst value pick – Samuel Helenius, C, JYP (Liiga), 59^th overall

LOL. Helenius is actually a very good pick, who profiles similarly to a Brian Boyle. He’s huge and has the toughness and hand-eye coordination to be a very useful net front weapon. Like the others discussed above – as well as third rounder Kisakov – Helenius is not a great skater. He is fine for his gargantuan size, but his success has not been, and will not be predicated on speed. He projects as a bottom six forward who can kill penalties, and make defenses miserable, with both center and the wing as options. He isn’t just big, but he has a mean streak, too, like his father Sami Helenius, a tough stay-at-home defender in the NHL, AHL and IHL around the turn of the century.

Djurgården's William Eklund during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Djurgården and Skellefteå on 16 November 2020 in Stockholm.
Photo: Andreas L Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN /

San Jose Sharks

1 (7) William Eklund, LW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

3 (81) Ben Gaudreau, G, Sarnia (OHL)

4 (103) Gannon Laroque, D, Victoria (WHL)

4 (121) Ethan Cardwell, C, Surahammars IF (HockeyEttan)/Barrie (OHL)

5 (135) Artem Guryev, D, Peterborough (OHL)

5 (156) Max McCue, C, London (OHL)

6 (167) Liam Gilmartin, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

6 (177) Theo Jacobsson, C, Onskoldsvik HF (HockeyEttan)

7 (199) Evgenii Kashnikov, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)

After a 2020 draft class that we adored, with a few exceptions, our feelings on San Jose’s 2021 draft class were not nearly so positive. Of course, the primary exceptions were with their top picks, still giving the Sharks a good chance at a very positive outcome from this year’s amateur scouting efforts. This class is split evenly with four forwards and four defenders, along with one netminder. The team drafted heavily from Ontario-based players, with three taken who did not play any league games at all last year – one of whom did get to play for Canada at the WU18s – and one who many, including ourselves, thought would have been drafted last year, but went to play in Sweden with the OHL failing to launch this year. Even the team’s one player drafted out of the USHL has since committed to moving to the OHL next year. The rest of the class featured two Swedish players, and one each from the QMJHL and the WHL. I also found funny that the player they selected out of the QMJHL was an import from Russia, joining fellows Russian-natives playing in the Q drafted/signed by San Jose including Vladislav Kotkov and Artemi Knyazev.

The main reason we are not so high on the San Jose draft class – again, not counting the exceptions – is the team went heavy on gritty players, even if three of the eight skaters they drafted were not big. Too often, they sacrificed upside for floor, taking players who play hard instead of ones who play well. Eklund turning into the star we expect will allow many to forget the players from this class who fail to make it, but I try to look at draft classes as the expected potential across all picks. Failing with a top ten pick would be a career ending tragedy for a scout and the scouting director, but the ability to add viable NHL contributors with later picks is often the difference between building sustainable winners, and perennial losers.

First round pick – William Eklund, LW, Djurgardens IF (SHL), 7^th overall

A few years ago, a player of Eklund’s pedigree and resume would be pushed to the NHL immediately after the draft, for good or ill. Forget for a moment his success playing against men already, but just from a tools standpoint. There may not have been a more skilled player in the 2021 draft class, and there wasn’t a player with higher hockey IQ. The skills-smarts combo has daylight between Eklund and the next player up with that profile. Even though the Sharks are expected to keep him in Sweden for another year, he is probably the second-best left winger in their system right now, depending on how we feel about Evander Kane. I fully expect Eklund to have a huge season with Djurgardens and come to the NHL ready to take over and lead San Jose out of their current doldrums.

