For the third straight year, the Canucks should have one of the top rookies in the entire league. Rathbone’s skating ability helps him defend the rush effectively, but says that his play in the defensive end is where he sees the most room for improvement for himself. Though he hasn’t registered an assist in the VHL this season, he has been brilliant when it comes to passing in the MHL with the extra space he is given. By Noah Strang Dec 19, … He is a long way away from that as he is struggling to get consistent ice time at the SHL level. Jack Rathbone, D – Harvard University (NCAA) 4. What do you think of this year’s prospect pyramid? The Vancouver Canucks 2020-21 Prospect Pyramid. He only has one goal and six assists in 93 Liiga games, so he’s not lighting up the scoreboard, to say the least. Silovs is an athletic freak who’s long legs allow him to make the bottom of the net virtually inaccessible for opposing shooters. Instead of listing the Canucks’ top 10 or 20 prospects, I’m sorting them into tiers on a Prospect Pyramid. Finally, there’s Dmitri Zlodeyev, who might have the best odds of moving up the pyramid of all the prospects in this tier. There are still players in the fourth tier that could make an impact in the NHL. His offensive skill obviously jumps out and he has 9 points in 14 games in the SHL so far this season, but he’s committed defensively as well. Arvid Costmar has a higher ceiling than some of the other players in this tier, but a lower likelihood of reaching that ceiling. He’s quick with his movements which helps him a ton when it comes to east-west puck movement and again, when coming to and from the top of his crease and beyond. He keeps the puck moving around and fits in well in any part of the offensive zone. I just don’t see an NHL defenceman when I watch Brisebois play, but there’s a reason he keeps getting opportunities and he could very well prove me wrong. Podkolzin’s numbers are misleading according to a number of prospects … There’s a possibility that Chatfield could stake out a spot on a bottom-pairing at the NHL level, but it’s a slight one. Here’s a look at who stood out in week 19. That being said, he made the least amount of clear defensive mistakes out of the Utica Comets defencemen last season. There are a few things to be concerned about — namely his ability (or lack thereof) to defend on the rush — but I think he’s very close to putting it all together and being an impact defenceman who can kill penalties and play on a bottom pairing. Brogan Rafferty is nearing the point where he’s too old to be a prospect, having turned 25 in May. Keep your eye on Swedish forward Arvid Costmar. Costmar led the J20 SuperElit league in points per game out of players who played at least 10 games last year with 1.72 ppg. As we get into the third tier, we’re looking at prospects that are more likely to become bottom-six forwards, bottom-pairing defencemen, or backup goaltenders. He was rarely on the ice last season when the Comets were shorthanded and that could be a reason why the Canucks choose to go with Juolevi over Rafferty out of camp. Michael DiPietro is the Canucks’ top goaltending prospect. Even bottom-six forwards in the NHL need a base level of skill and poise with the puck, which usually translates into points at lower levels. His physical game should fit right into the WHL as well. He is definitely a powerplay specialist but wants to improve his all-around game so that he can develop into a complete NHL player. He’s big and athletic, but needs some refinement in his overall technique. Today, at No. His playmaking is hands down the best part of his offensive game. While Lind is unlikely to be a top-six forward in the NHL, his agitating game could make him a solid third-line winger. He also doesn’t shy away from battles in the corners. Top six on the shot. Olli Juolevi (D) Acquired: First Round (fifth overall), 2016 NHL Draft. Anderson reports that, “another [thing Woo improved on in 2019/20] was his speed and acceleration up and down the ice; he was able to push past players if there but also able to hold opponents down going through the neutral zone.”