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Blackfish: Summer Edition

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Photo credit:Bryan W. Peck / Utica Comets
6 years ago
With the summer break upon us, the dust is starting to settle, and we can take stock of where things stand across the Canucks organization.
One of the consistent posts on Canucks Army has been Blackfish. The weekly prospect report that keeps everyone informed on Canucks prospects across the globe. Obviously, since it’s the summer, there is no games or stats to update, but there have been some changes to who will be within the organization.
Given that, I figured it was a good opportunity to break-down where the Canucks prospects should be next season. There might be some changes as a couple of players destinations are still to be determined.

Canadian Hockey League

QMJHL

The Canucks likely won’t have any prospects in the QMJHL this upcoming season. Guillaume Brisebois could return for an overage season, but that is highly unlikely. He should be graduating to the Utica Comets for the upcoming season.

OHL

Vancouver will be well represented in the OHL next season with the following prospects set to play there:
NamePositionTeamAcquired
Jonah GadjovichLWOwen Sound Attack2nd round – 2017
Michael DiPietroGWindsor Spitfires3rd round – 2017
Matthew BrassardDOshawa Generals7th round – 2017
Cole CandellaDHamilton Bulldogs7th Round – 2016
2016 1st round pick Olli Juolevi could very well return to the OHL next season, or he could be in the NHL, or they could work out a way for him to be loaned to a team in Europe.  Brett McKenzie is currently unsigned and could return to the OHL next season for his overage year. I would expect him to turn pro next year though.

WHL

The Canucks will have two prospects in the Western Hockey League this upcoming season:
NamePositionTeamAcquired
Kole LindRWKelowna Rockets2nd round – 2017
Jakub StukelLWCalgary Hitmen6th round – 2016
Jakub Stukel is already 20-years-old, so he could turn pro next season. But at this moment, he does not have an entry-level contract, so I would expect him back in the WHL.
You will be able to see Lind and the Kelowna Rockets at the Langley Events Centre on November 18th and 24th. They also make an appearance at the LEC on January 13th and March 16th.  Stukel and the Calgary Hitmen will be in town to face the Giants on January 31st and February 2nd.

NCAA & USA

Not much change for Canucks prospects in the NCAA. Obviously, Boeser will no longer be there, but two prospects will return there next season.
NamePositionTeamAcquired
Adam GaudetteCNortheastern5th round – 2015
William LockwoodRWMichigan3rd round – 2016
Both players are expected to take on larger roles with their respective clubs next season. The remainder of Canucks prospects in the USA next season:
NamePositionTeamAcquired
Jack RathboneDDexter (USHS)4th round – 2017

Europe

For the sake of length, I’ve included all the Canucks prospects that are expected to play their season on the other side of the pond next year:
NamePositionTeamAcquired
Elias PetterssonCVaxjo (SHL)1st round – 2017
Kristoffer GunnarssonDFrolunda (SHL)5th round – 2017
Rodrigo AbolsC/RWOrebro (SHL)7th round – 2016
Lukas JasekRWBili Tygri Liberec (Extraliga)5th round – 2015
Nikita TryamkinDAvtomobilist (KHL)3rd round – 2014
Dmitry ZhukenovCAvangard Omsk (KHL)5th round – 2014
Dmitry Zhukenov, Nikita Tryamkin, Lukas Jasek and Rodrigo Abols were all included as the Canucks retain their rights for the duration of next season. The Canucks will lose the rights to Abols on June 1, 2018, as he was drafted out of the CHL. They retain the rights to Zhukenov and Jasek until June 1, 2019, and Tryamkin’s until June 30, 2022.

American Hockey League

The Canucks should have quite a few prospects in the AHL next season. They will have some graduation from junior leagues, some demotions from the NHL and some players who were there last year. Not all the names listed below will be there next season, as some may have to be assigned to the ECHL, but it will give us an idea of who could be there.

Forwards

NamePositionAcquired
Jonathan DahlenC/LWTrade – OTT
Michael CarconeRUFA
Cole CasselsC3rd round – 2013
Joseph LabateLW4th round – 2011
Griffen MolinoCUFA
Zack MacEwenRWUFA
Yan-Pavel LaplanteCUFA
The above forwards are the ones who are expected to be there in some capacity next season for the Comets. Zack MacEwen and Yan-Pavel Laplante may start the season in the ECHL or could secure a bottom six role in the AHL.
Jonathan Dahlen is expected to start the year in the AHL next year, but the Canucks may explore him going to the SHL. Canucks general manager Jim Benning mentioned in the past few weeks that if they feel Dahlen is close to NHL ready, then he will go to the AHL.
Jayson Megna, Michael Chaput, Nikolay Goldobin, Brock Boeser, and Jake Virtanen are all possibilities for the Comets, but that is dependant on their performance. The following forwards could also be in Utica next season:
NamePositionAcquired
Petrus PalmuRW6th round – 2017
Brett McKenzieC7th round – 2016
Petrus Palmu is currently signed with TPS is Finland, but he mentioned at Canucks Development Camp this week that he will speak with Canucks management about the possibility of going to the AHL. Our own Jeremy Davis wrote about Palmu’s options yesterday. It is worth adding that Palmu did say that he will be playing pro next year, so it’s the AHL or TPS in Liiga. McKenzie was mentioned above as a possibility for the OHL, but he could be in the AHL as well.
Lastly, for the forward ranks in the AHL, the following players have been signed by the Utica Comets on AHL deals:
NamePosition
Carter BancksLW
Wacey HamiltonC
Alexis D’AoustRW

Defence

There will be some new additions to the defence core of the Utica Comets next season with Chad Billins, Tom Nilsson and the defencemen on AHL deals all leaving. Here are the expected defencemen for next year:
NamePositionAcquired
Jordan SubbanD3rd round – 2013
Guillaume BriseboisD3rd round – 2015
Jalen ChatfieldDUFA
Evan McEnenyDUFA
Ashton SautnerDUFA
Philip HolmDUFA
Of the players above, only Evan McEneny will require waivers next season. It’s expected that one of Alex Biega or Andrey Pedan will also be sent down to the Comets for next season. Anton Cederholm is a bit of a wildcard in all of this. Last year he was loaned to AIK in the Allsvenskan, but it’s expected he will come back to North America next year. With one of Biega/Pedan and Cederholm in Utica, that gives the Comets a young top 8 that would appear to move the puck well.
MacKenze Stewart is also under contract for next season, but I would expect him to be in the ECHL.

Goalies

Thatcher Demko and Richard Bachman will be the tandem in Utica for next season. The Canucks did not qualify Michael Garteig; thus he is a UFA.

Obviously, there is still a couple of things to be sorted out, but at least we have an idea of where to expect Canucks prospects next season. It’s interesting to see how heavy they are with the OHL for the upcoming season. It’s clear that they trust the scouts in that region.
It’s worth mentioning that the Comets will be a lot more interesting to follow along this season. They should be led by prospects with legitimate NHL upside.

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