Vancouver Canucks Top 25 Under 25: #12 Michael Chaput
The Vancouver Canucks are in the midst of a youth movement. So, let’s take a look at the club’s top youngsters!
If the Vancouver Canucks want to make their ‘rebuild on the fly’ work, they need a strong foundation of young roster players. We all know the Bo Horvats and Ben Huttons of the team, but what’s after that? How are things for the AHL Utica Comets and what can we expect from the Canucks’ next crop of youngsters?
To answer those questions, our staff ranked all signed Vancouver Canucks players under the age of 25. After compiling a list of the top 10 Canucks prospects recently, this is all about who can help today. And guess what, the Canucks only have a total of 26 players under 25 signed and playing in North America right now.
Next up is summer acquisition Michael Chaput!
Michael Chaput
Age: 24
Position: Center, Left Wing
Team: Utica Comets (AHL) / Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
NHL Experience: 58 Games
How He Got Here
Michael Chaput is a forward from Montreal, QC, who started his hockey career in the QMJHL. After a solid rookie season in the ‘Q’, Chaput had an outstanding draft year, scoring 28 goals and 55 points in 68 games in the 2009-10 season while being a strong two-way player. That season led to Chaput being drafted 89th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Following the draft, Chaput spent two more years in junior, where he scored 46 goals and 122 points in 119 games. He was definitely ready for pro hockey in 2012 and became a full-time player in the AHL — but not for the Flyers. Philadelphia had traded Chaput and Greg Moore to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Tom Sestito.
Between 2012 and 2016, Chaput appeared in 266 AHL and 58 NHL contests for the Blue Jackets and the AHL Springfield Falcons, struggling to establish himself in the NHL. So, after four years in the Blue Jackets organization, Chaput made the move to Vancouver as an unrestricted free agent.
Where He Is Today
Today, Chaput is one of many, many, many hockey players who want to make the NHL but seemingly can’t. In 2014-15, Chaput appeared in 33 games for Columbus — the most he ever played in a single season. However, he only played eight NHL games in 2015-16, so it seems as though the Blue Jackets weren’t really planning with him anymore.
There are plenty of other players like him, and the Vancouver Canucks have some who could be in the same situation very soon. Jayson Megna, Borna Rendulic, Mike Zalewski, Alexandre Grenier, Andrey Pedan and even Brendan Gaunce are or soon could be players struggling to establish themselves in the NHL after getting a first taste.
Chaput is definitely good enough to win a Canucks roster spot in training camp and be a part of the opening-night roster. But the chances of him going back down to the AHL are just as good.
Where He’s Headed
Sorry, but I couldn’t tell you. For many players like Chaput, it’s about getting an opportunity. When you play in an organization that has a very deep NHL roster, you might just never get a chance, no matter how well you play. However, the Blue Jackets played Chaput in 58 games and eventually decided he wasn’t good enough for a full-time spot — that’s different.
Next: 3 Canucks Headed for Breakout Seasons
Chaput is 24 and will likely have to make a decision on his future soon. If he makes the NHL full-time or plays at least half of the next two seasons in the NHL, that decision should be an easy one. If he gets stuck in the AHL once again, however, he could explore different options — like going to Europe.
A strong training camp could set the foundation for a successful future. But even a strong training camp guarantees nothing.