. Motte is cheap, with a cap hit of $1.225 million, but is signed through the 2021-22 season. There, those less-noticeable refinements he’s made to his game should pay off through a smooth transition into pro, and back onto the track of an eventual full-time gig with the Vancouver Canucks. Offensively, Rathbone has all the tools to be an impact player in the NHL. He is constantly moving his feet in the offensive zone to find the spot on the ice where he will have the most open net if a pass is given to him. The defensive game is lacking compared to the offensive and physical abilities. Michaelis was one of the best players in the NCAA last season, putting up 44 points in 31 games. He will drop the gloves against anyone and is always ready to back up a teammate after a big hit. He had an 11-game point streak in February — imagine how bad his production drop would have looked without it — and finally looked fully acclimated with his new club. Who did we miss? #FreePodz is alive and well, and Canucks fans are going to absolutely love this kid once he … All of his movements are precise, quick, and executed with purpose. 5 pick in 2016 NHL Draft. It’s not hard to see him stepping up to quarterback the second power play unit behind Hughes in the future. Granted, he was a 13th forward in the majority of the game action he saw, but head coach Igor Larionov had some high praise for the youngster who has somehow forced his way into the 11th spot of our rankings. The first being injuries, he missed 23 games last season due to injury and for the second year in a row was not able to consistently play in the Comets’ top six forward group. The hands on this kid are silky to go with his quick stride. He likes to attack by first engaging in a quick stick lift and then follow up by throwing a hit along the boards. Last season was particularly impressive, as he tallied 31 points in 28 games without his excellent defence partner from his freshman year, Adam Fox, who just had a fantastic rookie season with the New York Rangers. This is great to see because he is able to score from both half walls and if given enough space can fire off a very accurate slap shot from the top of the zone. He can run a power play unit and has a good enough shot to do damage on his own. One of the things that could hold Rafferty back is his inability to kill penalties. He is not shy when it comes to attempting massive open-ice hits. 1. His ability to extend plays helped him lead the Comets in Corsi for percentage last season. Kole Lind is a pain in the neck: he chirps, he hacks, he agitates, and he gets under the skin of his opponents. I’m going to show some faith in Olli Juolevi and trust in the work that he’s put in with the Utica Comets over the last few years and that he’s truly 100% healthy in order to keep him in the second tier. He works the bumper position very well and does have the ability to find passing lanes to set up easy goals for his teammates. If he catches a streaking winger with his head down, he will pounce at the opportunity to throw a big check. The team is quicker up front and has some exciting young players coming into the lineup. Here’s what Brett Lee had to say about Rathbone’s abilities in his own end: “When defending against sustained pressure, Rathbone’s work ethic is unquestionable. At just 20 years old, Toni Utunen has played in almost 100 professional games in the top Finnish league. The next year, he moved up to Under-18, where his scoring dipped — down to 23 points in 42 games — but still remained fairly impressive. Here is part of what Faber had to say about the Canucks’ 2020 7th round pick: Persson turns 19 on November 7th and this will be his final year of eligibility for the World Junior Championships. Elias Pettersson, 19 - Centreman Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL (Potential: First line forward) 2. His narrow stance certainly helps him with this, as DiPietro never seems to panic and always seems to be in the right position when making stops. And so, no playoff run and no cameo with the Comets, though Utica is where he’ll most likely be in 2021, provided there actually is an AHL season. If he doesn’t address that issue, NHL forwards will eat him alive, but he did take steps forward with his skating towards the end of last season and didn't look out of place in his one game for the Canucks during the playoffs. Get the latest Vancouver Canucks news, photos, rankings, lists and more on Bleacher Report He is able to pull off dekes at full speed and loves to drive to the net. While the 18-year-old winger didn’t make headlines like fellow Canucks prospect Nils Hoglander, he did collect a respectable five points (1-4-5) in seven games, helping Russia to a silver medal. He still has a long way to go to become an NHL player but he is definitely taking steps toward becoming an AHL contributor with his growth into a top-four defenceman in Liiga. When you take into account that Silovs has such a wide stance, it’s almost even more impressive just how quick he is at moving side to side and how explosive his lateral movements can be. They both go in the same tier. DiPietro is incredibly smooth on his skates, and although he hunches over a bit more than