Canucks Weekly Prospect Report – January 8th, 2014

Welcome to this week’s Canucks weekly prospect report, in which it seems like the Comets have been playing the exact same as the Canucks as they have not yet won a game in 2014. Then again, with all of the recalls to the Vancouver Comets Canucks one can’t expect too much else. 

There’s still good news in the other leagues, though, so make sure to keep on reading. As always, follow @nuckprospects on Twitter for the latest in prospect news and feed free to send me any feedback on anything prospect related you wish me to cover.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

On Friday the Comets started their week by playing the Rochester Americans in Utica. Despite outplaying Rochester through most of the game the Comets ended up falling by a 5-2 score with shots in favour of the Comets, 35-26. It was Cannata in net, as Eriksson had just returned from his backup stint in Vancouver, and Cannata only made 21 of 26 saves. Lain and Pelletier were the only goal scorers from Utica while DeFazio, Archibald, Grenier and Huskins notched assists. The Comets went 0 for 5 on the PP and 3 for 4 on the #POWERKILL.

Heading to Toronto for back to back games, Utica played the Toronto Marlies on Saturday.  While the game was much more evenly matched with the final shot count in favour of the Marlies 30-27, the Comets once again lost 5-2. Canucks prospects Lain and Grenier earned the only Comets goals. Sauve, Pelletier, Archibald and Mallet earned the assists. Eriksson returned to the net, untrumphiantly, make 25 of 29 saves. The Comets failed to score a goal again on the PP going 0 for 5 while the #POWERKILL went 3 for 5.  

Wednesday’s game @ Oklahoma City was delayed due to weather until Thursday night.

Players stats who have played at least one game with the Comets, (X) indicates not currently on the active roster, so far are:

Goalies so far:

Currently the Comets are in 15th place with 25 points (11-18-1-2), only 2 points away from not-last-place with three games in hand. They have been out-scored 76 to 100 (-24), and have been outshot 886 to 948 (-62). They are controlling 48.31% (acknowledging score effects) of the shots with an on ice shooting percentage of 8.5% and a save percentage of 89.6%. A simple version of PDO puts them at 98.1% which has regressed this week due to goaltending and special teams. Their PP is currently at 18.75% (9th place) and their PK is at 74.02% (30th place), both of which continue to get worse. Puck possession rankings put them at 18th which is not as bad as their current record.

Corrado had played two good games with Vancouver with a positive corsi, but with the California road trip he posted some horrible numbers (as did the rest of the team) and he is down to 35% Corsi For. That will change with more games, most likely for the better.

Utica will play @ Oklahoma on Thursday, then they are off to Texas, where they will play the top rank possession team, the Stars on Saturday. On Monday the Comets will play San Antonio before heading home.

Bo Horvat spent the week with Canada at the World Junior Championships. All said, he scored 3 points (1G, 2A) in 6 games with 11 SOG. Unfortunately, as the tournament went along he didn’t exactly shine.. 

An interesting point to note is that McEneny has almost twice as many PPG in 17 games with Kingston as he did with Kitchener. Just goes to show you what happens when you get more ice time and run on the special teams. 

And so far this year the stats of these players are:

It is quiet in the WHL with Shinkaruk still hurt and Cederholm not doing anything noteworthy. Portland is 2nd in the West with 54 points, while Medicine Hat is 4th in the East with 49 points.

And so far this season the players stats in the WHL are:

Hutton earned a +1 with 5 SOG in a 2-1 defeat this weekend. Maine plays Saturday vs Boston U and then on Tuesday vs St. Francis Xavier. LaBate earned 5 SOG and a -2 in two games this weekend; Wisconsin will play on Friday and Saturday. Penn State did not play this past week, and will play two games this coming week on Sunday and Monday.  Beattie did not play in Yale’s game; Yale will play on Saturday night. Harvard played two games this week, and McNally earned 2A, +1 and 2 SOG.  Harvard plays on Saturday night as well.

Statistics of NCAA players:

Steven Anthony played two games this week earning 2Pts (1G, 1A) and 2 SOG. St Charles plays tonight and Friday. Guimond played four games earning no points. Gwinnett plays Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. No news on Blain and his injury. Blomstrand and Pacan both had 1A in two games this week. Kalamazoo plays tonight, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.

Statistics of players in the ECHL so far are:

Ronalds Kenins came back from his broken jaw injury. He played in two games and earned two assists. Good news for him as he was named to the Latvian Olympic team. He should be in Utica next year but was unable to join this year as he is under contract with Zurich.

It’s been a month but here are the Canucks prospects updated NHLE numbers:

Some extra reading for you. 

It’s been another interesting week with the goalie carousel affecting all the leagues.  There’s still been some good news with the play of Dane Fox, Ronalds Kenins to the Latvian Olympic team and the success of the NCAA players.  Make sure to follow me at @nuckprospects for all the latest in Canuck Prospect news.  Until next week!