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Vancouver Canucks Prospects Playoffs Watch Week 1

By David Joun

Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston College Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko (30) makes a save against the Union Dutchmen during the second period in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston College Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko (30) makes a save against the Union Dutchmen during the second period in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; A general view of the NHL shield on a referee /

The QMJHL

Since when did the QMJHL have the Canucks’ largest prospects pool? This hasn’t happened in years! Well, to be fair, since when did the Canucks have prospects worth talking about? Here are three Vancouver prospects who are all set to play in the playoffs!

D Guillaume Brisebois (Acadie-Bathurst Titans)

Guillaume Brisebois is better known for his value than his numbers. What do I mean? Some will not hesitate to write his name Brisebois and read it “the guy we got for an Eddie Lack“. Fair enough. Who cared that this defenceman has 26 points in 51 games? With two games remaining in the regular season for the Titans, those 26 points were good enough to clinch his team a playoff berth.

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To all fairness, it is not hard to qualify for the playoffs in the QMJHL. As long as you don’t finish as the last two teams in the 18-team league, you are in the playoffs, the round of 16. The Titans qualified for the 14th overall team. Do they have enough in the tank to be the favourite underdogs?

But those 26 points are not as bad as you think. Of course, an 18-year-old seventh-round pick named Olson just put up 47 points in 64 games. Nevertheless, on this depleted Titans team, Brisebois is the best teen defenceman. The blueline leader in points is a 20-year-old named Mark Trickett, who has 36 points in 59 games.

C Dmitry Zhukenov (Chicoutimi Saguenéens)

Don’t you find amusing how the Canucks have a plethora of centremen at the NHL level? Well, the prospects pool reflects that. On every slide of this prospects playoffs watch is the name of a Canuck prospect who plays centre.

Dmitry Zhukenov is the next one, one who plays for the Chicoutimi Saguenées, who stand 10th in the QMJHL with two games left in the season.

RUMOUR: Ronalds Kenins leaving Utica?

After getting drafted in the fourth round of last year’s draft, who saw the 18-year-old Russian putting up 54 points in 62 games? Although not the most impressive total in the talented Chicoutimi lineup, those are impressive numbers from a fourth-round talent. Now the concern would be that he is way too slight for the NHL.

But considering that Zhukenov is just completing the first full season in North America, his production should be a sign of good things to come.

D Carl Neill (Sherbrooke Phoenix)

Finishing 15th overall in the QMJHL was Carl Neill’s Sherbrooke Phoenix, captained by the Canucks’ fifth-round selection himself. With two games left, the 19-year-old defenceman has 49 points in 62 games. Bet on him to try to make the Utica Comets next year.

At 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, he certainly has the size and frame to get things done at the AHL level. Neill is the scoring leader for the Titans blueline, third on the team overall. However, of these three Canuck QMJHL prospects, Brisebois seems to be the most promising.

Next: The AHL: The Utica Comets

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