any goaltender I’ve seen in recent memory, (his stance is almost like an old school stand-up style where the hands are high and tight to the body and the feet are closer together) DiPietro appears bigger in the net due to his ability to quickly come out and challenge shooters. From time to time he can surprise you with a deadly shot but his best offensive skill is definitely his passing. Viktor Persson is one of the most interesting picks from the Canucks’ 2020 draft class. A positive of the experience is that Podkolzin is getting an opportunity to play against seasoned professionals on a regular basis, truly the best possible preparation he could receive for an eventual NHL career. You knew who the top two were going to be before even clicking on this article, I’m sure. His playmaking ability is high end as well. Toni Utunen is a solid, if unspectacular defenceman from Finland. Nils Hoglander, LW – Rogle BK (SHL) 3. Sweden’s team should feature some elite scoring wingers and Costmar will be between two of them. No matter the case, he will be reporting to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL in January. Silovs has already begun the process of narrowing his stance, recognizing that he needs to make this adjustment in order to succeed at higher levels. Juolevi will almost certainly be in the NHL next year and one of the big reasons why is his ability to play on the penalty kill, something that sets him apart from some of the other Canucks’ prospects vying for a spot on the blueline next season. Who are the Canucks' top prospects heading into the 2020-21 NHL season? Dubbed the Canucks’ most NHL ready defenceman by Faber, Brogan Rafferty has been a pleasant surprise after being signed as a college free agent in the twilight of the 2019-20 season. For the time being, he’ll stay in Tier 5. Those people are wrong, but it’s understandable why they would think that. William Lockwood has the elements to his game to be a third-line winger: he’s fast and he likes to hit, making him strong on the forecheck. Like Persson, Jacob Truscott is a defenceman taken in the later rounds by the Canucks at the 2020 draft. 2. 2019-20 Top 10 Vancouver Canucks Prospects: A look at who are the top ten prospects in the Vancouver Canucks system. Vancouver, an unlikely seller this year, could find a trade partner in an unlikely contender – the Florida Panthers. Some of them are prospects I quite like and that could move up the pyramid in the future — Jack Rathbone, now in Tier 2, was in Tier 4 last year before his excellent sophomore season in the NCAA. McDonough is aware of that and believes that this year’s Northeastern team is built differently from last season’s. He has real potential to play in the NHL, though the Canucks will have to be patient. He’s got excellent acceleration and fantastic edge work, which will certainly help the Canucks in their breakout efforts and transitional play when he arrives on the scene. Faber took the reins on this one: His ability to score goals is at a high level and his playmaking looked to improve as the NCAA season went on last year. It’s a shame, as Malone has legitimate upside with his speed and nose for the net. He’s still an intriguing prospect, even if every scouting report seems to emphasize just how raw and unrefined he is as a player. 2020-21 Canucks Prospect Pyramid: Tier 1. Also like Persson, he was a little under the radar as he was overshadowed by his teammate on the U.S. National Team Development Program, Jake Sanderson. Gadjovich scored 13 goals in 38 games last season and some of them were beauties. Olli Juolevi, D. How acquired: Selected with No. The good thing is that he is only 19-years-old and has a lot of time to perfect his craft overseas. After lighting up the J20 SuperElit at 17, Hoglander played the bulk of his draft season in the SHL, where he made the difficult adjustment to playing against men and managed to put up 14 points in 50 games. The top tier is for true, blue-chip prospects: Quinn Hughes was alone in Tier 1 last season and that turned out to be very, very accurate, as he quickly established himself as one of the best defencemen in the NHL. Like Brisebois, Jalen Chatfield could get some NHL games because his defence-first game — really, defence-only — could make him attractive to a Canucks’ team missing Chris Tanev. Many scouts have noted the improvements in his skating in the past two seasons. Linus Karlsson leads all under-22 players in the Allsvenskan in scoring with 16 points in 17 games, but that also means he’s 21 years old and still playing in the Allsvenskan rather than the SHL. The pyramid is more narrow at the top because a team will always have