Just last week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman caught Vancouver off guard, suggesting the Canucks could be a stealth team in the hunt for Noah Hanifin in one of his always illuminating 31 Thoughts columns. In his exact words, “5. Stealth team for Noah Hanifin: Vancouver”. It’s not much, but it’s proven more than enough to set…
There’s no question that the Canucks need help on the blueline. Management, media and fans alike are well aware of the cesspool that’s become the team’s defence group over the past few seasons. Unfortunately, reinforcements are few and far between when peeking at the team’s prospect pool — one that appears concerningly thin after Olli…
Anderson MacDonald had a fantastic D-1 season that saw him post 29 goals as a 16-year-old in the QMJHL. Given that production, there were high hopes for the winger heading into this year. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to replicate that success in his draft season and thus has fallen down the draft boards. Despite not…
In a lot of ways, this year was a big step forward for Canucks winger Jake Virtanen. That’s hard to reconcile with given the paltry 20 points (10 goals and assists alike) Virtanen earned over the course of his 75-game season, but you have to remember where he was a year ago. Virtanen wasn’t even…
Adam Ginning is a prospect that has caused some decisive opinions in the scouting community. Ranked as the 5th best European prospect by NHL Central Scouting Services, Ginning is considered a defensive defenceman who has good size and physicality that is suited for the North American game. He is good at moving the puck and…
Coming in as the 58th ranked prospect in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft is Czech defenceman, Filip Kral. The left-handed defender started the season in the Czech Republic before heading to the Spokane Chiefs where he had a good season culminating in being named their Rookie of the Year. There are some questions about his…
The run of intriguing Swedish prospects that played in the SuperElit and SHL this season continues with Skelleftea winger, Albin Eriksson. The Bollnas native is a well rounded forward that produced good numbers in the Swedish junior leagues and got a healthy chunk of games with the big club. Eriksson packs the size, speed, and…
After a string of forwards in the sixties, we turn our attention to the USNTDP with defenceman Adam Samuelsson checking in as the 60th ranked prospect in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. A big defensive defenceman who can move the puck, the son of former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson, Adam is intriguing with decent underlying numbers…
Named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team, Guelph Storm forward Cameron Hillis has been a bit of riser in draft rankings this season. Hillis dominated offensively at St Andrews College prep school during the 2016-17 season and then made the leap to the CHL this past year, where he picked up right he left off….
Philipp Kurashev is a skilled playmaker who isn’t afraid to shoot the puck when the opportunity arises. Born in Switzerland but of Russian descent, Kurashev just finished up his second full season in the QMJHL and has been a regular for Switzerland at the various international tournaments this season. Without further ado, let’s take a…
What happened to Ryan Kesler this year? Is it just his bad hip or are there other signs of decline? If his career is over how does he get remembered in Van? — thewaffleirons (@ngsa) May 28, 2018 This was a brutally difficult year for Ryan Kesler. I didn’t follow the Anaheim Ducks all that…
Landing in the 63rd overall spot in our draft ranking is USHL centre, Blake McLaughlin. After getting his feet wet at the USHL level in 2016-17, he spent the entire season with the Chicago Steel where he put up close to a point-per-game pace throughout the regular season. He followed that up with seven points…
