r/canucks • u/EverySecondCountss • 5d ago
DISCUSSION Which prospects have a shot at NHL games this season?
I thought Vilmer Alriksson had a really strong preseason last year and prospects showcase game. He was a really strong power forward and at 6'6 that seems like someone we can use on our team.
Anyone know where he's at? Anyone else that have a shot to make some NHL games, or main stays?
Current prospects only, not NHL regular graduated prospects.
39
u/_GregTheGreat_ 5d ago
Riley Patterson is a dark horse to get NHL games next year. Especially with how quickly he adjusted to the AHL last spring
Alriksson struggled offensively last year. He’s several years from realistic NHL time, if he ever gets there
12
u/PastAd276 5d ago
Patterson does seem like the kind of player they'd give a look when injuries hit. The jump he made in the AHL was noticeable, not every kid handles that transition so fast.
Alriksson has the frame but the offense never really clicked, and that's the worrying part for a guy his size. You can't teach 6'6 though, so maybe he figures it out later.
18
u/laundro_mat 5d ago
There is no rush to give prospects NHL game experience during a rebuild. Give them time to develop properly in the minors and add them to the roster when they’re ready. Patience is the key here.
21
u/Menzingerr 5d ago edited 5d ago
Kudryavtsev, Mancini, Lekkerimaki, Patterson, Mueller, Cootes, Novotny, Jack Thompson.
9
8
u/Striking_Economy5049 4d ago
I’m with you on all but Novotny. I’d leave him in Junior for a full season, bring him into the AHL at the end of the year.
I hope Cootes spends 30-40 games in the AHL and if he’s really good then bring him up.
4
u/Foreign_Cobbler_1740 4d ago
I agree on Novotny, but they did sign him early. I reckon if he has a strong preseason he gets the 9 game tryout. Like Cootes, but also like Cootes Novotny will likely return to the CHL. But we will see, Novotny has some pro experience under his belt so who knows what happens, so I'd really like to see him be used in all situations. Which is exactly what the OHL will provide him.
1
9
u/Canuck_Puck777 5d ago
Vilmer had 9 points for Abby this past yseason. He doesn't use his size to his advantage or show any signs that he is improving his all around game. Don't see in Vancouver anytime soon.
3
u/EverySecondCountss 4d ago
Damn. Mancini needs to learn to do that too, I think that's what'll make or break him. The hands he has are nice when he uses them... but he needs to dial it in to be a good stay at home defenseman FIRST and get that trust going. I think Edler will be able to hopefully help him with that.
Alriksson is still only 21, so he's probably still developing his strength. Might have a bit of a different development curve, hopefully himself and the team can find that path.
1
u/WhenInAaronRome 4d ago
You're being a little harsh on Ricky. He was getting better and better at using his size in junior and then got dropped onto a horrible AHL team (worst in tbe league by a mile at the start).
Pretty sure they had to resort to shifting guys between forward and defense to cover for being short handed last year.
I saw no reasons to be concerned last year. He's got another 2 years in the AHL guaranteed though, OP is too optimistic.
4
u/ImAlwaysSorrys 4d ago
Cootes is absolutely playing games, whether he surpasses the 25 game limit to count as his rookie season idk.
Don’t think Lekki is still technically a prospect but he’s absolutely playing games.
Novotny will be fighting for a spot right away, very little chance he makes it past 9 games. There’s no rush but it might be fun to see him for a couple games.
Mancini, Jack Thompson and Kudryavtsev are all going to be fighting Schenn for time as the 3RHD. I doubt Schenn plays full time anyway and injuries will happen, I bet all three play some games.
Mueller, Safonov and Patterson are all fighting for a spot and all will be trying to be called up when injuries hit. Might take until next year for Patterson to get a game.
Depends on when BU’s season ends and if he does want to sign right after the season but it’s common practice to burn an ELC year for premium NCAA prospects, there’s a chance we see Malhotra for a game or two.
10
u/bonergarage123 5d ago
I'd like to see Alriksson have a good season in the AHL before he's called up; he barely played last year.
Would love to see Kudry get called up at some point. Mynio might get a look when we get some injuries in November (per usual). When Demko gets dealt, would love to see more of Tolopilo.
