Prospect Info: The 2024-2025 Prospect Thread: Part 1: Skate or Die!

[Chaos Giraffe]

I'm just basing this off scoreboard watching, but hasn't Willander's production been a bit disappointing this season? I know Celebrini is gone, but so is Lane Hutson.

0.657 points per game last year
0.600 this season

I haven't done any research on his game or the team, so just a casual observation.

 

[IComeInPeace]

I'm just basing this off scoreboard watching, but hasn't Willander's production been a bit disappointing this season? I know Celebrini is gone, but so is Lane Hutson.

0.657 points per game last year
0.600 this season

I haven't done any research on his game or the team, so just a casual observation.

i believe he was at close to a PPG playing in a shut down role and still not playing PP1 (the younger Hutson took over from his brother on PP 1).

I believe he was at 9 points in 11 games which was perfectly fine for the kind of d-man he is.
He has gone pointless now in at least 4 straight games I think.

By all reports I think he’s been handling the puck better than last season and looks more confident making plays…

His team isn’t as good as last season and doesn’t generate offense like it did last year with Celebrini and Hutson gone…

…but, yes, it would have been better to see him looking better offensively and putting up numbers.

I think people will want to make excuses for him (kind of like I am above) but it doesn’t seem like that will be a significant part of his game.
I do think he will still prove to be a nice pick for us.

 

[VanJack]

We'll get a better take on Wilander's progress when he laces them up in the upcoming World Jr. Hockey Championships in just a few weeks now.

My prediction.....he'll be one of the dominant blueliners in the tournament, and will probably get serious consideration as one of the tournament's all-stars.

 

[credulous]

We'll get a better take on Wilander's progress when he laces them up in the upcoming World Jr. Hockey Championships in just a few weeks now.

My prediction.....he'll be one of the dominant blueliners in the tournament, and will probably get serious consideration as one of the tournament's all-stars.

i think he's been worse this year than last (and not just production wise) at bu but the team has a lot of issues that aren't helping. i'm cautiously waiting for the world juniors before i really judge this player

 

[John Belushi]

Been following the Canucks for more decades than I'd care to remember......but I don't remember a time when this franchise had so many prospects in the system who look like they can actually play.

Obviously not all of them will make it, but I really hope they don't deal them before we really find out how good they'll be. Kids like Wilander, Pettersson, Kudryavtsev, Mynio and Lekkerimaki look like money in the bank right now.

Kid, I hate to break it to you but every team has a collection of these guys. Hell, most have 2-3 times as many. As Impressive as it is for them to have moderate success in the AHL - breaking the glass ceiling to the next level is even harder.

 

[beachcomber]

i think he's been worse this year than last (and not just production wise) at bu but the team has a lot of issues that aren't helping. i'm cautiously waiting for the world juniors before i really judge this player

How has he been worse? How many games of his have you watched?

 

[credulous]

How has he been worse? How many games of his have you watched?

i've watched 9 or 10 of their games. two in person

he's playing like a shrinking violet. doesn't engage. relies too much on stick checking. watches the play too much in the offensive end. lets his partners make the plays

 

[WTG]

Kid, I hate to break it to you but every team has a collection of these guys. Hell, most have 2-3 times as many. As Impressive as it is for them to have moderate success in the AHL - breaking the glass ceiling to the next level is even harder.

I agree, a lot of teams have a collection of these types of players. But calling it moderate success is underselling the impact of these players. I think Pettersson and Kudryavtsev both came in and are a year ahead of where they were expected to be.

Over the past 20 games, they have only taken steps forward. I do not know what more you can ask of them. I don't consider that moderate success; that is incredibly encouraging.

 

[Diversification]

I agree, a lot of teams have a collection of these types of players. But calling it moderate success is underselling the impact of these players. I think Pettersson and Kudryavtsev both came in and are a year ahead of where they were expected to be.

Over the past 20 games, they have only taken steps forward. I do not know what more you can ask of them. I don't consider that moderate success; that is incredibly encouraging.

Agreed. Having your prospects essentially drive the bus on your AHL team and have that team be in a playoff position, that’s something you don’t see often.

 

[sting101]

i've watched 9 or 10 of their games. two in person

he's playing like a shrinking violet. doesn't engage. relies too much on stick checking. watches the play too much in the offensive end. lets his partners make the plays

Are you talking about this year?

Agganis Arena is pretty damn cool was about 5yr go now but got to check it out when i was in Boston then. Would love to see a game with one of our top guys in it

Which games did you get to see live and where are the BG like reports C? This place is dying to get more exposure to our Collegiate players quit holding out

How does Celebrini look? i always get the Jamie Benn Jordie Benn vibe that he will find a way to scrape a career although i have nothing to substantiate that feeling other than Macklin is such a stud you would think his bro with the same genes could make it happen. I get it doesn't work that way mostly

 

[ChilliBilly]

Are you talking about this year?

