Breaking apart the 16 roster cuts the Vancouver Canucks revamped the weekend.
The Vancouver Canucks have made their first roster cuts, sending 16 gamers out to pack.
This isn’t the newest information. The Canucks made their first spherical of cuts in the midst of their preseason sport towards the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. It is nearly like they’re doing these items with out contemplating the busy hockey writers’ schedules.
Fortuitously, not one of the gamers actively performed within the sport on Sunday, so nobody needed to be pulled off the ice and requested to go to the locker room after which stroll straight out of the constructing and down Freeway 1 to Abbotsford.
The Canucks began with a 54-player roster that went to coaching camp, in order that lower is diminished to a manageable 38 gamers. This consists of injured gamers like Brandon Sutter and Tyler Motte, who’re unlikely to be prepared for the season to begin, and the absent Travis Hamonic. The Canucks should transfer to a 23-player roster in the beginning of the season, so extra cuts will observe.
Historically, PITB will take away all cuts in the course of the coaching camp and the preseason. Whereas not one of the cuts are shocking – neither participant had a practical probability of reaching the Canucks roster – the timing is unusual.
Usually, the primary cuts really got here in the course of the coaching camp – which is why this collection can be referred to as “camp cuts” – as gamers who clearly didn’t get into the group have been despatched to their very own coaching camps of their respective golf equipment in good time. This isn’t the case this 12 months, maybe as a result of the Vancouver Canucks coaching camp was additionally a de facto Abbotsford Canucks coaching camp.
Nonetheless, it is a unusual scenario for 2 gamers assigned to their junior groups.
Junior assigned: Viktor Persson and Connor Lockhart
Swedish defender Viktor Persson was purported to play for the Kamloops Blazers final season however the COVID-19 pandemic left him in Sweden the place he performed in three completely different leagues.
“It wasn’t what I anticipated,” mentioned Persson. “It was good to have the prospect to play at completely different ranges, a distinct manner of enjoying was a very good expertise.”
“I’ve by no means performed towards males, I’ve performed juniors all my life,” he added. “It was a very good factor to adapt to the best way they performed.”
He’ll be again in Junior this season, albeit on a distinct continent, as he lastly joins the Blazers. Sadly, he has already missed the coaching camp and preparation. Hell, they’ve already performed their common season opener towards the Prince George Cougars.
Maybe it was extra worthwhile for Persson to spend extra time with the Canucks teaching workers than to fulfill his new group at Kamloops.
Regardless, Persson ought to play an essential position for the Blazers as he adapts to North American ice cream and play fashion. At Canucks Camp, he confirmed off numerous fascinating instruments, however seemed fairly uncooked. It will likely be a vital 12 months of improvement for him.
Connor Lockhart, chosen within the sixth spherical of the latest draft, additionally missed his group’s preseason regardless of attending coaching camp previous to arriving in Vancouver. He’ll arrive in time for the beginning of the Erie Otters common season.
Lockhart can be relieved to only play: he missed his total draft 12 months when the OHL canceled the 2020-21 season, which is a giant purpose he was out there for the Canucks within the sixth spherical. That makes it probably the most fascinating prospects to observe within the coming 12 months.
“He is a hungry boy,” mentioned Ryan Johnson, normal supervisor of AHL. “He is hungry to show to us he is proper by selecting him and proving everybody else improper.
It’s attention-grabbing to see who was not despatched to junior: Danila Klimovich. The Canucks prime choose from the final draft are prone to play within the QMJHL this season however are eligible to play within the AHL. Klimovich had an excellent coaching camp.
That mentioned, it is not value studying an excessive amount of about his sticking with the Canucks. Inexperienced reported that Klimovich was combating a minor harm that stored him away from the preseason. The group could need to see him once more in a preseason sport as soon as he is recovered earlier than making a choice about the place to play this season.
On mortgage to Abbotsford: Karel Plasek, Arturs Silovs, Jett Woo
Three potential children have been despatched straight to the Abbotsford Canucks with no waiver required.
Karel Plasek was one of many extra nice surprises of the coaching camp. Plasek had restricted success within the Czech league with 10 factors in 44 video games, so it was laborious to know what to anticipate from the winger.
On the camp, Plasek shone, introduced a fast-paced sport with some devious arms and obtained a uncommon status from head coach Travis Inexperienced.
“I believed Plasek had a fairly good sport at this time,” mentioned Inexperienced after the group’s first scrimmage. “Standing out shouldn’t be at all times simple as a younger man, however I favored his vitality and he seemed like he might play a sport.”
Plasek nonetheless has an extended method to go to make it to the NHL and Abbotsford is the very best place for him to begin this journey, however he seems to be extra promising than anticipated.
Arturs Silovs seemed superb in his solely preseason sport at Spokane, with a relaxed, managed play that also allowed some acrobats to make determined saves when the scenario referred to as for. It seemed like his time with Ian Clark final season and coaching camp had been effectively spent.
“I believed Silovs gave us just a few good minutes on the web,” mentioned Inexperienced when requested who stood out within the sport.
Silovs may need a tough time beginning at Abbotsford with Mikey DiPietro forward of him, but when accidents occur in Vancouver and DiPietro known as up, it seems to be like he’ll have the ability to maintain onto the web.
