Abbotsford Canucks Talk | 2025 Stretch Run

[Mr. Canucklehead]

With some conversation about Anthony Romani going pro next season in the Prospect Thread, I just thought I'd try and do a bit of a projection for how the Abby roster is looking heading into next season.

RFAs:
Arshdeep Bains
Max Sasson
Tristen Nielsen
Ty Glover
Christian Felton
Jett Woo
Cole McWard
Nikita Tolopilo

UFAs:
Sammy Blais
Jujar Khaira
Nate Smith
Phil Di Giuseppe
Akito Hirose
Guillaume Brisebois
Christian Wolanin
Cooper Walker
Dino Kambeitz

Possible Incoming Junior Prospects:
Anthony Romani
Vilmer Alrikkson
Sawyer Mynio

AHL Contracts:
Jackson Kunz

BLANK - BLANK - BLANK
BLANK - BLANK - BLANK
BLANK - Ty Mueller - Danila Klimovich
Josh Bloom - Chase Wouters - Jackson Kunz

BLANK - BLANK
BLANK - BLANK
BLANK - Kirill Kudryatsev

Arturs Silovs
Ty Young
Jiri Patera
Aku Koskenvuo

I took the depth chart from the last game the Abbotsford Canucks played to put it here. There aren't actually many players already under contract - either with us or on an AHL deal - for next season. Only in net do we have a glut of players signed beyond the end of the year.

There exists the possibility that some players up with the Canucks right now, who are signed next season, could end up playing in Abbotsford. Up front there is Aatu Raty, Nils Aman, Linus Karlsson and Jonathan Lekkerimaki that will all be battling for NHL positions, while on defense Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini will be in the fight, possibly joined by Tom Willander if he signs at the end of his college season.

Of our pending RFAs, I don't see all of them being qualified. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if the only players we did qualify were Bains, Sasson and McWard. Tolopilo could be the victim of a numbers game in net, Jett Woo is simply too far down the depth chart, and I don't think enough of the other players did enough to distinguish themselves for contracts.

On the UFA front, we stand set to lose several quality AHL veterans. Phil Di Giuseppe, Christian Wolanin being the biggest signed by the big club, while Sammy Blais and Jujar Khaira have been quality adds on AHL deals. I think there's a chance that Khaira re-ups with Abbotsford, but the baby Canucks will probably need to explore some extra help in free agency.

But at the end of the day, for our three graduating prospects from the junior ranks - Romani, Mynio and Alriksson - there definitely looks to be plenty of opportunity for them to find an opening on the farm. I can't see all three, or even two of them, going back for overage seasons.

 

[Vector]

 

[VanJack]

Not much doubt a big changeover in player personnel is in the works for Abbotsford next season.

As for this season, I think the Canucks front office thought that their young guys like Raty, Lekkerimaki, EP25, Kudryavtsev, Mueller, etc. would really benefit from experiencing a long run in the Calder Cup playoffs.

So they've added some veterans like Blais, Smith, Kambeitz, Khaira and Di Giuseppe and brought back the likes of Wolanin and Brisebois on the back end. And with Silovs, Tolopilo and even Petera all vying for time in the crease, unlike last year they're well set up between the pipes.

This could be 'their year'. Certainly they're one of the hottest teams in the AHL closing in on the post-season. Should be fun to see how it goes.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

I forgot about Koskenvuo on my depth chart, too. My guess is he's in Kalamazoo to start, though.

 

[MS]

With some conversation about Anthony Romani going pro next season in the Prospect Thread, I just thought I'd try and do a bit of a projection for how the Abby roster is looking heading into next season.

RFAs:
Arshdeep Bains
Max Sasson
Tristen Nielsen
Ty Glover
Christian Felton
Jett Woo
Cole McWard
Nikita Tolopilo

Bains, Sasson, and McWard will 100% be qualified.

I would think they'd also qualify Woo as there's really no reason not to - he's a solid veteran AHL D, adds toughness. If you don't qualify him you've got to go find a guy in UFA. You need veteran guys to balance out pairings with younger guys.

Nielsen will surely not be qualified but maybe they give him an AHL deal.

Glover and Felton are gone.

Absolutely no idea on Tolopilo. If they move Silovs maybe the keep him? But there's a bit of a glut right now.