Best value pick – Ben Gaudreau, G, Sarnia Sting (OHL), 81^st overall

We had tabbed Gaudreau as the number three netminder in the draft, the best behind the two first round locks. The fact that Kolosov went to the Flyers three picks before San Jose drafted Gaudreau is incidental, because we gave Gaudreau second round value, and high second round at that. Of course, he has risk attached to his profile, as do all goalies. He struggled in his OHL rookie season, backstopping a mediocre Sarnia club. And then he missed the entire 2020-21 season due to the COVID shutdown in Ontario. But when the U18s rolled around, he was there, backstopping Canada to a Gold Medal, and being named the top goaltender in the tournament. We then remember that he was though highly enough of to be a top ten pick in the OHL Priority Selection two seasons ago and know that hie performance at the tournament was not merely a flash in the pan. He receives very high grades for his temperament and his ability to read the play. There is a very good chance that Gaudreau is the best goalie drafted by San Jose since Thomas Greiss in 2004.

Worst value pick – Gannon Laroque, D, Victoria Royals (WHL), 103^rd overall

This one was pretty far off the radar, at least in the early fourth round. Laroque was never drafted in the WHL Bantam Draft, and his debut season in the league was unspectacular. He had put up decent numbers in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (Canada’s equivalent of the New England prep scene, but not nearly as established), but his high-level experience was minimal, and unremarkable. Our BC analyst, Arlo Shultz, saw a defender whose only trait that projected as above average was his physical game. Clearly, San Jose’s scouts liked him, and that’s fine, but they most likely could have drafted him a round or two later. He has a very long way to go before being billed as a likely NHL’er.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Michigan's Matty Beniers in action during their loss to Notre Dame, 2-1, Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire)

Seattle Kraken

1 (2) Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan (NCAA/Big 10)

2 (35) Ryker Evans, D, Regina (WHL)

3 (67) Ryan Winterton, C, Hamilton (OHL)

4 (99) Ville Ottovainen, D, JYP (Liiga)

5 (131) Jacob Melanson, RW, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

6 (163) Semyon Vyazovy, G, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

7 (195) Justin Janicke, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

And so, it begins. As much intrigue as there was in the Kraken’s expansion draft picks, the future of this newest NHL franchise begins with the entry draft. Matthew Beniers will be far more impactful on the eventual success of the organization than any player selected in the expansion draft. The challenge we face in assessing their first go-round selecting amateurs, is to avoid comparing their draft haul with Vegas’ when the latter was a first-time drafter. Seattle did not make any expansion draft side deals, nor any other trades to increase the number of picks they would make, unlike Vegas, which made 12 picks in their inaugural draft. So, we will compare this draft class with the other 32 classes made this year, instead of the Golden Knights in 2017.

But it doesn’t matter what we compare this draft class with, it is underwhelming. Sure, their top pick, second overall selection Matthew Beniers is a franchise maker. The absolute correct choice, and a player who could be for Seattle what Jonathan Toews was for Chicago, or Patrice Bergeron was in Boston. Unfortunately, Beniers was not at all representative of the rest of Seattle’s picks. The team spread their choices geographically, with no more than a single player from any region. They were not afraid of drafting re-draft players, with two fitting that description. They weren’t even concerned with size, with two players standing below 6-0”, and one other just making it. Production seems to have been a factor, but not exclusively, as third rounder Winterton had no history of high scoring totals, and it had been two years since seventh rounder Janicke was lighting lamps with regularity in high school. I think Seattle could have, and should have, done more, but this is just the beginning. We’ll keep watching them

First pick – Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan Wolverines (NCAA/Big 10), 2^nd overall

Before the World Championships, I would have advocated for Beniers to go first overall and had been advocated as such for much of last year, but that year-ending tournament showed that Power was more ready to play a commanding lead role against men. His teammate Beniers, on the other hand, can contribute in any role, in every shift, from beginning of the season to the end, but not necessarily in a leading role. At least, not yet. The epitome of a five-tool player, Beniers, is a strong skater, has good offensive skills, highlighted by amazing puck control, and he always makes the right decisions, no matter the pace of the action. He brings energy to every shift, in all zones. He drives play for his team and helps shut down the plays of his opponents. With all due respect to Power, if this draft had one player to start a franchise with, Beniers was it.

