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Abbotsford Canucks Thread | Prospects Starting to Heat Up | Page 24 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
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Abbotsford Canucks Thread | Prospects Starting to Heat Up

0-0 midway through the first period, getting outshot 9-2 by the basement-dwelling Henderson Silver Knights. One of Abbotsford's "shots" was a dump-in from centre ice.
 
1-0 Abbotsford after one period. A wrist shot from the right point by McWard leaked under the arm of the Henderson goalie and Karlsson was there to poke the loose puck into an open net. Two struggling teams and the quality of play was representative of that fact.
 
Three minutes into the second period, watching both teams continue to hamfist their plays with the puck, my interest is hanging by a thread.
 
Late in a PP, Karlsson chips a bouncing puck across the crease to Mueller who scores from short range. 2-0, 13 minutes left in the second period.
 
A nice play was bound to happen and it was good work by Karlsson to maintain possession along the boards, getting the puck to Wolanin who drew multiple defenders to him and then spun and fired a perfect pass to Karlsson alone at the side of the net, he buried it for a 3-0 lead. Three points for Karlsson.
 
Woo joined the rush, took a pass from Blais and made an offensive zone pass that was deflected but went to Mueller who had a wide-open net to shoot into. Two goals each for Mueller and Karlsson.

Silver Knights scored on a rush down the left wing, getting a shot from the slot that found the five-hole of Tolopilo. 4-1 after two periods. Abbotsford has really struggled in third periods this season so the W isn't in the bag yet.
 
Abbotsford finally 'bumps the slump, first win in seven games, although it was against lowly Henderson.

Ty Mueller is having a nice rookie season in the AHL. Still unsure what, if any, NHL future he might have. But he's young enough (still only 21). So he has time to continue to develop.
 
Mueller was supposed to be a prospect with good defensive smarts and hustle, so his offensive output to this point has been a very pleasant surprise. Hopefully a promising indicator that we have an NHL player on our hands, too.
 
Abbotsford outshot Henderson 17-5 in the first period, scored a goal on a PP in the final minute. Raty tried a pass that was blocked but the puck ended up going right to Blais who buried it.

Henderson has had four PP chances, and scored in the first minute of the second period on one of them to tie the score.

Raty has been making too many careless mistakes with the puck. Henderson had a big chance after his most recent giveaway late in the second period but fortunately they whiffed on the shot; Abbotsford took the puck 4-on-2 the other way, Bains cut to the slot and put a wrist shot just inside the glove-side post. 2-1 Abbotsford after 40 minutes.
 
Silver Knights tied it early in the third when an attempted centring pass hit Kudryavtsev and went past Silovs. A few minutes later, Wolanin broke up a Henderson rush, Karlsson led a 3-on-2 and showed good patience to wait for a lane to get the puck to Aman who tipped it into a yawning cage. 3-2 Abby, 13 minutes to go and a delay of game penalty upcoming to Henderson.
 
Wouters with a good forechecking effort to steal the puck, then a quick centring pass to Glover who makes it 4-2 Abby with less than seven minutes to go.
 
Blais is nice insurance on an AHL contract.....figured to be a slow starter, coming off pretty significant off- season injury problems. But looks to be hitting his stride now.

Is he a candidate for an NHL contract and an eventual call-up, or does the finish the year in Abbotsford?
 
beachcomber said:
How's this Mueller kid been playing? Does he play with an edge?
Click to expand...
He's been pretty consistent, and is now Abbotsford's leading scorer. Although it's a pretty 'low bar' with 19 points in 32 games.

One of the most encouraging things so far in an Abbotsford season that's been mild disappointment, is the play of their group of 20-21 year olds. And Mueller is one of that group at just 21.

Pettersson, Kudryavtsev, Lekkerimaki, Mueller and even Klimovich have been good so far. It's a lot of the veterans that have so far 'underachieved'.
 
VanJack said:
He's been pretty consistent, and is now Abbotsford's leading scorer. Although it's a pretty 'low bar' with 19 points in 32 games.

One of the most encouraging things so far in an Abbotsford season that's been mild disappointment, is the play of their group of 20-21 year olds. And Mueller is one of that group at just 21.

Pettersson, Kudryavtsev, Lekkerimaki, Mueller and even Klimovich have been good so far. It's a lot of the veterans that have so far 'underachieved'.
Click to expand...
To me, Pettersson and Kudryavtsev have been the most impressive. Pettersson is showing excellent acceleration and Kudryavtsev can really distribute the puck and play in traffic.

Mueller's is quick and is getting some points. Actually leads the team in scoring. But that is not saying much. More a result of him playing more games. Could well be that Kudry takes over the point lead soon if the coach keeps him in the lineup..

My disappointment is Raty who works hard but doesn't have the wheels to dominate. Not far from being a write off if he doesn't soon find another gear. Has to be a point producer to overcome some of defensive weaknesses but simply isn't.

Kilm remains very much a work in progress. Just has to manage the puck better and think situations better.

Far as the vets go, the off-season has to be seen as failure.

Right now Smith is getting, for some reason, lots of time on the top unit and hurting them more than helping. And this dud was seen as the main off season vet pickup.

Other pickups were:

Kambeitz - 7 points in 25 games. Has had maybe two good games, but on a team with adequate vets might have already been sent to the ECHL

Twarynski - mostly benched of late. 5 points in 20 games. Never a factor anytime he is used.

Still have old man Stevens around playing in a PK and defensive role and some decent vet defense men like Friedman and Wolanin.

Off-season for both the senior club and the farm team leaves a lot to be desired.
 
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