Canucks prospects: Brzustewicz shoots for the celebrities, Willander comes up aces

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It’s the most recent version of the prospects tracker, the place we tally up the efforts of the Vancouver Canucks’ highest profile prospects:

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Hunter Brzustewicz

You’d assume it’d be sufficient.

46 factors in 28 video games, 12 factors away from the subsequent finest defenceman and second total in OHL scoring.

A rising defensive sport, with a plus-20 mark taking part in top-pair minutes for the high-flying Kitchener Rangers.

What Hunter Brzustewicz is doing this season is particular; a blistering factors tempo solely elite offensive D-men taken within the draft lottery obtain earlier than starring within the present.

However off the ice, the 2023 third rounder is in wait-and-see mode, with the proverbial golden ticket to the upcoming Staff USA world junior championship camp but to be despatched.

“It’s all the time in your thoughts however typically you simply should tune it out as finest as potential and if I don’t make it, it’s not the tip of the world,” Brzustewicz informed Postmedia on Thursday, a day after celebrating his nineteenth birthday with a giant help in 4-3 comeback win in Erie.

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“I’ll simply should show them flawed and hold going every single day with my crew.”

The most recent roster projection for the Stars and Stripes locks in a pair D-men, together with the dynamic Lane Hutson (MTL, 2022, RD. 2) — Canucks prospect Tom Willander’s new companion at Boston College — and has Brzustewicz on the bubble, with others reporting he could be on the outside looking in.

At this level, it’s out of his palms. What Brzustewicz can management, nevertheless, is the result of video games, like he did on Wednesday with a game-tying help late within the third.

“It was a fast-break regroup, my companion had it within the impartial zone and I prefer it once they’re altering and I can construct somewhat little bit of pace so I entered the zone with the puck, I kicked it out to my teammate and he dished it again to me on the drive and — I used to be gonna curl up however I heard my teammate Sopper name for it and I simply slipped it to him,” he mentioned.

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Brzustewicz grabbed one other two assists in a 4-3 additional time loss to the Niagara IceDogs on Friday — and nearly scored halfway by means of the third, getting denied by a sprawling pad save.

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And in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Sarnia Sting, he collected one other two helpers — together with a reasonably cross-crease main help — and had a plus-3 score.

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Brzustewicz says the important thing to his consistency this season is to keep away from getting complacent. Even when he’s having an excellent sport, there’s no letting off the pedal.

“I believe simply the expertise and having that drive and capturing mentality on a regular basis,” he mentioned. “I believe, , possibly some occasions, even when it was simply final yr or simply generally, should you’re having an excellent sport, you get somewhat complacent. I believe this yr I’ve the drive to all the time wish to push for myself and push for the crew in any method I may help.”

Within the low season, Brzustewicz soaked up all he might working with the Canucks teaching workers, choosing up skilled habits alongside the best way. The 6-foot, 190-pound right-shot D-man honed in on his defensive sport, and continues to work on his particulars, with participant growth coach Mike Komisarek checking in infrequently.

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“I believe it’s gotten higher for positive. I believe there’s clearly some areas I can clear up and I do count on that I’m going to wash it up. I’m taking it day-to-day in follow … closing out faster, not giving them the time and area to make a play and maintaining my stick on the ice on a regular basis,” mentioned Brzustewicz.

“Simply the little issues. Being tougher within the nook or in entrance of the web. In entrance of the web is one I’ve been making an attempt to work on probably the most, and I believe I’ve finished a greater job.”

The primary-place crew for which he performs has actually contributed to Brzustewicz’s success. Forwards Carson Rehkopf (SEA, 2023, Rd. 2) and Matthew Sop are first and third in league in scoring, and the Rangers have tallied 23 extra objectives this season than their nearest competitors.

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“What we’ve within the room is particular, even with the coaches, we get alongside so effectively. Everyone seems to be simply shopping for in and clicking collectively.”

Individually, Brzustewicz could possibly be the primary OHL defenceman to crack 100 factors since Ryan Ellis did it in 2010-11, which earned Ellis — taken eleventh total by the Predators in 2009 — OHL MVP honours and the CHL participant of the yr award.

Brzustewicz, nevertheless, is doing it in his draft-plus-one season and is on observe for 112 factors.

The speed he’s going, Brzustewicz is monitoring a lot increased than his seventy fifth total choice.

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A lot so, he will be the steal of the draft as soon as this season is alleged and finished.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki

The snow is dumping over Sweden however the chilly snap is over for Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

Goalless over six video games, the Canucks’ 2022 first-rounder notched his ninth of the SHL season for Orebro HK on Thursday in a 3-2 shootout loss to HV71.

Lekkerimaki’s purpose tied the sport at one halfway by means of the second interval, with the 19-year-old wheeling and coping with the puck earlier than snapping his fast and lethal shot by means of a crowd and into the highest of the web.

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The gifted 19-year-old wasn’t finished there, taking part in an efficient sport on Saturday — a 2-1 OT loss to Sandin Pellika’s Skelleftea — the place Lekkerimaki was harmful with the puck all through and tallied a main help on Orebro’s lone purpose with a strip at his personal blue-line and a well-placed cross on the following 2-on-1.

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Lekkerimaki practically netted his tenth of the season twice within the affair, getting stopped alone in tight within the second interval then getting denied short-side on a partial breakaway with two minutes left within the third interval, forcing a desperation blocker save from the Skelleftea goaltender.

