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Vancouver Canucks: The Last Prospects Playoff Watch

By David Joun |
Apr 15, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Calgary Flames take to the ice for warm up before the start of the first period as the Vancouver Canucks host the Calgary Flames in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Calgary Flames take to the ice for warm up before the start of the first period as the Vancouver Canucks host the Calgary Flames in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

It’s all over for the Vancouver Canucks and the prospects.

Vancouver Canucks fans will have no hockey to worry about for the next handful of days. The last of the remaining prospects had to pack up and head home for the offseason following elimination on Thursday.

Now the Canucks Nation will shift all attention to the upcoming 2016 NHL Draft Lottery which will be held this Saturday, April 30th, at 4PM PST. The Canuck Way will have immediate updates as the lottery selection completes.

C Kyle Pettit (OHL Erie Otters)

Canucks propect centreman Kyle Pettit was the last surviving junior prospect until the London Knights completed the four-game sweep of his Erie Otters on Thursday with a 5-1 win. Pettit recorded no points in the losing effort while going 9-for-12 in faceoffs.

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Pettit’s defensive efforts were not enough to contain top prospects Mitchell Marner, Olli Juolevi, and Matthew Tkachuk. His two-way prowess, however, should not be overlooked — nor should it be overvalued.

Remember how Cole Cassels seemed to have slowed Connor McDavid down in last year’s OHL playoffs series that featured the Oshawa Generals against the Erie Otters? Cassels has fallen mightily since turning pro. Two-way prowess will not translate directly from the juniors to the pros that easily.

Pettit finishes his fourth season with the Otters with ten goals and 21 points in 58 regular season games while winning 62 percent of his faceoffs. Expect him to sign with the Canucks over the summer and to start the season in the AHL.

Although disappointing that a 20-year-old like Pettit only recorded four goals and six points in 13 playoff games this postseason, these totals, coupled with his defensive acumen, spells satisfaction and a decent selection for Jim Benning at 156th overall in 2014.

AHL Utica Comets

Speaking of the Utica Comets, they were unsuccessful in extending their 2015-16 season after losing 6-3 on Thursday against the Albanay Devils. The loss eliminated the Comets from the Calder Cup playoffs.

This first-round exit is disappointing to say the least — the Comets were in the Calder Cup Finals just last year. Here are the playoffs stats for the Canucks prospects who played for the Comets this season:

C Alex Grenier: 4GP — 2 Goals, 3 Points
D Jordan Subban: 4GP — 2 Goals, 3 Points
RW Alex Friesen: 4 GP — 1 Goal, 2 Points
RW Ronalds Kenins: 4 GP — 2 Assists
RW Cole Cassels: 3 GP — 1 Goal
C Mike Zalewski: 4 GP — 1 Assist
LW Joseph Labate: 4GP — 1 Assist

Note that Brendan Gaunce failed to produce in the playoffs. He was a minus-four at the end of the series.

The Comets were not the favourites to win the series by any means. Essentially the entire young New Jersey Devils lineup was sent down to the AHL for the playoffs, including defenseman Damon Severson, netminder Scott Wedgewood, and forward Reid Boucher…

ANALYSIS: Canucks Would Pick Defense in Draft’s Top 5

Next year, Utica!

The Comets face an offseason of uncertainty, however. Should they be excited about the coming of Thathcer Demko? Sure, as the netminding has been the weakest link in the chain for the Comets this season. The playoffs showed that, too.

Richard Bachman, the veteran third-string netminder, lost his starting job to Joe Cannata after the first two games. Cannata showed life in game three, the only game the Comets won in the series.

So do you want a declining Bachman mentoring a rookie Thatcher Demko as Cannata leaves as a free agent?

Speaking of free agents in Utica, the Canucks have some re-signing to do. Top AHL players Zalewski, Grenier, and Friesen are all free agents this summer, while Kenins is rumoured to be heading for Europe.

Next: ANALYSIS: What the Draft Lottery could Turn Into

Well, that is it for this season’s set of Canucks prospects watch! We will have prospects updates, rankings, and more as the offseason progresses. But for now, time to watch the draft lottery and the IIHF World Championship!

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