Mr. Canucklehead
Kitimat Canuck
Still kind of surprised the Canucks/Abby haven't added anyone yet, outside of possibly Smith and Pitera.
Abbotsford Canucks Talk | Part 2
- Thread starter Mr. Canucklehead
- Start date
krutovsdonut
eeyore
- Sep 25, 2016
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do they wait for the development camp to be done to get a feel for what prospects might be coming?
Mr. Canucklehead
Kitimat Canuck
Gatcomb played some solid hockey for Abby last year - good for him getting an NHL contract.
This is actually a big loss for Abbotsford and I wouldn't be surprised to see this player get some NHL games in the future.
Blue and Green
Out to lunch
- Dec 17, 2017
- 3,572
- 3,627
I'm surprised that he got one, and I'm glad that it wasn't here. No complaints about him as a third-line AHLer but that's what he was last season and he'll turn 25 in a few weeks.
We're only three days into free agency....so still time for the Canucks to add some veteran depth to their Abbotsford farm team.
Losing guys like Gatcomb, Dries, Johansson and Matt Irwin, is definitely going to hurt. But with all the UFA signings on the parent Canucks, it really makes you wonder if there's going to be any room for the likes of Karlsson, Bains, Sasson, Raty and McWard.
Before July 1st, I thought there was a chance that two or three of these kids might stick with the Canucks. But now I'm not so sure. Another year in Abbotsford is possible for all of them.
And these guys would be starting their third seasons in the AHL--so they almost qualify as 'veterans'.
Losing guys like Gatcomb, Dries, Johansson and Matt Irwin, is definitely going to hurt. But with all the UFA signings on the parent Canucks, it really makes you wonder if there's going to be any room for the likes of Karlsson, Bains, Sasson, Raty and McWard.
Before July 1st, I thought there was a chance that two or three of these kids might stick with the Canucks. But now I'm not so sure. Another year in Abbotsford is possible for all of them.
And these guys would be starting their third seasons in the AHL--so they almost qualify as 'veterans'.
Mr. Canucklehead
Kitimat Canuck
I think presently, we're looking at something like this, assuming Podkolzin and Aman stay up as the 12th and 13th forwards.
Bains - Sasson - Karlsson
Lekkerimaki - Smith - Nielsen
Raty - Stevens - Glover
Loewen - Mueller - Klimovich
Bloom - Walker
Wolanin - McWard
Hirose - Brisebois
Pettersson - Fenton
Kudryatsev
Tolopilo
Pitera
The top line looks fine. Lekkerimaki and Nielsen should hopefully be capable offensive wingers for a second line, and I think the team has high hopes for Smith. Raty/Stevens is 2/3 of a good line, but after that, the quality of forwards is dicey. I think it makes a bit more sense to find a legitimate top-six AHLer or two and push Smith/Nielsen down, rather than finding some other bottom six filler types.
The defense looks awfully green. A lot will depend on if Brisebois can stay healthy. McWard had an okay rookie season, you sure hope Hirose can bounce back, and then you've got three newbies.
Goaltending looks fine.
Lindgren
Registered User
- Jun 30, 2005
- 6,180
- 4,186
By mid-season everybody will know how to spell my man Kudryavtsev's name!
Scumbag Frank
Hard Time in the Slammer
God I hope Loewen is not back. Such a joke. Definitely can't play and really initimates no one with his clownish antics.
Team needs to get some toughness that can be effective. If not you can start counting the days till someone like Lekkerimaki or Mc Ward get hurt.
Believe rookie head coach Malhotra will have trouble getting far with this team.
Fact that Gatcomb got a contract with Islanders illustrates what some of thought. He did have some potential. Some toughness. decent skater, good on PK and a two way player. Might seriously question his hands and ability to put away chances. Type of player, who if he hangs around long enough, might eke out some NHL time.
Whichever route they go in Vancouver, I hope that the eighth d-man doesn't sit around for months in the press-box like Friedman did last year in Vancouver.