The Huddinge native’s 9 objectives has him tied for tenth within the SHL goal-scoring race, 4 behind the lead.

Canucks’ developmental coach Mikael Samuelsson, who’s on the bottom in Sweden working alongside Lekkerimaki, informed Canucks.com’s Chris Faber this week that whereas the prospect has elite offensive instruments, there’s nonetheless loads of work to do to get Lekkerimaki’s total sport prepared for North American hockey.

“There are areas on the rink the place Lekky is phenomenal however his total sport, we nonetheless want some enchancment in sure areas,” mentioned Samuelsson. “Lekky is aware of about it, and we’re speaking about it. The group, myself and him are staying affected person with it.”

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The 5-foot-11, 172-pound right-shot winger has 9 objectives, 4 assists and a plus-2 score in 21 video games this season.

Tom Willander

Commencement could also be years to return for the school freshman, however he’s transferring on up anyway.

Tom Willander, the Canucks’ 2023 first-rounder, was promoted to first-pairing obligation for No. 4 BU for the primary time this season on Friday in a 4-1 win over Merrimack Faculty. Taking part in alongside star D-man Lane Hutson, who had three assists, Willander got here ready, ending the sport with one shot on purpose, a blocked shot and a plus-1 score.

There was a scare, nevertheless, for the 18-year-old late within the second interval. Whereas making an attempt to dig out a unfastened puck alongside the boards, Willander took a success to the top and fell to the ice.

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He did get again as much as his toes straight away and Merrimack’s Filip Forsmark was given a 5-minute penalty.

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In Saturday’s rematch, this time in Boston, Willander was once more paired with Hutson and this time led the cost, scoring his third of the season and going a team-high plus-3 total in a 5-2 win for BU.

Willander’s purpose was the insurance coverage marker for the Terriers, with the 6-foot-1, 179-pound right-shot D-man coasting up the ice with the puck, dishing it off and going to the web for the rebound to make the rating 4-2 with 4 minutes left within the third interval.

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Earlier within the week, Terriers head coach and former NHLer Jay Pandolfo joined CHEK-TV’s Donnie & Dhali present and mentioned Willander has come as marketed to the storied NCAA program.

“A really aggressive participant, superb defensively … performs in a short time, he’s an amazing skater. Very athletic, so we’ve been very pleased with Tom,” mentioned Pandolfo.

“Clearly, somewhat little bit of an adjustment for him, coming over and taking part in on the North American-sized rinks … however I believe it truly fits him higher the best way how rapidly he closes defensively, how fast he transitions the puck. The best way he will get concerned with the puck, so we’ve been very pleased with him.”

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Pandolfo mentioned Willander is extraordinarily coachable, desires to get higher and mentioned Willander has the potential to be a top-line NHL D-man who can log massive minutes matched-up towards the opponent’s finest.

Willander has eight factors (3G, 5A) and a plus-13 score in 15 video games this season.

Arturs Silovs

Quite a lot of good issues are taking place in Abbotsford as of late.

Nevertheless it all begins within the crease.

Arturs Silovs was named the AHL’s goaltender of the month for November, going 4-1-0 with a 1.01 goals-against common, a .958 save share and two shutouts, stopping 114 of 119 photographs total.

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Silovs, 22, began December simply as sizzling, stopping 30 of 32 photographs on Friday night time because the Canucks beat the Laval Rocket 4-2, with veteran ahead John Stevens scoring twice and promising prospect Arshdeep Bains tallying two helpers.

Bains had two extra assists in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the identical crew and is tied for Eighth-overall in AHL scoring (17GP, 3G, 18A), 5 factors behind B.C. boy Logan Stankoven.

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One other shiny spot included the efficient play of Vasily Podkolzin, who’s regaining the early-season type that noticed him rating 5 objectives in six video games earlier than being concussed on a questionable hit in late October.

Podkolzin, 22, had a team-high seven photographs on purpose on Friday and scored the game-winner on an outstanding solo effort, dipping his shoulder, driving to the web and ending with drive.

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Podkolzin additionally had an help in Saturday’s win and has 11 factors (6G, 5A) in 12 video games this season.

Silovs, in the meantime, sports activities a tidy 2.49 goals-against common, a .912 save share and an 8-2-1 report this season.

On the draw back, gifted winger Danila Klimovich (2021, Rd. 2) simply can’t seemingly keep wholesome. The 20-year-old was again within the Abbotsford lineup on Friday, after lacking two weeks, and regarded actually good — threatening the web with three photographs on purpose and organising a pair scoring probabilities — however solely lasted a interval earlier than leaving the sport and never returning.

Klimovich has two assists and a plus-3 score in six video games this season.

Abbotsford has gained three straight video games and eight of their final 10. The crew is in second place within the 10-team Pacific Division, two factors behind the rival Calgary Wranglers.

Elsewhere: Huge winger Vilmer Alriksson (2023, Rd. 4) known as sport for the Guelph Storm on Wednesday, displaying agility and palms to attain on a breakaway in additional time to defeat the Mississauga Steelheads 3-2.

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Alriksson, 18, additionally assisted on the game-tying purpose. His four-game level streak was snapped on Friday towards the Windsor Spitfires. Alriksson, taking part in his first season of North American hockey, has 16 factors (7G, 9A) in 25 video games.

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