Summer is here!

Well, if you don’t look out the window — but it means the news is a little slower these days. Some news stories that happen throughout the week are not worth a full post, but when a few happen over the course of a day, it’s worth noting.

Throughout the summer and into next season, I will continue the ‘Odds and Ends’ posts to grab those minor stories that aren’t noteworthy, but are still worth being covered.

So with that, let’s look at the smaller stores in Canucks-nation this past week!

Former Canucks prospect Darren Archibald re-signed with the Utica Comets on Tuesday afternoon:

A fan favourite for the Comets faithful, Archibald is a fun player to watch at the AHL level. It’s obvious there is some talent there, just maybe not enough to make it in the NHL. With the Comets, he is noticeable — he scores timely goals, sticks up for his teammates and can be a wrecking ball out there.  Here’s an old hit of his with Utica, but still a very memorable one:

He will likely carve out a role as a bottom six winger for the Comets next season.

Alex Friesen has left the Canucks organization, signing a one-year two-way deal with the St Louis Blues that will pay him $575,000 at the NHL level, or $150,000 at the AHL level.

Friezen had appeared in 65 games with the Comets last season, posting career highs in goals (14) and points (31), which earned him a one-game call-up with the Canucks. Friesen was another favourite in Utica, as he was he gave it his all every shift.

Being 5’10”, the odds were stacked against him carving out an NHL career with the Canucks, but it’s not out of the question that he could see some time in St Louis as a fourth-line centre next season. I would suspect he starts the season with the Chicago Wolves, and if things go his way, get a call-up.

Since we included Archibald’s famous hit, it wouldn’t be fair to not include Friesen’s hit on Taylor Hall from the OHL

Good luck to Alex with his new organization!

It was announced today that the Calgary Flames, and their new head coach Glen Gulutzen have hired Utica Comets assistant coach Paul Jerrard.

Jerrard had been on Travis Green’s coaching staff in Utica for the past three seasons. Jerrard, a former defenceman himself, will be in charge of the Flames defencemen and penalty kill.

There are murmurs that former Vancouver Giants and Abbotsford Heat head coach Troy Ward is in line to replace with Jerrard in Utica, however at this time, there are no formal announcements or information.

Lastly, Adam Cracknell signed with the Dallas Stars this past week. He spent the majority of last season with Vancouver Canucks putting up 5 goals and 5 assists in 44 games before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers.

Last summer, the Canucks didn’t sign Cracknell until late August, and was merely targeted as a depth piece, but he was able carve out a role with the team. This summer, he was able to get a contract early and work towards locking up a spot with the Stars.

I probably missed some other stories — but with regularity, the chances of things slipping through the cracks will lessen.

There will be another one of these early next week with some notes about Canucks development which concludes tomorrow.