2019 Draft Countdown: Sasha Mutala, Vladislav Firstov, Henri Nikkanen, Jake Lee, Trent Miner
4 years ago
Welcome to Canucks Army’s 2019 Draft Countdown. Over the next four weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll be rounding up scouting reports, quotes, and videos about our Top-100 prospects available. Here are aggregated profiles on 2019 Draft Countdown: Sasha Mutala, Vladislav Firstov, Henri Nikkanen, Jake Lee, and Trent Miner.
No. 65: Sasha Mutala
Date of birth: May 6th, 2001
Nation: Canada
Position: Right Winger
Shoots: Right
Height: 6’1″ / 185 cm
Weight: 196 lbs / 89 kg
Profile: Mutala has been the modern day power forward for the Tri-City Americans this season. A speedy forechecker and a knack for getting the puck for getting the puck in the back of the net.
“The Vancouver-native brings a hard-working approach to the rink each night. Has quick acceleration and excellent top-end speed. This helps him cause havoc on the forecheck and create turnovers. Has a heavy and quick release.” — Cam Robinson
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No. 64: Vladislav Firstov
Date of birth: June 19th, 2001
Nation: Russia
Position: Left Winger
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’0″ / 183 cm
Weight: 181 lbs / 82 kg
Profile: Skating and shooting are strength’s of the UConn commit, demonstrating that on the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks this past season, scoring 26 goals.
Firstov is a solidly built and skilled forward who skates at an elite level, is very explosive and really has a lot of power in his stride, making him a real force on the ice. He has good hands and puck skills and makes some really creative plays with the puck and reads the game very quickly. His shot is hard and accurate displaying strong finishing abilities. He competes at a high level and really works for his team. — Draft Prospects Hockey
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No. 63: Henri Nikkanen
Date of birth: April 28th, 2001
Nation: Finland
Position: Centre
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’2″ / 189 cm
Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg
Profile: The forward with very good speed, good size and above-average hands spread his time through three different leagues this past season. While playing in the Liiga, he only averaged 8:35 TOI but was still able to score two goals.
Big centre with good size and an effective passing game along with solid defensive instincts Projects as a possible bottom six player based on his penalty-killing, and his experience playing in the Finnish men’s league. Keeps things simple. —Bill Placzek
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No. 62: Jake Lee
Date of birth: July 13th, 2001
Nation: Canada
Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’2″ / 188 cm
Weight: 216 lbs / 98 kg
Profile: The big body defenceman worked his way up and earned more ice-time on his Seattle Thunderbirds team. A prospect for a team that values size and physicality.
Long term developmental defender with nice size and girth. Has skills but may need a bit more time to steady them and adjust to the higher speed of the advanced levels he will be graduating into. Needs to make better decisions with and without the puck, handle the puck with more certainty and get stronger at handling the outside attackers then beat him to the inside. Still there is something there to like as he works on improving. —Bill Placzek
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No. 61: Trent Miner
Date of birth: February 5th, 2001
Nation: Canada
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height: 6’1″ / 185 cm
Weight: 181 lbs / 82 kg
Profile: Rated a C grade in the NHL’s Central Scouting preliminary players to watch list in October, and by November had moved up to receive a B grade, which suggests he might be picked in the second or third rounds.
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