Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign RD Christian Felton to One-Year ELC

[VanJack]

Are there any Felton 'highlights' out there on YouTube? Can't really recall the guy at last fall's Development Camp at all. But I guess he did enough to impress the Canucks.

He's apparently been hurt since January, but did have more than a few NHL teams interested in him. And a one-year ELC hardly seems like much of a 'risk' for the Canucks.

 

[Lindgren]

So, what do the Canucks have in Christian Felton?

I keep reminding myself that he's 24 years old. He'll need to make the big club soon if he's going to make it at all, but even if he shows promise, there's no room for him at the moment.

 

[cc]

He's looked pretty good so far but I'm not getting fooled again like I was with Hirose. I'm keeping my expectations low for now

 

[MS]

So, what do the Canucks have in Christian Felton?

I keep reminding myself that he's 24 years old. He'll need to make the big club soon if he's going to make it at all, but even if he shows promise, there's no room for him at the moment.

That was the first time in his life he's ever seen NHL skaters (or anything close to NHL skaters) and it looked like it was easy for him.

You don't want to overreact on one game (lesson learned : Hirose) but if he can go to the AHL and do that consistently he's going to play NHL games for this team. Maybe this year.

 

[orcatown]

Well, at least we know who he is now. He was the best d-man in Penticton and now the best of the new younger defensemen in this game. Really a total surprise.

Has good wheels and showed good offensive play in the Young Guns tournament and through pre-season. Combine that with descriptions of him being a good defensive player in college and you may have something.

Thought he was as good as Ryker Evans in latest pre-season game and that is saying something.

We'll see but he has looked good to date.

 

[VanJack]

Playing his way into a top-four role in Abbotsford, and positioning himself as one of the early call-ups. You have to give props to the Canucks NCAA scouts. Where'd this guy come from?

One year at Bentley University; and three years at Merrimack College. His best season was last year with seven points in 26 games. Yep, you read that right, seven points.

But clearly they loved his skating, hockey sense and compete level.....and inked him after he'd completed his senior year which is why he's a bit late starting his pro career.

 

[F A N]

Merrimack College has a pretty poor track record of producing NHL players and Felton didn't put up much points in college. That's usually not a good sign. I would temper my expectations.

 

[LordBacon]

Over payment

 

[BluesyShoes]

Merrimack College has a pretty poor track record of producing NHL players and Felton didn't put up much points in college. That's usually not a good sign. I would temper my expectations.

Watch out Todd Harvey, your scouting staff has nothing on a few juicy boxscores!

 

[ziploc]

Our next Tanev.

 

[Lindgren]

Our next Tanev.

Someone suggested that he get an opportunity to play with Hughes in an exhibition game, and I'd like to see it.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

I like Felton. I don't know if he's got the chops to be a regular NHLer, yet, but in his small sample size he hasn't looked out of place.

 

[Guardian452]

Merrimack College has a pretty poor track record of producing NHL players and Felton didn't put up much points in college. That's usually not a good sign. I would temper my expectations.

That's the same logic as "London Knights have a great track record of producing NHL players and Olli Juolevi and Victor Mete had good offensive numbers in their D-1 years. I expect great things from them in the NHL."

 

[krutovsdonut]

he looked great at camp but not big enough for the current team paradigm.

 

[orcatown]

he looked great at camp but not big enough for the current team paradigm.

Listed at 6'1" but somehow doesn't look it. Agree Tocchet wants giants but he also wants people that can play. Picture of him doing the Grouse run indicate he well built and he was physical in Penticton.

Lot of speculation all round here but that's a result of his play upping interest in him.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Listed at 6'1" but somehow doesn't look it. Agree Tocchet wants giants but he also wants people that can play. Picture of him doing the Grouse run indicate he well built and he was physical in Penticton.

Lot of speculation all round here but that's a result of his play upping interest in him.

he was actually decently productive in junior but seems to have become a shutdown guy in the ncaa. it looks like he was merrimack's top pair dman last year on a 10th place team that went 6-17-1 in hockey east.

he's continued to impress in the pre season games so he has something but it could be a case of his maturity making him outshine younger guys. or maybe the tanev comparisons are apt in terms of being a true defensive specialist. for now he looks poised and has a knack for getting the puck and clearing it.

 

[Blue and Green]

Looks as though he's good enough to play in the AHL. That's all that I expect.

 

[F A N]

That's the same logic as "London Knights have a great track record of producing NHL players and Olli Juolevi and Victor Mete had good offensive numbers in their D-1 years. I expect great things from them in the NHL."

Well London Knights actually have a relatively suspect track record of developing NHL defensemen.

Like in terms of draft hype/projections vs reality, London Knights have been far more successful in developing forwards.

To be clear, I'm not talking about London Knights' ability to draft/sign/acquire high end talent. But in terms of defensemen, you're getting a really talented player who is often quite flawed defensively. Compare that to the old Kelowna Rockets defensemen factory where they really did develop defensemen who were close to NHL ready defensively.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Merrimack College has a pretty poor track record of producing NHL players and Felton didn't put up much points in college. That's usually not a good sign. I would temper my expectations.

Actually that's a bit misleading.

MC is the smallest school in Hockey East and generally doesn't get the high profile prospects that generally spend one or two years in college before turning professional - like those players at schools such as BC or BU. The majority of those players would become professionals regardless of where they went to school.

Since the days of Mark Dennehy and under the current coaching staff the Warriors have done a nice job of "punching above their weight"; taking players who were not as highly regarded and allowing them to develop to their potential. At the same time giving larger schools fits, especially when they play at home.