Jett Woo seems to be enjoying massive minutes at Abbotsford and may instantly change into a fan favourite together with his bodily fashion of protection. He had a powerful bearing and bought right into a preseason sport the place he did not appear misplaced.
Woo confirmed his clean skating towards the Calgary Flames within the second sport of the preseason and likewise triggered chaos offensively together with his willingness to activate from the purpose.
There may be an opportunity for Woo to make it to the NHL with accidents on the best aspect of the Canucks protection, however he’ll face Madison Bowey and Kyle Burroughs. He could possibly be higher off with a full season within the AHL after his rookie season was so shortened by the pandemic.
On waivers: John Stevens, Devante Stephens, Sheldon Rempal, Spencer Martin
These 4 gamers additionally go to Abbotsford Canucks however should first clear waivers. Not one of the 4 is claimed.
These 4 gamers are basically AHL depth solely. John Stevens performed two seasons with the Utica Comets and is a offered AHL middle with management expertise. Devante Stephens provides some dimension and depth to the protection.
Sheldon Rempal is a bit more attention-grabbing, with a handful of NHL video games and an lively sport with some playmaking expertise. He stood out at coaching camp at occasions and could possibly be an choice for a calling for the Canucks in a deep position. At the least it needs to be enjoyable for the Abbotsford followers to observe.
Spencer Martin is the fifth goalkeeper for the Canucks. He has performed three video games within the NHL, however is in any other case torn between the AHL and the ECHL. With him, Silovs and DiPietro at Abbotsford, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if any of them are despatched to the ECHL.
Martin is the most certainly candidate to be loaned to an ECHL group, however the Canucks can also need Silovs to get extra enjoying time than he would as a backup at Abbotsford.
Authorised by ATO: Tristen Nielsen, Ethan Keppen, Chase Wouters, Alex Kannok Leipert
These 4 gamers aren’t signed to the Canucks – not less than to not the Vancouver Canucks. They’ve AHL contracts at Abbotsford and have been to the warehouse on beginner tryout (ATO) contracts.
All 4 are younger sufficient to be fascinating as a result of there’s nonetheless an opportunity they are going to play effectively sufficient to deserve an NHL deal.
Tristen Nielsen and Alex Kannok Leipert are recognized to Vancouver followers from their time with the Giants within the WHL. Kannok Leipert was captain of the Giants for the final two seasons and Nielsen was one in every of their prime scorers.
Kannok Leipert had some good moments in coaching camp and appears like he has potential as a defensive defender with the added bonus of being a proper shooter whereas Nielsen has sufficient talent to doubtlessly work his manner up the Abbotsford lineup.
Chase Wouters grew to become the primary participant to signal from Abbotsford. He additionally made fairly a splash at camp, incomes a glance the preseason and scoring a objective towards the Flames with a pleasant setup from Jonah Gadjovich.
Wouters has been the Saskatoon Blades captain for the previous three seasons and has performed a complete of 5 seasons with the Blades. On the finish of final season, the Blades let him know they have been going to withdraw his quantity, which exhibits how a lot he means to the group and the town.
As a middle in a Canucks system that does not have many facilities, Wouters might get many alternatives. He is a stable two-way participant with a aggressive edge and fast play.
Lastly, there’s Ethan Keppen, who was chosen by the Canucks within the fourth spherical in 2019. The Canucks did not signal him to an NHL deal, however they did give him the prospect to show himself with an AHL deal.
It has been a troublesome path for Keppen, who needed to do all of it on one horrible Flint Firebirds group in his draft 12 months and was immediately dwarfed by different gamers the next season. You get the sensation that he by no means actually had the prospect to point out what he can do within the OHL.
Final season, Keppen made 7 video games within the AHL with the Utica Comets, nevertheless it was in a troublesome scenario the place he wasn’t at his greatest and struggled.
With this AHL deal in Abbotsford, Keppen will get one other alternative to agree with the Canucks. He did not make a variety of noise throughout coaching camp however he can be an attention-grabbing participant at Abbotsford.
Launched from the PTO: Jarid Lukosevicius, Vincent Arseneau, Ashton Sautner
Lastly, there are three gamers who’ve been fired from skilled tryout contracts (PTO) and also will go to Abbotsford Canucks. These are seasoned AHL gamers who’re unlikely to play within the NHL sooner or later however might play essential roles at Abbotsford.
Jarid Lukosevicius is an excellent identify and has earned an honest variety of factors throughout his faculty profession within the NCAA. That has but to be carried out in two seasons within the AHL however he might doubtlessly rating some targets at Abbotsford.
Vincent Arseneau is tall and robust that are his two greatest qualities, however he has the arms and the skating to play on the AHL stage. He is a fiend on the forecheck and able to drop the gloves, which ought to get him some followers at Abbotsford.
Ashton Sautner is a long-time Canucks contender and has performed 23 NHL video games with the Canucks previously 4 years. He may need performed extra if he hadn’t injured himself in his first sport of the 2019/20 season.
Nonetheless, Sautner was not signed once more and needed to be glad with an AHL deal in Abbotsford. On the flip aspect, his expertise ought to make him a key participant for Abbotsford, however he’s unlikely to return to the NHL at this level in his profession.
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