Best value pick – Ryan Winterton, C, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL), 67^th overall

Although highly touted as a 16-year-old, to the extent that Hamilton selected him eighth overall in the OHL Priority Selection, Winterton was only scratching the surface of his potential as an OHL rookie, and then saw his development hit a brick wall also known as COVID 19. He had not played at all last year until being named to Canada’s roster at the WU18 tournament, where he had a few memorable moments in a depth role for the Gold Medal winners. He has good size, reads the play well, and has soft hands. Despite not owning any high-end skills, his overall game is well-rounded, and he can contribute in a number of ways. Very young for this draft class, with an early September birthdate, he could have more growth in his game than most others who were drafted. He may not profile as more than a solid third liner but was still fine value in the third round.

Worst value pick – Ville Ottovainen, D, JYP (Liiga), 99^th overall

Passed over in the draft in his first year of eligibility, while playing for Kitchener in the OHL, Ottovainen went back home to Finland with the OHL season not able to get started this year. His year was then split between JYP’s senior and U20 teams, with a brief stretch in Finland’s second league thrown in for good measure. He was fantastic against juniors but was largely ineffective against men. Both are no more and no less than was expected, but we mark him as a lower value pick because he didn’t impress all that much in 2019-20 and didn’t force us to re-evaluate him that much this year. None of his tools, excepting his large size, stand out as NHL-worthy. It’s hard to see more than up-and-down value at best. Not sure that he couldn’t have been drafted with a later round pick if they really liked him.

Vancouver Canucks

2 (41) Danila Klimovich, RW, Minskie Zubry (Belarus Vysshaya)

5 (137) Aku Koskenvuo, G, HIFK U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

5 (140) Jonathan Myrenberg, D, Linkoping J20 (J20 Nationell)

6 (169) Hugo Gabrielsson, D, Halmstad Hammers HC (HockeyEttan)

6 (178) Connor Lockhart, C, Erie (OHL)

7 (201) Lucas Forsell, LW, Farjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell)

This was a very Euro-centric draft. The only North American based player the Canucks selected, sixth rounder Connor Lockhart, didn’t even play last year. Not just Euro-centric, though, fully half of Vancouver’s picks were from Sweden, a region that the team has drafted from frequently, and often successfully. Considering that they had only one pick prior to the fifth round, this draft class holds promise. The Canucks drafted with potential in mind, not worried too much about size.

Beyond the Swedish lean, if there was something the Canucks targeted with all of their later round picks, it seems to have been hockey IQ. In fact, the most mistake-prone, or “unreliable” player they selected was their lone early pick, Klimovich, who just happens to be insanely skilled. Even if those later picks have marginal upsides – being late round picks and all – they all look like prospects who should maximize the tools they possess. This is the second year in a row that Vancouver missed out on some early round picks, and given their approach to the later rounds, it would be good to see how they would act with a full complement of picks.

First pick – Danila Klimovich, RW, Minskie Zubry (Belarus Vysshaya), 41^st overall

Klimovich was the most prominent late riser on draft boards, going from obscurity to emergency for all teams after an electrifying performance at the WU18s. He is a gifted finisher, capable of scoring through numerous ways and means. He can pick small holes from near the faceoff circles or bamboozle defenders with slick puck play. The main concern with Klimovich’s projection is that he very little experience playing high levels, but he has succeeded wherever he has played. The Canucks have already given him a contract, and the next question is where he plays next year. Rouyn-Noranda controls his CHL rights, and they seem to have one open spot for an import player. That might be his best bet, as Klimovich needs a new challenge, and he might as well start acclimating to the North American game.

Best value pick – Connor Lockhart, C, Erie Otters (OHL), 178^th overall

In a draft that valued size more than it should have been valued, Lockhart was bound to fall lower than his skill suggested. Listed at 5-9”, 161, he wasn’t going to excite anyone looking for brawn, but there is no reason why he should have fallen as far as the late sixth round. Promising enough to be selected third overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, he had acclimated to the OHL as a rookie in 2019-20. Outside of his physical presence, the rest of his tools have shown intriguing potential. It is probable, if not certain, that he would have been drafted as much as two rounds higher if the OHL had a season last year, so I could be charitable and say that every NHL team passed on him as much as twice more than they should have, allowing Vancouver to draft a skilled sleeper.

