Abbotsford Canucks Thread | Prospects Starting to Heat Up

[Blue and Green]

Have to hope this wasn't just a case of Colorado being so bad but still many younger players looked fully able to play well at this level.

They were the better team in both games and deserved to win both, but man did they ever cash in on a bunch of nice bounces this weekend. You take 'em when you get 'em.

 

[JumpierPegasus]

It's nice to have defensive prospects make the transition to the AHL and actually be successful instead of completely fizzling out. Petey and Kudry both look like they have a bright future in the pros based on that transition. Hope Mynio can do the same next year

Mueller showing well too up front. Don't know if there is much there but he's elevated his fame in increased minutes and is good at finding players in open space

 

[Lindgren]

The back-to-back wins move Abby into 6th place (by points %) in the Pacific.

The top seven teams in the Pacific make the playoffs. I suppose it should be a goal to move into the top four so that they'd have home ice advantage in an opening round, best of three series. (At least I think that's how it works, with the first place team getting a pass into the next round?)

Lots of hockey still to play, of course, but the two regulation victories vs Colorado, who remain ahead but now within reach, were important if we're projecting into the playoffs.

 

[WTG]

I have to say, Malhotra and the rest of the coaching staff deserve credit when it comes to the play of the prospects so far. Pettersson and Kudryavtsev have come in and looked great so far, Mueller has really elevated his game from the beginning of the season, and Klimovich has found a scoring touch.

It has to do a lot with the quality of young players in Abby too, but I have to commend them for getting these performances out of the young guys.

 

[sting101]

Yes good to see 2 21yr olds (Klimovich Mueller) and 3 20yr olds (Lekkerimaki Pettersson Kudryavtsev) amongst the best players in Abby at this stage of the season.

A massive amount of missed games by PDG Bains Karlsson Blais Sasson and Raty understanding that it was most likely a couple of them would be potential call ups but it bodes well for us if they keep this progression going.

Really impressive by the 20yr olds

 

[krutovsdonut]

Kambietz from Wolanin 4-1


Nice drive by Kambeitz but that was some awful defending by Colorado

the way he repeatedly pushes off with only his outside skate to drive around a guy on the boards just before the goal is interesting. figure skater in another life?

 

[VanJack]

Three stars dominated by Abby players 20-21 years old.. Lekkerimaki with two goals and assist; Elias Pettersson, three assists; and Mueller, three assists.

Might be a first for the Canucks AHL farm team. I wonder how far guys like Lekkerimaki, D-Petey and Kudryavtsev are from the NHL? If they're dominating in the AHL as basically junior age players, how good will they be by the time they're 23-24?

 

[Chaos Giraffe]

Three stars dominated by Abby players 20-21 years old.. Lekkerimaki with two goals and assist; Elias Pettersson, three assists; and Mueller, three assists.

Might be a first for the Canucks AHL farm team. I wonder how far guys like Lekkerimaki, D-Petey and Kudryavtsev are from the NHL? If they're dominating in the AHL as basically junior age players, how good will they be by the time they're 23-24?

I expect Lekkerimaki to be ready for full time contributions next season.

As for D-Petey and Kudryavtsev, something along the lines of the forward shuffle we've had this year with Lekkerimaki/Bains/Raty/Sasson/Aman/Sprong. I can't see why they couldn't fill in the shoes of a guy like Forbort who is free agent at the end of this year.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Nice to see the kids leading the way. And I think a lot of them are benefitting from some auditions in the show, or salivating at the chance for their audition.

Didn’t expect a three point game from D-Petey. Pleasantly surprised on how much offense he’s factored in on. And nice to see Mueller getting in on the action, too.

I wonder how long it is until we see Aman get a look back up. Sasson was good today against Tampa, so maybe not yet - but Aman has been consistently strong in Abby since being sent down.

 

[LemonSauceD]

There’s a good chance 3-4 of these guys can make the team next year, especially Willander, D Petey, and Kudryavtsev.

I wouldn’t mind calling up D-Petey after the 4 nations and see how he does getting a taste of the NHL. Lekkerimaki should stay down the entire year, likewise with Kudryavtsev. Lekkerimaki will benefit playing a full season of NA hockey.

 

[The Stig]

Teddy Bear Toss next Saturday. Hopefully it sells well.

 

[Hockeyphysio]

Is it Time for Aman to come up again?

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Is it Time for Aman to come up again?

IMO, it won't be long until one of him, Karlsson or Lekkerimaki gets another look. The Canucks have to like back to back three point games from Lekkerimaki, Tocchet was a big fan of Karlsson last season and he's finally healthy again, and Aman has consistently been one of the top offensive players on the farm since being sent there.

 

[Lindgren]

IMO, it won't be long until one of him, Karlsson or Lekkerimaki gets another look. The Canucks have to like back to back three point games from Lekkerimaki, Tocchet was a big fan of Karlsson last season and he's finally healthy again, and Aman has consistently been one of the top offensive players on the farm since being sent there.

I really hope that they give Lekkerimaki a longer stretch before his next call-up. I'd like to see twenty to thirty games of consistent success, and even then, unless there's a specific need with Vancouver, I'd probably prefer that he stay down in the A and work on his game. And his strength.

Five days before Abbotsford plays again. Gym time.

 

[MS]

I really hope that they give Lekkerimaki a longer stretch before his next call-up. I'd like to see twenty to thirty games of consistent success, and even then, unless there's a specific need with Vancouver, I'd probably prefer that he stay down in the A and work on his game. And his strength.