Get him on waivers and down to Abby, where he could really help the young d-men. You can still call him up in an injury emergency.
Mr. Canucklehead
Kitimat Canuck
D’oh. Thanks!
EDIT: With PDG (or Aman) and Woo, things do look a bit better.
Bains - Aman/PDG* - Karlsson
Lekkerimaki - Sasson - Nielsen
Raty - Smith - Glover
Loewen - Stevens - Klimovich
Bloom - Mueller - Walker
Wolanin - Woo
Hirose - McWard
Pettersson - Brisebois
Kudryatsev - Fenton
Tolopilo
Pitera
Last edited:
Lindgren
Registered User
- Jun 30, 2005
- 6,180
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https://x.com/QuadrelliD
https://x.com/QuadrelliD
@QuadrelliD
Abbotsford #Canucks have hired Chiefs associate coach Andrew Shaw as their new video coach. Shaw has been in the BCHL since 2019-20, when he started out as Chilliwack’s video coach.
https://x.com/QuadrelliD
@QuadrelliD
Abbotsford #Canucks have hired Chiefs associate coach Andrew Shaw as their new video coach. Shaw has been in the BCHL since 2019-20, when he started out as Chilliwack’s video coach.
So far this Abbotsford Canuck blueline is going to be 'green as grass'.....which makes it tough to compete night to night in the AHL.
Hopefully one of Friedmann or Juulsen clears waivers and can start out on the farm to spell off some of the young guys who are bound to struggle. But if not, they may have to troll the NHL UFA bargain-bin for some veteran AHL help.
Hopefully one of Friedmann or Juulsen clears waivers and can start out on the farm to spell off some of the young guys who are bound to struggle. But if not, they may have to troll the NHL UFA bargain-bin for some veteran AHL help.
Joe Arnsten is another guy on defence you're missing.
Lindgren
Registered User
- Jun 30, 2005
- 6,180
- 4,186
I completely missed that one. Had to look him up. (ahem—another spelling challenge)
For those that also drew a blank, here's the story from back in the spring:
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vanco...-arntsen-to-a-one-year-ahl-contract-04-132024
I still maintain that Arntsen has no chance of sticking in the AHL at D but is a good bet to convert into a 4th line neo-enforcer to replace the useless Loewen.
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 6,731
- 2,902
Jonathan Lemieux is in the second year of his AHL contract after spending all of his rookie season in the ECHL. Any chance he pushes for time in Abbotsford?
Can't really see it, since Tolopilo and Patera are now ahead of him in Abbotsford. And they don't want a goalie sitting around not playing all here, which is what happened to Sawchenko last season.
Interesting that Gary Agnew has been let go. Was actually Malhotra's assistant coach when Malhotra played for Columbus. Former colleague of Tocchet when they were both assistant coaches in Pittsburgh. Was fired by Rutherford in Pittsburgh. Been with the Utica/Abby since 2017.
Guess the powers to be didn't like the guy.
Guess the powers to be didn't like the guy.
There's traditionally a high turnover of coaches at the AHL level. Often it's nothing more than a guy wanting to get into a position in hockey closer to where they live, or where their family lives.
Even at that, Abbotsford has had an extraordinary turnover of coaches in one season--a new head coach and mostly new assistant positions.
Manny Malhotra and his assistants have a tough act to follow. Jeremy Colliton and his staff did an exemplary job. Back to back 40 win season, and most importantly, winning with one of the youngest rosters in the AHL. For your AHL farm team, it doesn't get much better than that.
Even at that, Abbotsford has had an extraordinary turnover of coaches in one season--a new head coach and mostly new assistant positions.
Manny Malhotra and his assistants have a tough act to follow. Jeremy Colliton and his staff did an exemplary job. Back to back 40 win season, and most importantly, winning with one of the youngest rosters in the AHL. For your AHL farm team, it doesn't get much better than that.
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