UFAs:
Sammy Blais
Jujar Khaira
Nate Smith
Phil Di Giuseppe
Akito Hirose
Guillaume Brisebois
Christian Wolanin
Cooper Walker
Dino Kambeitz

Hard to say on any of these guys. Di Giuseppe is popular in the organization and good depth and I'm sure they'll look at bringing him back. Khaira is a popular local guy so maybe he's back on an AHL deal too.

Possible Incoming Junior Prospects:
Anthony Romani
Vilmer Alrikkson
Sawyer Mynio

Mynio is basically 100% to be in the top 6 next year.

I suspect Alriksson will be in Abbotsford although I think it might be better for his skill development to play his overage year in the OHL. No idea on Romani. I suspect he'll be back in the OHL after mostly losing his season this year.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I'd love to keep Khaira. Anything to get more Punjabs in skates. Those beautiful f***ers are strong as all get-out.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Bains, Sasson, and McWard will 100% be qualified.

I would think they'd also qualify Woo as there's really no reason not to - he's a solid veteran AHL D, adds toughness. If you don't qualify him you've got to go find a guy in UFA. You need veteran guys to balance out pairings with younger guys.

Nielsen will surely not be qualified but maybe they give him an AHL deal.

Glover and Felton are gone.

Absolutely no idea on Tolopilo. If they move Silovs maybe the keep him? But there's a bit of a glut right now.




Hard to say on any of these guys. Di Giuseppe is popular in the organization and good depth and I'm sure they'll look at bringing him back. Khaira is a popular local guy so maybe he's back on an AHL deal too.




Mynio is basically 100% to be in the top 6 next year.

I suspect Alriksson will be in Abbotsford although I think it might be better for his skill development to play his overage year in the OHL. No idea on Romani. I suspect he'll be back in the OHL after mostly losing his season this year.

On the junior guys - I agree Mynio seems like a lock to be playing pro. I can go either way on Romani or Alriksson. Alriksson has a projectable frame but hasn’t dominated at the junior level, so maybe an overage season would afford him that opportunity and playing time?

Romani lost a lot of time to injury, but sure seemed to find his groove again in the last stretch. He’s been a top flight junior player when healthy for a bit, so I wonder if there’s much development left for him at that level. I could see him going to Abbotsford - or even Kalamazoo.

 

[Blue and Green]

Down 3-2 going into the 3rd period in San Diego... then Kudryavtsev snuck in from the point and buried a cross-ice pass from Nielsen... Hirose flipped a floater from the blue line that found its way through a bunch of traffic and into the back of the net... Sasson grabbed a turnover by a Gulls defenceman and scored on a breakaway. Empty netter made it 6-3 final, and that is 11 consecutive wins.

 

[sting101]

i blame Ryan Johnson

 

[VanJack]

All you can ask of your AHL coach is that your young guys make progress in their first or second season.

And I can't think of almost any of their young players who didn't dramatically improve. And maybe the biggest 'risers' were Lekkerimaki, Kudryavtsev, Mueller, EP25 and particularly Klimovich, who had a breakout year.

With the parent Canucks season dwindling down to a few games, Aman, Karlsson, Lekkerimaki, Raty and Mancini are all going to end up back in Abbotsford for the post-season.

I have no idea how they're going to find playing time for everyone--but clearly they have an embarrassment of riches.

But a lot of the credit for this season has to go to Malhotra and his coaching staff. His squad has overcome injuries, call-ups, and a tough schedule, to position the team for their late-season hot streak. Such a breath of fresh air behind the bench in Abbotsford.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

At least Abbotsford is going to the playoffs.

This is where, if we had a true local broadcast, I really wish that Sportsnet would air Abbotsford’s playoff games on TV.

 

[I am toxic]

Deleted

 

[Vector]

Abbotsford Canucks have four home games left and I will be attending 3 of them. So that's cool.

 

[VanJack]

Abbotsford Canucks have four home games left and I will be attending 3 of them. So that's cool.

That's great......in person reports on Kudryavtsev, Mueller and Klimovich!

Guys who are 22 or younger. Huge development in their games this season. Kudryavtsev voted the third star in the game last game against the Gulls.

 

[orcatown]

Win streak has seen different players, at different times, stepping up. However, some showing consistent good efforts and improvement include the following:

Kudryavstev - continues a really outstanding year given his lack of pro experince. Passing remains very good and showing an incrasing ability to hit the stretch pass. Defensively, he has an excellent stick and very good gap control. Whether this can all translate to the same effectiveness at the NHL level is open to question. But his moxie and decision making are excellent. Last game, with the team down a goal in the third, he read an opportunity to slip in off the point to the side of the goal and get wide open for pass. Started slapping his stick to get a pass and Neilson was able to get the puck across for an easy goal. This started a 4 goal out break leading to the win.