Worst value pick – Aku Koskenvuo, G, HIFK U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 137^th overall

A big netminder who forced his way into HIFK’s U20 team in his age 16 season, Koskenvuo is committed to play for Harvard in the coming years – although seemingly not next year – generally a sign of intelligence. His tools all seem fine, especially his athleticism, but we did not rank him as higher than a seventh-round flyer as his numbers have simply never been that good. He resembles a good young goalie, but he really needs to find a way to spot more shots, with greater regularity. Had the Canucks inverted the Lockhart and Koskenvuo picks, I would have had a very hard time picking any of their selections as “worst value pick.”

Vegas Golden Knights

1 (30) Zach Dean, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

2 (38) Daniil Chayka, D, CSKA Moskva (KHL)/Guelph (OHL)

4 (102) Jakub Brabanec, C/LW, HC Kometa Brno (Czech)

4 (128) Jakub Demek, C, Team Slovakia U18 (Slovakia2)

6 (190) Artur Cholach, D, Sokol Kiev (Ukraine)

7 (222) Carl Lindbom, G, Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

Like with Vancouver above, the Golden Knights had a very Euro-centric draft, with only first rounder Zach Dean having played in North America last year. Unlike Vancouver, Vegas spread the wealth in Europe though, with picks from Russia, Czech, Slovakia, Ukraine(!!!), and Sweden. At least three of those European draftees are expected to play CHL hockey next year. Another area where Vegas separated themselves from their division mates from a town starting with the letter ‘V’, was in their push to draft big players. They didn’t draft anyone below 6-0” and added three players to the organization standing 6-4”.

To Vegas’ credit, while drafting for size, skill was not neglected. This isn’t simply a collection of goons on skates. Chayka showed serious two-way potential over two seasons in the OHL. Brabanec probably wasn’t ready for men’s hockey in the Czech Republic last year, but he looked impressive at the WU18s. Demec has produced at all levels in Slovakia. Even Ukrainian Cholach – the first Ukrainian drafted since 2007 – has admirers for his game, even if has never played at high levels before. Goalies are judged differently, but Lindbom was the primary netminder for Sweden’s Bronze Medal win at last year’s WU18s.

First pick – Zach Dean, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), 30^th overall

A well-rounded forward with plus pedigree in junior hockey, Dean has not yet produced offense to live up to his potential in the QMJHL. He can play in all situations and generally seems to be in the right place at the right time. The main concern with his profile, and why we saw him as more of an early second rounder than a late first rounder, is the aforementioned production. He looks like a medium term NHLer, one who could play as a good third line center on a competitive team, but who would be miscast in a top six role. If he takes that next step offensively, we would be happy to reconsider his upside, but his approach has scarcely budged in two years now.

Best value pick – Carl Lindbom, G, Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell), 222^nd overall

With the third last pick of the draft, Vegas got Sweden’s top 2003-born goaltender prospect. Younger brother of Rangers’ goaltending prospect Olof Lindbom, Carl has a similar profile, yet his older brother was a high second round pick and Carl lasted until very late in the seventh round. He is an athletic battler who reads plays well and is technically sound in his crease. He isn’t likely to become an NHL starter, but he wouldn’t look out of place as a solid backup if he maintains he developmental trajectory.

Worst value pick – Jakub Demek, C, Team Slovakia U18 (Slovakia2)

Sure, even though Demek was taken in the first round of the CHL Import Draft by the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, a deeper look at his profile suggests that size is his main factor driving his desirability. His production for Slovakia’s U18 team, which plays a regular schedule in that nation’s second division was meagre, and an honest assessment of his tools suggest that his production has been on par with his skill set. He is more notable for his work off the puck than on, so we are left looking at a forward with fourth line upside, but more who hasn’t yet proven that he can play pro in Slovakia, much less in North America.

2021 NHL DRAFT: VANCOUVER CANUCKS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 19:59:31 +0000