Agganis Arena is pretty damn cool was about 5yr go now but got to check it out when i was in Boston then. Would love to see a game with one of our top guys in it

Which games did you get to see live and where are the BG like reports C? This place is dying to get more exposure to our Collegiate players quit holding out

How does Celebrini look? i always get the Jamie Benn Jordie Benn vibe that he will find a way to be scrape a career although i have nothing to substantiate that feeling other than Macklin is such a stud you would think his bro with the same genes could make it happen. I get it doesn't work that way mostly

Then again, Keith, Walter,Wayne and Glenn Gretzky might see it differently.

 

[credulous]

Are you talking about this year?

Agganis Arena is pretty damn cool was about 5yr go now but got to check it out when i was in Boston then. Would love to see a game with one of our top guys in it

Which games did you get to see live and where are the BG like reports C? This place is dying to get more exposure to our Collegiate players quit holding out

How does Celebrini look? i always get the Jamie Benn Jordie Benn vibe that he will find a way to scrape a career although i have nothing to substantiate that feeling other than Macklin is such a stud you would think his bro with the same genes could make it happen. I get it doesn't work that way mostly

yeah this year. i watched another 25-30 last year. i'm a huge ncaa fan from my time living in michigan and minnesota and i used willander as an excuse to get more familiar with the ncha

i went to the friendship four games in belfast. still haven't been to agganis altho i might try and get there for the game against bc in jan. i mostly don't post about willander anymore because people get angry with any assessment that isn't 'nicklas lidstrom reincarnate'. he's a good prospect but i think he has a lot of bust potential if he doesn't find another gear to his game. he's a talented skater and a good rush defender but his game has a long way to go in every other aspect. anyone who expects him to step into the canucks top 4 this season or next is going to be disappointed. that being said bu is kind of a disaster this year so maybe he'll show better in the wjs and i'll revise my opinion

celebrini looks okay but he doesn't really have any standout abilities. he's just kind of okay at everything. he also doesn't play a ton. he usually dresses as their 7th dman. if he was bigger i'd think he'd get a contract and a shot in the ahl but he'll probably be a four year player. doesn't mean the canucks can't sign him but i don't really consider him much of a prospect at this point

 

[Lindgren]

Mynio is not in the line-up tonight for Seattle. It's just a few games since he returned from injury. Bummer.

 

[John Belushi]

I agree, a lot of teams have a collection of these types of players. But calling it moderate success is underselling the impact of these players. I think Pettersson and Kudryavtsev both came in and are a year ahead of where they were expected to be.

Over the past 20 games, they have only taken steps forward. I do not know what more you can ask of them. I don't consider that moderate success; that is incredibly encouraging.

Sure, its incredibly encouraging. They add some much needed depth to a sore position. Excited to see how it shakes out. Both prospects mentioned are promising but don't forget that development isn't always linear. Challenges arise and it pays to retain a sensible approach.

Lets not forget such surefire NHLers like Hunter Shinkaruk, Jake Rathbone and Anton Rodin. Last year we thought we had future top-4s in McWard and Hirose.

Hell, it wasn't too long ago we had guys clamouring for Tate Olsen and Cole Cassels, our answer for McDavid.

Its not everyone - but I think some fellas here need to relax on the premature projections. Its exciting, yes. But you'll find yourself a lot better at reading prospect development when you look beyond just the stats and a hot streak or two.

 

[docbenton]

yeah this year. i watched another 25-30 last year. i'm a huge ncaa fan from my time living in michigan and minnesota and i used willander as an excuse to get more familiar with the ncha

i went to the friendship four games in belfast. still haven't been to agganis altho i might try and get there for the game against bc in jan. i mostly don't post about willander anymore because people get angry with any assessment that isn't 'nicklas lidstrom reincarnate'. he's a good prospect but i think he has a lot of bust potential if he doesn't find another gear to his game. he's a talented skater and a good rush defender but his game has a long way to go in every other aspect. anyone who expects him to step into the canucks top 4 this season or next is going to be disappointed. that being said bu is kind of a disaster this year so maybe he'll show better in the wjs and i'll revise my opinion

celebrini looks okay but he doesn't really have any standout abilities. he's just kind of okay at everything. he also doesn't play a ton. he usually dresses as their 7th dman. if he was bigger i'd think he'd get a contract and a shot in the ahl but he'll probably be a four year player. doesn't mean the canucks can't sign him but i don't really consider him much of a prospect at this point

I think Willander's been pretty inconsistent, not just game-to-game but shift-to-shift. Sometimes he wants to be a difference maker, other times he seems too content to not do a whole lot or look lackadaisical. He's rarely bad, but there's a reason he's not putting up big numbers despite his evident talent. There is still some rawness to his play with the puck but overall it's developing well, and he seems like the kind of player who will keep improving in important areas. With his elite skating, as well as strong defensive and puck-moving ability, I do think he can step in this year. So disagree on that, despite his flaws his strengths will carry him.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Mynio is not in the line-up tonight for Seattle. It's just a few games since he returned from injury. Bummer.

Isn't he at the WJC Camp?