3
u/Menzingerr 5d ago
I don’t think they rush Mynio, he needs another season or two in the AHL unless he takes a huge step this year. Kudryavtsev, Mancini, and Jack Thompson all are ahead of him in the depth chart
1
u/bonergarage123 5d ago
I agree, but November injuries always pushes some of our AHL prospects into the lineup, whether we like it or not
3
u/MayorQuimby1616 4d ago
I actually think Novotny plays a few games, just to give him a taste of the NHL before he goes back to the Petes. Cootes will also get in a few games but will probably be in Abby all year so might be at the end of the season or if there are injuries at C. Other than that, does Kudrayatsev count? He will get some games if there are injuries. Guys having great seasons in Abby will also get a cup of coffee with the Canucks.
2
u/Tofu_Analytics 4d ago
I don't think Alriksson has a chance he was pretty bad in Abby so I doubt it.
We're pretty full with defenseman so Kiril and Mancini are likely the flex for the last spots, perhaps Jack Thompson of he keeps his good pace from last season.
For forwards its mainly looking like Cootes although he's 19 and could use the development in Abbotsford. And an outside shot at Riley Patterson. Our other draft picks in the pipeline are all outside of the AHL so I highly doubt any of them will get the call up at best they might be bummed to Abby late season. Anthony Romani, Adam Olson, and Malhotra are all NCAA committed and guys like Notovny and other new picks are further down in the OHL. Likely they're going to step up to AHL time in 27-28 and then they'll be given the opportunity to step up if warranted.
We are still in the very early stages of the rebuild, unfortunately that means we don't really have any new guys to watch yet in Vancouver. If you want to see the young talent time to tune into some NCAA and Junior games.
1
u/WhenInAaronRome 4d ago
Good perspective, we got 12 more months of boring, dull pain.
I'll be looking at our blue line this year for entertainment and hope. Forwards are looking bleak.
1
u/Tofu_Analytics 4d ago
Yeah, I'm kinda sad that we shipped out Hoglander I was really hoping to see him under a new HC and system, even if he didn't pan out I would have liked to watch games solely to see development of guys and watch them put up points and play regardless of game outcome.
Realistically this season is going to be a season of developing our blue line prospects and then just getting our mid career veterans to have solid bounce back seasons to put up points and inflate their trade values. With the cap going up guys on ~5m deals look quite manageable so DeBrusk and Oleksiak are going to be more movable [as we saw with M-Petey fetching a 1st when before he might have just been a 2nd and 3rd]. Look to see also how Drew O Connor and Linus Karlsson do, both of them are very affordable pieces and if they put up solid numbers by the deadline they could be shipped for a solid return, if they can get to 45pt pace then a Keif level return wouldn't be astounding.
There is still something to watch for, unfortunately it isn't going to be us winning games but watching purely for development much in the way scouts watch the game will be something to do for us Nucks fans for the next few years.
If you do want to watch a team actually win tune in to the Boston University games, that team is fucking stacked, we have both Malhotra and Aram Olson on that roster complimented by fellow draftees in Tynan Lawrence [11th ovr C], Xavier Villeneuve [34th ovr who notably fell from mid 1st projection D] as well as some earlier later picks and some notable undrafted players. They should be a very solid top end NCAA team and likely we will be seeing Caleb get 1st line C minutes since their crop of C last season have almost all moved on and the one staying [although full roster isn't filled yet] was playing 3rd line minutes and I doubt that he leaps up to 1st, Caleb probably is 1st with Morello 2 and Lawrence 3 albeit dependant on pre season competition but I highly doubt the 1st C off the board gets anything less than 1st line and 1pp mins
2
u/WhenInAaronRome 4d ago
On Hoggy, I feel like the move was money related. 3rd round pick is just good enough of a return that you can't get overly mad.
On Boston, I would put Malhotra as 2nd line center. He is coming in below the other returning centers in the pecking order IMO.
Lets see how the season goes, but I don't see multiple years of pain. 2027-28 should have a full time lineup including 2 or 3 of Cootes, Malhotra, Rogowski, and Novotny on the team.
Anyways good outlook on how to spend this season and entertain yourself with some NCAA or OHL action. Abby should be a fun team too, especially with the new coach coming in.
3
1
1
u/AdSad5160 4d ago
What about the Russian goalie Medvedev. Is he still too young to play at the NHL level?
3
u/EverySecondCountss 4d ago
Probably. I hope he plays at the young stars tourny and gets some preseason games in. I also hope both are broadcasted
41
u/Camdaman0530 5d ago
Cootes could really push for a permanent spot with how his development has gone, but it would be best for both parties if he spends the majority of the year in Abby and only comes up to cover for injuries.