The Top 20 Canucks Prospects: An Update (Part III)

Cannata’s calm, steady style of play isn’t just an aesthetic, it’s reflective of his personality. Brian Daccord described Cannata as a guy with an exceptionally short memory (an invaluable asset for a goaltender). "Nothing really phases him," Brian told me, adding that "If [Cannata] was in a house on fire, he would probably stop in the kitchen to make himself a sandwich on his way out." Brian also told us that Cannata "is not a goalie that fluctuated in hot and cold games. Joe’s dependability will be an asset that a head coach will appreciate."

I think that "maturity" had a lot to do with the Canucks going off the board to pick Mallet in the second round in Pittsburgh. The Canucks system lacks both depth and size at the centre position, and if Mallet is able to contribute sooner rather than later at the AHL level (Gillis indicated in his post-draft press conference that Mallet would be given a long look in Chicago this upcoming season) then he could be a big part of the solution. The other side of the coin, however, is that most of the prospect writers and scouts I’ve spoken with don’t consider Mallet to be a guy with "top-six upside."

LaBate made huge strides last season, and most observers seem to think that he’ll be a force in the college game in quick order. As an 18-year-old, his numbers are somewhat comparable to some recent NCAA graduates. LaBate is more comparable to Wheeler or Penner than Read, as he is still growing into his frame. LaBate’s role was limited on the Badgers for much of last season, though he did occasionally play in the top-six. As mentioned above, he should be counted on to score at least 10 goals and add in 20-25 assists in 2012-13.

Corrado has developed into a terrific two-way defenseman. His biggest asset is his skating ability and general mobility. He uses it to skate the puck out of pressure situations in his own end, and he uses it to his advantage defensively. His defensive game improved massively this year, to the point where I’d call him one of the better defensive players in the league. He’s not incredibly large, but he’s aggressive and does not back down from anyone. He’ll lay you out on the way to the net, punish you in the corners, and throw a couple of cross checks to your back in front of the net.

Connauton’s strength has always been his offensive game. At each level he’s shown the ability to move the puck with ease, produce on the power-play and chip in the odd goal. Like so many top prospects, a coach will tell you that you can’t teach offence; just like many of those other prospects, Connauton has always needed to work on his defensive game. But this is where Connauton’s work ethic and attitude have always shone through. Challenged to get better in his own end, no matter the level, Connauton has never taken a backwards step, and this past season, his defensively play took a major step forward.