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Top-10 Prospects : Vancouver Canucks (10-6) |
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Is it a rebuild? Is it a retool? I'm not quite sure to be honest. The Canucks are in an interesting place this season as they have continued to add multiple first round selections, yet have decided to sign Miller. Their prospect pool is somewhat top-heavy, with a lot of questions needing to be answered...not an uncommon place for a middle of the pack prospect group. I'd like to add that I really liked the Canucks 2014 draft, they picked up some interesting guys including one who isn't on this list (spoilers?) and is looking good for Linköping in Gustav Forsling.
As always this list does not contain players with 40+ games of NHL experience.
10. Nikita Tryamkin : Defenseman, 6'7 234lbs, 66th Overall, 2014, 20 Years Old, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL
8 games 0 goals 1 assist 1 point 15 hits* 8 blocked shots* (team high*)
If...the big if...will he ever come over? I'm not sure, but there is no doubt that Tryamkin was one of the best value picks in the 2014 draft. He was passed over twice in the draft despite a late birthday and continued to grow from a 6'4 190lb 17 year old at his original draft day to a frightening 6'7 234lb 19 year old when he heard his name called by the Canucks. It was no surprise that he was selected this coming year though, the team that selected him now has a few years to convince him to come over while he continues to develop against men in the KHL. That and a strong performance for the Bronze medal Russians and an excellent season in the K made him somebody to watch for. The reason he is so low on this list is that unlike many "top" Russian prospects, I haven't really read or heard about anything with regards to ever playing in NA. Almost always there is some hint or tidbit, even if in the reverse like Anton Slepyshev (Oilers) who said he would stay until he was 22 no matter what happens. That and his footspeed needs work, he has an awkward long stride, you can tell he is still getting used to his height and weight. Aside from those two issues, the upside is very high, especially for where he was picked in the draft. He has an extremely hard shot, he puts a lot of power into it. Defensively he's strong, not just physically, though he's useful in a scrum and on the PK boxing players out. Skating will really determine his eventual upside, he has shown he likes to move with the puck, but at the moment he is in my opinion not fast enough to play that game at the NHL level. At 20 he is already on the second pairing and Avtomobilist's top shutdown defenseman (just under 17 minutes a game)...Canucks could have a steal here.
Potential : Top-Four Shutdown Defenseman
9. Nicklas Jensen : Winger, 6'3 203lbs, 29th Overall, 2011, 21 Years Old, Utica Comets in the AHL
54 games 15 goals 6 assists 21 points
Consistency. Something Jensen has always seemed to lack. He tantalizes for a few weeks and he looks like Rick Nash in his prime...then he goes missing and makes you wonder if it was all a dream. That isn't just what happened during his rookie season in the AHL, it is something that has plagued him as far back as junior in the OHL. The thing about Jensen that keeps him relevant is simply his natural ability. When things click you can see the amazing mix of size and speed, the excellent one shot scoring ability and a knack for finding players in high traffic. He just can't seem to bring it game to game. Personally I never was and still am not a big believer that Jensen will have much of an NHL career, unless he can either sort out his consistency problem or modify his game to a checking style (unlikely). Maybe under the tutelage of the Sedin Twins he can get to the next level? Right now, it looks a bit boom/busty. Next season it's either making the Canucks full time or back to Utica.
Potential : Second Line Scorer
8. Brendan Gaunce : Centre/Left Wing, 6'2 216lbs, 26th Overall, 2012, 20 Years Old, Eerie Otters in the OHL
65 games 31 goals 41 assists 72 points
Unlike Jensen, Gaunce has been pretty consistent throughout his junior career, though that isn't the shining endorsement it might sound like on the surface. He has been extremely consistent, but hasn't shown he can take his offensive production to another level, sort of putting a stopper on the original hopes that he could develop that aspect of his game into second line ability. It isn't an impossibility to be sure, just looking unlikely. Defensively strong and good on the boards, Gaunce has been a difficult player to play against for most of his OHL career. He still isn't fast, but has the positioning to back himself up, speed is probably why he will likely be a winger should be make the NHL. He can score some garbage goals and can surprise with an underrated slapshot. Next season will be a big test as he gets his first taste of pro hockey with Utica.
Potential : Two-Way Third Liner
7. Anton Cederholm : Defenseman, 6'2 214lbs, 145th Overall, 2013, 19 Years Old, Portland Winterhawks in the WHL
71 games 4 goals 12 assists 16 points
Cederholm is a rather safe guy to have on this list. He has NHL player written all over him. He had an excellent rookie season for the stacked Winterhawks, helping tremendously with said stacking. He was known in Sweden as a no-nonsense shutdown defenseman, and so he was in Portland. Any visions of offensive upside should be curbed. He has mobility, he loves to hit, he has a solid frame already and reads the play well enough to compliment high skill defenders. He does the little things right...a cliché I know, but true nonetheless. He can log heavy penalty killing minutes and eat up defensive zone starts. Unlike many Swedes he chose the CHL path which was an interesting move. I wonder if it will play into his chances for the U20 team this year. I think if he should be a lock barring a bad start or something.
Potential : 4-6 Shutdown Defenseman
6. Frank Corrado : Defenseman, 6'1 194lbs, 150th Overall, 2011, 21 Years Old, Utica Comets in the AHL
59 games 6 goals 11 assists 17 points
Corrado had a solid rookie season in the AHL, not quite Esplen saviour levels, but solid. On a Utica squad with a rather patchwork defense, you can tell next season with more confidence from the coaching staff he will start to take the reigns from the older guard of prospects that...well...they're pretty much busts at this point. Corrado is a jack of all trades style defenseman, who has been steadily improving his shot and puck movement abilities to inch towards that "two-way" moniker. He does a little bit of everything and while sometimes quiet on the ice, that isn't always a bad thing. He's the kind of player that seems to know where his opponent will go on the ice and he has always been known for excellent positioning in the defensive zone. Playing that more European style defense of cutting off forwards and breaking up plays with solid stick movement. That isn't to say he won't throw hits, just that he isn't the kind of guy who will box and punish players around the net (he can be pretty feisty at times though). Mobility and smarts will likely serve to find him an NHL position, how soon is the better question. Even though he played 15 games for the Canucks last season, it's probably fair to assume he starts in Utica again.
Potential : Top-Four Two-Way Defenseman
Thanks for reading. 5-1 up after work.
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