Five days before Abbotsford plays again. Gym time.

Lekkerimaki is just blatantly not ready for the NHL right now, both in terms of his ability to compete physically and his defensive play. I don't really want to see him up here again this year. Just leave him down there in a consistent environment. Yo-yoing guys is the worst thing you can do to a prospect.

 

[Jerry the great]

Lekkerimaki is just blatantly not ready for the NHL right now, both in terms of his ability to compete physically and his defensive play. I don't really want to see him up here again this year. Just leave him down there in a consistent environment. Yo-yoing guys is the worst thing you can do to a prospect.

It really is a better place for him right now. schedule allows time for him to actually get bigger and stronger, which is the biggest obstacle between him and the NHL right now.

 

[WTG]

Lekkerimaki is just blatantly not ready for the NHL right now, both in terms of his ability to compete physically and his defensive play. I don't really want to see him up here again this year. Just leave him down there in a consistent environment. Yo-yoing guys is the worst thing you can do to a prospect.

I somewhat disagree. Calling up a player and giving them a few games can help them adjust their playing style to get them more prepared for the NHL next season. I understand what you mean though with yo-yoing guys where the goal is just to squeeze a performance out of them to justify keeping them in the NHL.

The same type of thing with Junior players being able to play games at the end of the season with the AHL team.

 

[MS]

I somewhat disagree. Calling up a player and giving them a few games can help them adjust their playing style to get them more prepared for the NHL next season. I understand what you mean though with yo-yoing guys where the goal is just to squeeze a performance out of them to justify keeping them in the NHL.

The same type of thing with Junior players being able to play games at the end of the season with the AHL team.

We already did this is kind of my point. We don't need to do it again.

The AHL is a developmental league so absolutely give guys a look at ends of seasons there - that's the point. Or if you're out of the NHL playoff picture, sure. But playoff teams can't be in the business of giving guys 'experience' down the stretch and into the playoffs unless they actually provide an upgrade over the existing players on the roster.

 

[Ernie]

Really nice to see a handful of players tracking well in the AHL. Outside of Lekk and Willander the Canucks don't have a lot of high end skill in their development system but the middle tier is looking decent.

 

[beachcomber]

Lekkerimaki is just blatantly not ready for the NHL right now, both in terms of his ability to compete physically and his defensive play. I don't really want to see him up here again this year. Just leave him down there in a consistent environment. Yo-yoing guys is the worst thing you can do to a prospect.

Yes, just absorb the coaching, learn how to be a pro, live in the gym and avail himself of all the of the resources and support available to him from the Canucks. It is all there if he wants it.

 

[MS]

Really nice to see a handful of players tracking well in the AHL. Outside of Lekk and Willander the Canucks don't have a lot of high end skill in their development system but the middle tier is looking decent.

We have 4 2003/04-born rookies in the AHL this year (Lekkerimaki, Mueller, EP2, Kudryatsev) and generally you'd be happy if even 2 of them were swimming instead of sinking when they moved up levels. That all 4 are doing so well is exceptional.

Actually 5 rookies I guess, given that Ty Young has also come up and (surprisingly, to me) done quite well.

What a difference from 2018 when we had the Juolevi/Lind/Gadjovich/Dahlen/Palmu group hit the AHL - and that was a much more hyped group, much higher draft positions - and they all absolutely faceplanted.

 

[WTG]

We already did this is kind of my point. We don't need to do it again.

The AHL is a developmental league so absolutely give guys a look at ends of seasons there - that's the point. Or if you're out of the NHL playoff picture, sure. But playoff teams can't be in the business of giving guys 'experience' down the stretch and into the playoffs unless they actually provide an upgrade over the existing players on the roster.

I'm more-so talking about the defensive prospects rather than Lekkerimaki. It's not like the defense has been spectacular this year. Currently, they have 3 healthy LHD, meaning if one of them goes down, a opening opens up.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

We have 4 2003/04-born rookies in the AHL this year (Lekkerimaki, Mueller, EP2, Kudryatsev) and generally you'd be happy if even 2 of them were swimming instead of sinking when they moved up levels. That all 4 are doing so well is exceptional.

Actually 5 rookies I guess, given that Ty Young has also come up and (surprisingly, to me) done quite well.

What a difference from 2018 when we had the Juolevi/Lind/Gadjovich/Dahlen/Palmu group hit the AHL - and that was a much more hyped group, much higher draft positions - and they all absolutely faceplanted.

Pun intended?

 

[RobertKron]

There’s a good chance 3-4 of these guys can make the team next year, especially Willander, D Petey, and Kudryavtsev.

I wouldn’t mind calling up D-Petey after the 4 nations and see how he does getting a taste of the NHL. Lekkerimaki should stay down the entire year, likewise with Kudryavtsev. Lekkerimaki will benefit playing a full season of NA hockey.

I have enormous difficulty seeing a world where a team trying to be competitive runs three rookie defensemen.

 

[MS]

I'm more-so talking about the defensive prospects rather than Lekkerimaki. It's not like the defense has been spectacular this year. Currently, they have 3 healthy LHD, meaning if one of them goes down, a opening opens up.

For sure - if an opportunity arises to give EP2 a few games or whatever, that's great. I just don't like it when you're yo-yoing guys at age 20. To me you want to give those guys stability and consistency.

The way a guy like Gaudette was handled still rankles me.