fewer blue chip prospects. The fifth tier features a few players that will almost certainly play NHL games in the future. Those are far more indicative of the “true” Podkolzin and the sort of player he can be when he’s playing for a coach and team that actually want him to succeed. Skip to content Three prospects in a row who I’m personally fairly high on. A natural centre who plays a strong two way game and can contribute on both special teams units, he’s a dream addition to an AHL lineup. Stephan had some very positive things to say: The first thing one must talk about when discussing the still-19-year-old Hoglander, selected 40th overall in the 2019 Entry Draft, is his offensive prowess. The Canucks are high on Carson Focht, liking his mature, hard-working defensive game. The 7th-round pick was under-scouted as a Swedish defenceman without international experience whose season in the under-20 SuperElit league was shortened by injury. He also got his first taste of the top “Junior A”/Under-20 SM-liiga before stepping up full-time in 2019/20. It goes back to his smooth skating. He saw a major improvement to his decision-making at the AHL level and with that, was a dangerous force with the man advantage. He could see some spot action with the Canucks if injuries strike. Even with most of their best prospects graduating, the Vancouver Canucks have an impressive pool of prospects. He reminds me of a little bit of Troy Stecher in how hard he competes for pucks along the boards. As such, he’ll struggle to crack 20 points, and there will no doubt be those who question his merits as a prospect because of it. Höglander combines incredible hands and dynamic scoring ability with an incredible motor, constantly working and competing to win the puck, protect it, and get it into a dangerous scoring area. He can certainly contribute on the right half-wall, a place where he found himself rotating to at times in the 2019-20 season. He has excellent hand eye coordination and can be used in multiple positions on the power play. That’s why, beginning with last season, I started ranking the Canucks’ prospects using a pyramid. Finding an NHL comparable for the Canucks’ top 10 prospects By Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal May 20, 2020 42 The Vancouver Canucks are going to need their prospect pipeline to … He’s a great puck-mover, making difficult stretch passes look easy, and he’s a very smart player. This next little bit is going to be very telling for what the Canucks have in him, but here is what Faber had to say about him: Costmar is averaging just 5:04 per game this season in six games with Linkoping in the SHL. Will DiPietro be able to take his game to the NHL, where shots are harder and more accurate? Instead, Hoglander saved his big breakout for the World Junior Championships. Tier 1. As of this writing, Podkolzin is averaging just 12:04 per game, ranking him 18th overall among forwards who have played for SKA this year. And there you have it, folks! Who do you think needs to be knocked down or bumped up a tier? 2018-19 Team: Utica Comets … Quinn Hughes should spend the season up in Vancouver and make an instant impact by … He also has impressive hands and playmaking ability and took a big step forward in his second year in the AHL, putting up 44 points in 61 games. Recent history tells us to expect coach Trent Cull to bring Woo along slowly, either pairing him with a veteran presence like Ashton Sautner or limiting his minutes. Lind had 11 assists on the powerplay this season, eight of which were primary assists. Speaking realistically, there’s no reason to hope for a drastic change in Podkolzin’s ice-time throughout the remainder of his time with SKA, barring significant injury troubles. The questions surrounding Rafferty are all about his defending. He is a raw prospect with a ton of upside, but still has a ways to go until he’s ready for NHL action. The extra year will likely drive up the asking price. That being said, coming out too far and being too aggressive when it’s not absolutely necessary may make him susceptible to back door tap ins when he graduates to the NHL level, but again, these are all things that can be worked on. He scored nine of his 11 goals on the power play last season, including his first eight, which all come on the man advantage. Now it's a matter of putting together the other aspects of his game. As pointed out very well by Stephan, there is still plenty to like about Jett Woo, despite a slight dip in production last season. Jackson Kunz can put the puck in the net and has power forward potential, but his skating might never let him reach that potential. We’ve got some answers for