Woo - this is his best stretch of hockey at this level IMO. Playing hard-nosed and much more able to exert a physical element. HIs tried this in the past but usually ended up getting injured or beaten up. Seems to be able to hold his own now. Play seems much less error prone and there has been significant improvement on the PK. Has taken some time, but he is now playing a good pro style game. Would also say Wolanin and Brisebose have stepped up their play.

Blais - has improved as the season has gone on. Over the last while has started scoring and approaching a point a game mark. On line with Khaira and they are a big dominant line (along with usually Bains) which provides a heavy forecheck. Don't think Blais skates well enough to help Vancouver but could well have been the best Abby forward during this win streak.

Khaira - been a great pick up to this point

Klimovich - there has been a significant improvement in his overall game. Puck movement and defensive game has gotten better. Was hard to see him ever being anything through his earlier years - just a turnover machine and looked totally lost at times. And that was so, even given his youth and inexperience. But his progession has been very good over the last while and you are are less and less appprehensive that he will do something horrible with the puck. In fact, there are times when he is looking like a seasoned AHLer - which in some ways he is.

Hirose - pretty much a write off after his struggles during injury-plagued season last year. However, during the win streak he has finally got more game time and has done well. I don't know if this can revive some interest by Vancouver in this player, but looking much more like the skilled player he appeared to be when the Canucks picked him up.

Mueller - is becoming a good PKer at this level. Having a good rookie season and is consistently playing well of late. Has passed Stevens in effectiveness, who has seen little to no action of late.

 

[Ernie]

At least Abbotsford is going to the playoffs.

This is where, if we had a true local broadcast, I really wish that Sportsnet would air Abbotsford’s playoff games on TV.

Would seem like a no-brainer opportunity for both the Canucks organization and the broadcaster.

The Canucks have some fun young players down there for the first time in many many years and the team should be all over it.

 

[VancouverJagger]

Win streak has seen different players, at different times, stepping up. However, some showing consistent good efforts and improvement include the following:

Kudryavstev - continues a really outstanding year given his lack of pro experince. Passing remains very good and showing an incrasing ability to hit the stretch pass. Defensively, he has an excellent stick and very good gap control. Whether this can all translate to the same effectiveness at the NHL level is open to question. But his moxie and decision making are excellent. Last game, with the team down a goal in the third, he read an opportunity to slip in off the point to the side of the goal and get wide open for pass. Started slapping his stick to get a pass and Neilson was able to get the puck across for an easy goal. This started a 4 goal out break leading to the win.

Woo - this is his best stretch of hockey at this level IMO. Playing hard-nosed and much more able to exert a physical element. HIs tried this in the past but usually ended up getting injured or beaten up. Seems to be able to hold his own now. Play seems much less error prone and there has been significant improvement on the PK. Has taken some time, but he is now playing a good pro style game. Would also say Wolanin and Brisebose have stepped up their play.

Blais - has improved as the season has gone on. Over the last while has started scoring and approaching a point a game mark. On line with Khaira and they are a big dominant line (along with usually Bains) which provides a heavy forecheck. Don't think Blais skates well enough to help Vancouver but could well have been the best Abby forward during this win streak.

Khaira - been a great pick up to this point

Klimovich - there has been a significant improvement in his overall game. Puck movement and defensive game has gotten better. Was hard to see him ever being anything through his earlier years - just a turnover machine and looked totally lost at times. And that was so, even given his youth and inexperience. But his progession has been very good over the last while and you are are less and less appprehensive that he will do something horrible with the puck. In fact, there are times when he is looking like a seasoned AHLer - which in some ways he is.

Hirose - pretty much a write off after his struggles during injury-plagued season last year. However, during the win streak he has finally got more game time and has done well. I don't know if this can revive some interest by Vancouver in this player, but looking much more like the skilled player he appeared to be when the Canucks picked him up.

Mueller - is becoming a good PKer at this level. Having a good rookie season and is consistently playing well of late. Has passed Stevens in effectiveness, who has seen little to no action of late.

