The 5 most intriguing players at Vancouver Canucks prospects camp
Some select Vancouver Canucks skaters will take the Rogers Arena ice this weekend as the team starts the slow climb back into the NHL regular season.
Those players are the Canucks’ prospects and, in the absence of a Young Stars tournament like they’ve had in the past, they’ll be throwing the blue and green sweaters over their heads to compete against each other.
And while the team is ostensibly done with the rebuild and ready to compete for a playoff spot (at least according to the moves made by general manager Jim Benning), we’re still at the point where the club’s prospects generate a ton of buzz.
Expect the camp to be well attended as anxious fans get their first looks at the next wave of hopefuls. Here’s who we’ve got our eye on this year.
5. Ethan Keppen
With the absence of Vasili Podkolzin and Nils Hoglander, fourth-rounder Keppen is the highest-selected 2019 draftee that will suit up for the Canucks this weekend.
The 6’2, 212-pound left wing is also the second-heaviest prospect (behind only Zack MacEwen) at development camp. The 18-year-old will likely spend another season with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL (where he put up 59 points in 68 games). But one wonders if he tries to throw his weight around a little bit in a bid to impress Canucks’ brass.
4. Brogan Rafferty
We’re not sure exactly why, but Rafferty impressed us in his two-game stint with the big club last year. The smooth-skating defenceman didn’t register any points, but he did move the puck with some ease and was a willing puck-battle participant. He seemed to create a touch of distance between himself and the team’s other college free agent signings on the blueline, like Josh Teves and Mitch Eliot.
There’s not much room for him on the club right now, but don’t be surprised if he gets a call-up from Utica after injuries inevitably hit.
3. Michael DiPietro
After getting shelled in his emergency call-up against the San Jose Sharks in February, DiPietro had an obvious chip on his shoulder and used it to go on a 25-4 run with the Ottawa 67s. He was hurt in the OHL finals, but expect him to be incredibly motivated and eager to showcase himself as a legitimate goalie of the future for the Canucks. He has a big year ahead of him with Utica.
2. Quinn Hughes
Unlike every other prospect attending camp this weekend, Hughes has a guaranteed spot in the Canucks’ opening night lineup. After excelling with the team at the end of last season, Hughes will be ready to run circles around the competition at camp this weekend and we can’t wait to see it.
1. Olli Juolevi
Since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Juolevi hasn’t exactly been blessed with a ton of luck. The defenceman spent the 2017-18 season with Turku of the Finnish Elite League and was one of the team’s best players. But the next year he tallied 13 points in 18 games with the Utica Comets before being sidelined by a knee injury.
And now, he reportedly might not be a full participant at prospects camp because he’s still recovering from surgery that the ailment triggered.
That’s tough. This could be a make-or-break season for Juolevi (he has to play Canucks games this year, right?), and the fact that it’s starting off on the wrong knee (had to), is troubling.
The team says he’ll be ready for the start of the season, and Benning insisted he’s cleared for contact, so maybe fans will get to see him in action.
https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1169323640149532673
Canucks prospect camp goes this weekend at Rogers Arena.
Follow @ncaddell on Twitter
Comments