that, but before we get to them, let’s delve into what exactly makes Jurmo such an enticing prospect. NHL News / The Daily Goal Horn / February … Look instead to Podkolzin’s performance at the Karjala Cup, and what we have to assume will be an assertive showing at the WJC in January. Canucksarmy is a fan site with no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA, CanucksArmy’s complete 2020 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings. Clearly, the offensive aspect of Rafferty’s game is solid; the question marks lie with his defensive game, where he might have trouble at the NHL level. However, he is still playing in the highest league in Finland, and that deserves some praise. The other big knock is his skating, though he is fine once he gets up to full speed, it feels like it takes too many steps for him to get there and he isn’t generating the power that he needs in his strides. Utunen provides little-to-no offence, but is smart and positionally sound defensively, using his skating to make up for his smaller size. He has talked about dreaming about playing in the Beanpot tournament for as long as he can remember and this year he went off in the final. When I spoke to him in September he said that sticking up for his teammates has been a thing he has done all his life and that mentality was fluid throughout the Utica Comets roster last season. He’s a few years away from coming over to North America so for now we will have to follow his MHL and VHL action while waiting for him to break into the KHL. The best part of Persson’s game is his offensive instincts. Vasili Podkolzin. 18 Vancouver Canucks By Scott Wheeler Jan 24, 2021 47 Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2021 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. Perhaps players like Kunz and Karlsson can do the same. He could seriously push to be in the top … He may not turn out to be a superstar in the sense of Hughes or Elias Pettersson, but he could be nearly as impactful with his strong two-way game. Please enter your email address to reset your password. 2019-20 Team: Utica Comets … NHL prospects considered for these rankings meet HF's prospect criteria at the time the list is published. He’s coming off a rough season with the Barrie Colts in the OHL, but has been fantastic in Latvia to start this season, both in league and international play. Top prospects for Vancouver Canucks Forward Podkolzin, defensemen Juolevi, Rafferty expected to play in NHL this season Costmar has dominated in Swedish junior hockey, putting up 26 goals and 50 points in 29 games last season and 6 points in 3 games this season. Still, he's got the grit and size, as well as the finish around the crease, to play in front of the net in the NHL. There are some red flags: he’s been injury prone, which is a concern with his hard-hitting game, and his game took a step back offensively last season. Unfortunately, Dmitri Zlodeyev was not named to Russia’s World Juniors roster despite playing with the squad in the Karjala Cup. He possesses a booming slapshot from the point that he can fire off in a hurry, and is extremely deceptive in creating open space for himself to let it go. This is the tier for everyone else in the system. Utunen plays a quiet game, the type of game where if you don’t hear from him at all, then he has done his job. I, like Travis Green and the Canucks’ management group, am a big believer in Olli Juolevi. This is a great spot for him to develop and Canucks fans and management will be able to monitor his development with a close eye as a result. Juolevi was the Comets’ best penalty killer last season and if he’s able to do it at the NHL level, the Canucks can then keep Nate Schmidt off the penalty kill and throw out the pairing of Quinn Hughes and Schmidt as a quick response pairing after each kill. Stephan Roget, Chris Faber, and I have watched a multitude of video and talked to many different scouts regarding each of these prospects. But Jurmo’s endeavors in the offensive end were not the primary reason he was drafted. With other Comets defencemen like Jalen Chatfield and Olli Juolevi, it was almost a nightly occurrence. #FreePodz is alive and well, and Canucks fans are going to absolutely love this kid once he gets here. An area for improvement in Silovs’ game is his low and wide stance, which leaves plenty of room up high and makes him look smaller in the net than his 6’4 203-pound frame would suggest. Faber had this to say: Lind was a mainstay on the Comets’ power play last season. Here is what Faber had to say about him: A leader through and through who is going to be steadily in our top 15 rankings for the next couple of