 

[credulous]

I think Willander's been pretty inconsistent, not just game-to-game but shift-to-shift. Sometimes he wants to be a difference maker, other times he seems too content to not do a whole lot or look lackadaisical. He's rarely bad, but there's a reason he's not putting up big numbers despite his evident talent. There is still some rawness to his play with the puck but overall it's developing well, and he seems like the kind of player who will keep improving in important areas. With his elite skating, as well as strong defensive and puck-moving ability, I do think he can step in this year. So disagree on that, despite his flaws his strengths will carry him.

again i'm not calling him a bust i just don't see a star nhl player yet. his inconsistency is just the other side of his lack of engagement. he rarely tries to make plays. he's content to take position and wait for someone else to force an issue. this isn't necessarily terrible -- conservative play is appropriate a lot of the time -- but good players make plays out of nothing and take risks that they know aren't actually that risky for them

as for improvement i just haven't seen any. he's the same player he was 10 games into his first year. he hasn't added a single tool to his game

also i just don't think he's one of the best defenders in college hockey. i think guys like chesley, pohlkamp and strbak are all playing at least as well as if not better than willander and none of them get the attention he does (well maybe pohlkamp does). he's definitely not at the level of zeev buium, rinzel or emery

 

[Lindgren]

Isn't he at the WJC Camp?

I knew that. I was just testing to see if you were alert.

 

[WTG]

Sure, its incredibly encouraging. They add some much needed depth to a sore position. Excited to see how it shakes out. Both prospects mentioned are promising but don't forget that development isn't always linear. Challenges arise and it pays to retain a sensible approach.

Lets not forget such surefire NHLers like Hunter Shinkaruk, Jake Rathbone and Anton Rodin. Last year we thought we had future top-4s in McWard and Hirose.

Hell, it wasn't too long ago we had guys clamouring for Tate Olsen and Cole Cassels, our answer for McDavid.

Its not everyone - but I think some fellas here need to relax on the premature projections. Its exciting, yes. But you'll find yourself a lot better at reading prospect development when you look beyond just the stats and a hot streak or two.

I understand where you are coming from, but other than Rathbone, none of those guys were impact players right after coming to North America. Rathbone sustained a gnarly injury which hampered his development and he hasn't been the same since. Pretty much all of those players listed either didn't join the AHL in their draft +3 years or they never even became impact players in the NA to begin with.

That is what seperates Pettersson and Kudryavstev from those players, they are a year ahead of where they are expected to be. It is why I think you should be excited at where they are at in their development.

 

[Yultron]

Vilmer Alriksson has put the Guelph Storm up 1-0 after one !!!

Vilmer Alriksson now has 10 goals on the season

 

[Lindgren]

I understand where you are coming from, but other than Rathbone, none of those guys were impact players right after coming to North America. Rathbone sustained a gnarly injury which hampered his development and he hasn't been the same since. Pretty much all of those players listed either didn't join the AHL in their draft +3 years or they never even became impact players in the NA to begin with.

That is what seperates Pettersson and Kudryavstev from those players, they are a year ahead of where they are expected to be. It is why I think you should be excited at where they are at in their development.

Further to that, one is allowed to be pleased and even excited by their development without that meaning one thinks they're very likely to succeed at the next level.

Kudryavtsev and Pettersson are 7th and 8th in points for rookie defensemen in the AHL. Above them there's one first round pick, three seconds, a third and a fourth. The top three are all undersized, offense-first guys getting power play opportunities. The rest are closely bunched.

I think that EP ranks second in even strength points.

Looking at their games played and their production, KK and D-Petey compare quite well to the nine defensemen taken in the first round of the same draft year, with most of them also playing in the A, and a few getting some games in the NHL on non-playoff teams.

Obviously point production is a very partial indicator, and the sample size still isn't very big, but that's pretty good for a third and a seventh rounder.

 

[Yultron]

Make that 2 goals on the evening for Vilmer Alriksson !!! Is there anything this kid can’t do

 

[F A N]

again i'm not calling him a bust i just don't see a star nhl player yet. his inconsistency is just the other side of his lack of engagement. he rarely tries to make plays. he's content to take position and wait for someone else to force an issue. this isn't necessarily terrible -- conservative play is appropriate a lot of the time -- but good players make plays out of nothing and take risks that they know aren't actually that risky for them

as for improvement i just haven't seen any. he's the same player he was 10 games into his first year. he hasn't added a single tool to his game

also i just don't think he's one of the best defenders in college hockey. i think guys like chesley, pohlkamp and strbak are all playing at least as well as if not better than willander and none of them get the attention he does (well maybe pohlkamp does). he's definitely not at the level of zeev buium, rinzel or emery

I wonder if it's better to leave him in college for another year but it sounds like management is intent on signing him.

On another note, I remember when Quinn was in college and we were discussing how Quinn doesn't defend with his stick on the ice.

 

[Lindgren]

Make that 2 goals on the evening for Vilmer Alriksson !!! Is there anything this kid can’t do

Great news after a bit of a dry spell. The thing he can't seem to do yet is get to a point-a-game pace and stay there, but I have hope.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Make that 2 goals on the evening for Vilmer Alriksson !!! Is there anything this kid can’t do

Play net.