Vancouver Canucks Reassign 12 Players from Training Camp

Twelve more players have seen their training camps with the Vancouver Canucks come to an end.

The Vancouver Canucks made another round of cuts following this morning’s cuts, as 12 more players are gone from the team, either to the Utica Comets or to the junior ranks.

Left wing Darren Archibald is off to Utica for his fifth season of minor pro hockey. The forward from Newmarket, Ontario once looked like he could be a good power forward at the NHL level but has never developed in to that kind of player. He played 16 games for the Canucks in 2013-14 but only had a goal and two assists.

Goalie Kevin Carr joined the Canucks on a professional tryout deal after two years in the ECHL ranks. With Markstrom, Demko & Garteig all looking to get significat preseason action, it’s no surprise to see him off to the Utica Comets.

Centre Cole Cassels was destined for the AHL this year after a disappointing year last year in which he battled lingering injuries from his days in junior hockey. Although this cut is no surprise, it’s a bit disappointing we won’t get to see him do battle with Connor McDavid again when the Canucks take on the Oilers tonight, because that match-up was so fun to watch in junior.

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Left wing Derek Hulak is headed to Utica as well. He’s been a mainstay in the minor pro ranks with the Texas Stars and has been a 20 goal scorer at that level.

Left wing Yan-Pavel Laplante was one of the players who impressed in the Canucks Young Stars tournament and it was good enough to get him an invite to training camp. Although he won’t be sticking around, getting those few days in Canucks training camp was a good sign for his development.

Defenseman Evan McEneny turned pro last year and spent most of his first year with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. He likely won’t be sticking on with the Utica Comets this year either, with the number of good defensemen the Canucks are expected to cut.

Left wing Danny Moynihan was a free-agent invite to the Canucks YoungStars tournament and impressed in game two against the Winnipeg Jets which got him his invite to Canucks training camp. After four years of junior, it will be interesting to see what he does at the pro level.

Defenseman John Negrin has played three NHL games since turning pro at the end of the 2008-09 season. Since then he has been up and down between the AHL and ECHL and that’s exactly what the Canucks should expect from him this year.

After the Edmonton Oilers did not sign him to an entry-level contract, the Canucks gave Centre Marco Roy a second chance with an invite to the Canucks Young Stars Tournament. As the most impressive forward in the Young Stars Tournament, Roy has kept his second chance alive as he heads to the Utica Comets.

Defenseman Mackenze Stewart is headed to Utica for his first pro season. Stewart is known for his tough physical style of game and that should translate well to the minor pro game.

Centre Curtis Valk was another player who impressed in the Canucks YoungStars tournament. Valk hasn’t yet been able to replicate the player he was with the Medicine Hat Tigers, but he is still a player worth watching this year.

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Goaltender Rylan Parenteau has had quite the impact on the city of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and that’s where he’s headed for his final year of junior hockey. Parenteau did have the option to play minor pro but with a crowded crease at both the AHL and ECHL level it’s best for his development to continue putting up all-star numbers in the WHL.

The Vancouver Canucks play the Edmonton Oilers tonight, and more cuts should follow tomorrow.