years. It’s almost a throwback style of defending and is uncommon for defenders of his stature. The issue is that he wasn’t even a point-per-game player in the WHL when he already turned 20 in February, which is a concern. He is a centre prospect that could bring some real offence to a lineup if he is able to continue to develop enough to make it over to North America. Faber actually just interviewed Viktor Persson, a couple of days ago, actually. Juolevi still has the potential to be a top-four defenceman, even if injuries have set back his development. Those are our complete rankings of the Vancouver Canucks’ current prospect pool. What a season it has been for the Vancouver Canucks.Before the 2019 … Let us know in the comments section below! He looked strong in the AHL but the NHL is a different animal. He will need to be more of a 5-on-5 contributor this coming year. Adding to the right-side on defence, Jett Woo has the hard-hitting physical game to bring a different dimension to the Canucks’ defensive depth, but matches that with a well-rounded game. The Vancouver Canucks prospects need to develop well for the rebuild to work. Florida is getting incredible play from their top … It’s inevitable. As for the positives, he is tough as nails. Utunen doesn’t possess any one elite skill and projects more as an all-around defensive defenceman. He moves the puck well, is physical enough and skates well with a good looking stride. Scouts, who consistently rated him as a likely second round pick, were far more impressed with Jurmo’s ability to skate the puck up ice and get it into the o-zone, whether that resulted in points for him or not. Stephan had this to say about him: As someone simply described as fast, mobile, and big — 6’4” and already nearly 200lbs with plenty of room to bulk up — the most pertinent question regarding Jurmo might not be if he has an NHL future, but how a player so plainly designed for success in the modern era lasted until the third round. There are some people who think that Nils Höglander is the best prospect in the Canucks system. He combines that speed with some serious size, standing 6’4” and weighing in at 198 lbs. At higher levels, however, he’s been kept quiet, and he needs to show that he’s dynamic enough for his skill to shine through at the pro level. Number 3: Jack Rathbone (The Wildcard) Every year we see more and more high-end prospects make the jump to the NHL. Here’s part of Faber’s report: Zlodeyev is first and foremost a defensive centre but there’s something about how he attacks the net in the offensive zone that gets me excited. He was the youngest starter in the AHL last season at just 20 years of age and maintained a save percentage right around league average for a team that didn’t always defend well. Juolevi looked to be playing with much more confidence, perhaps the most confident he’s had since his junior days with the London Knights. Woo appeared to be heating up as the WHL season came to a close unexpectedly early. McDonough had a goal and three assists in the final and led his team to victory over Boston University. He’s a competitive kid who never gives up on a play, which works well with his excellent speed, agility, and flexibility. Well actually, it had the wrong idea — lots of wrong ideas, really, based on a lot of outdated and misinformed concepts about healthy eating — but it did have the right shape. The food pyramid had the right idea. All of the prospects in the Canucks’ system are among the best hockey players in the world. Jack Malone might have been as likely as Costmar to move up the pyramid if it wasn't for his season with Cornell University getting cancelled. Joni Jurmo was the Canucks’ top pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, albeit not until the third round, as they didn’t have a first or second-round pick. The following season didn’t start out as the explosive Draft+1 campaign that spoiled Vancouver fans have come to expect from their draft picks. He’s got a killer shot, and is motivated to prove he’s much more than just Tyler Madden’s linemate. The consensus among scouts I’ve spoken to is that he has reinvented his game a bit to be more of a defensive defenceman now instead of being a two-way guy. Again, this is a prospect who I’m a big believer in. He has been a captain for Finland in international play and is just beginning to get regular ice time in the Liiga. Sign in or register for your free account. Persson’s skating and playmaking are high-end and he has the tools to be a solid two-way player as well. Vasily Podkolzin, RW – SKA (KHL) The thing about graduating prospects quickly is your pipeline often loses a lot of its lustre.