Solid Update thanks...........Which of the above should we be most excited about a potential NHL career? From all accounts for me that would appear to be Kudryavstev - for a 7th round pick his story is pretty remarkable. He's a bit undersized but quite tenacious and somewhat stocky. He is the guy I'm probably most intrigued by going into next year.

 

[WTG]

All you can ask of your AHL coach is that your young guys make progress in their first or second season.

And I can't think of almost any of their young players who didn't dramatically improve. And maybe the biggest 'risers' were Lekkerimaki, Kudryavtsev, Mueller, EP25 and particularly Klimovich, who had a breakout year.

With the parent Canucks season dwindling down to a few games, Aman, Karlsson, Lekkerimaki, Raty and Mancini are all going to end up back in Abbotsford for the post-season.

I have no idea how they're going to find playing time for everyone--but clearly they have an embarrassment of riches.

But a lot of the credit for this season has to go to Malhotra and his coaching staff. His squad has overcome injuries, call-ups, and a tough schedule, to position the team for their late-season hot streak. Such a breath of fresh air behind the bench in Abbotsford.

Malhotra and his staff get an A+ this season without a doubt. If he continues to be successful, I wonder when he will get an opportunity in the NHL. The system Tocchet and Malhotra are said to be similar but watching Malhotra's team they seem to go after teams more offensively. Tocchet's team gets outshot every single night but Malhotra's team rarely does when I watch. Also, the development from the young players has been amazing, everyone seems to have taken a step up, you couldn't have asked for more.

 

[VanJack]

Watching those AHL highlights on the website a couple of days after every game, the player that really stands out for me is Sasson.

He has such blazing speed through the neutral zone......one bobble of the puck by the d-man and he strips it and is away to the races.

I I know the results were middling when he was recalled earlier this season. But he's one of the few center prospects they have who can clearly skate at the NHL-level. I really hope he comes to camp flying and gets a long look next season.

 

[Diversification]

Watching those AHL highlights on the website a couple of days after every game, the player that really stands out for me is Sasson.

He has such blazing speed through the neutral zone......one bobble of the puck by the d-man and he strips it and is away to the races.

I I know the results were middling when he was recalled earlier this season. But he's one of the few center prospects they have who can clearly skate at the NHL-level. I really hope he comes to camp flying and gets a long look next season.

Agreed. He has a legit shot to be our 4C next year with upside to move up.

 

[I am toxic]

Watching those AHL highlights on the website a couple of days after every game, the player that really stands out for me is Sasson.

He has such blazing speed through the neutral zone......one bobble of the puck by the d-man and he strips it and is away to the races.

I I know the results were middling when he was recalled earlier this season. But he's one of the few center prospects they have who can clearly skate at the NHL-level. I really hope he comes to camp flying and gets a long look next season.

He is vidal for the big club's success

 

[bandwagonesque]

He is vidal for the big club's success

Or maybe it's Maybelline -- big kid, hammers the puck, goes to the dirty areas, rinses and repeats as necessary

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Looks like Sasson has gotten called up today, so that’s an astute observation.

 

[Blue and Green]

Of our pending RFAs, I don't see all of them being qualified. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if the only players we did qualify were Bains, Sasson and McWard. Tolopilo could be the victim of a numbers game in net, Jett Woo is simply too far down the depth chart, and I don't think enough of the other players did enough to distinguish themselves for contracts.

On the UFA front, we stand set to lose several quality AHL veterans. Phil Di Giuseppe, Christian Wolanin being the biggest signed by the big club, while Sammy Blais and Jujar Khaira have been quality adds on AHL deals. I think there's a chance that Khaira re-ups with Abbotsford, but the baby Canucks will probably need to explore some extra help in free agency.

I think that Woo will probably get qualified. That would make seven RHD's contracted with Vancouver (assuming Willander signs and Juulsen re-signs) and that's fine. Four in Vancouver, three in Abbotsford. Tolopilo, I agree, with Silovs, Patera and Young already under contract for next season it's hard to see a spot for him even though he's a capable AHL goalie.

Of the UFA's on NHL contracts, I expect Wolanin and Hirose to be gone. I think that they will make an effort to keep Brisebois and Di Giuseppe. Not sure about Nate Smith; he's nothing special but he can play centre and there's no one coming at centre in the prospect pool, so it's possible that they might re-sign him. They'll have plenty of contract slots, that's not going to be an issue.

 

[Vector]

I hope Woo gets qualified. He’s my daughter’s favourite player.