Vancouver Canucks Prospects Showdown highlights Pettersson, Gaudette

At long last, the Vancouver Canucks are bearing the first fruits of the rebuild.

On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks held their first-ever Canucks Summer Prospects Showdown. Top prospects Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen were put in the spotlight to showcase their chemistry.

The duo didn’t dominate the game, however. That was because opposing centre Adam Gaudette had something else in mind.

Here is a look at what went down at the Canucks Summer Prospects Showdown game.

Team Blue vs. Team White

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/883074738850979840

At first look, Team White seemed to have all the advantage. They boasted four former first-round picks including Brock Boeser and his nine-game NHL experience. In 5-on-5 play, Boeser played “the third Swede” with Pettersson and Dahein. On the blueline, Memorial Cup winner Jalen Chatfield of the Windsor Spitfires paired up with Vancouver’s top defence prospect Olli Juolevi.

On the other hand, Team Blue consisted of players picked in the later rounds of the draft. They had Memorial Cup winner Michael DiPietro between the pipes, who was the only drafted netminder available on Thursday.

Team Blue was not to be underrated, though. They had Griffen Molino and his five-game NHL experience as well as one of NCAA’s top players last year, centre Adam Gaudette. Also on offence, the dynamic Owen Sound Attack duo of Petrus Palmu and Jonah Gadjovich hoped to answer the Pettersson-Dahlen duo.

Highlights as Team White defeats Team Blue (5-3)

Team Blue actually managed to outshoot Team White 30-29 despite the apparent lack of star power. Notably, Elias Pettersson and Adam Gaudette each led with two goals for their respective teams.

Michael Carcone (AHL Utica Comets) scored the other goal for Team Blue. For Team White, Zack MacEwen (AHL Utica Comets) and Jalen Chatfield (OHL Windsor Spitfires) scored while invite Aaron Irving added one via a penalty shot.

Before further analysing the game, here are some other game notes:

• Canucks prospect William Lockwood (NCAA, U of Michigan) did not play after undergoing shoulder surgery in April. Now, he is recovering well after participating in the other events of the development camp.
• Interestingly, the game was the single most attended summer event in Canucks history. That speaks volumes about how excited the fan base is for the future.
• Sadly, Brock Boeser did not play exciting hockey. He is conserving energy for the main camp, it seems. If his lack of on-ice compete was due to his wrist and a lingering injury, though, that would be a cause for concern.

Here are eight thoughts after watching these Canucks prospects play in front of their fans at Rogers Arena.

1. The Elias Pettersson Show has just begun

After being selected fifth overall in the most recent NHL Entry Draft, Elias Pettersson played his first game in a Vancouver Canucks uniform on Thursday. He scored twice in regulation play and added a third goal in the shootout portion of the game.

In the three goals that he scored, Pettersson showed off his quick hands as well as a hard and accurate wrist shot. Vancouver will be seeing his signature backhand-to-forehand dekes for many years to come.

Pettersson looked natural in making these flashy moves, understanding the on-ice dynamics and finding the soft spots in the slot. He also used his teammates effectively. This first goal came from a short give-and-go with defenseman Aaron Irving that allowed Pettersson to get behind the defence.

Then the second goal came thanks to Pettersson’s awareness of Jonathan Dahlen’s drive to the net. Pettersson recognised that a lane will open up if he patiently hung on to the puck.

Without the puck, Pettersson did not impress defensively but was positionally sound. His skating and soft hands allowed him to get out of tough situations without being pinned down at his own end too many times.

Vancouver drafted Pettersson for his offensive skills and his quickness. The Canucks are getting exactly what they hoped they were getting in Elias and the fans are going to enjoy these kinds of highlight reels for the years to come.

2. Adam Gaudette steals the spotlight

Despite all the flash in Pettersson’s offensive game, the true star at the Prospects Showdown was opposing centre Adam Gaudette, the 20-year-old NCAA forward for Northeastern University. He will look to dominate the NCAA in his third year, this time with the alternate captain’s “A” on his jersey.

The sole reason Team White could not dominate Team Blue in Thursday’s game may have been Gaudette’s play and his ability to be a complete hockey player.

Those comparisons would be to NHL stars like Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron.

Gaudette’s complete 200-foot game was on display on Thursday. He did not have the flashiest of dekes and the prettiest of the passing plays but he still managed to score two goals, both off the rush, during regulation play.

He also hit the post in the shootout portion, displaying quick and nifty hands in tight.

The most impressive part of Gaudette’s game was his ability neutralise his opposition in all three zones.

He was physically solid, dropping Pettersson behind the net during the second period with a strong shoulder check. Gaudette was also tenacious on the puck and closed down passing lanes using his stick effectively.

His offence was also impressive, considering he nearly had the same offensive output as Pettersson did with two goals and beating the netminder in the shootout. What the fans saw yesterday was that Gaudette can play the game at the same pace as Pettersson can.

Here are some quotes from Gaudette, courtesy of Ben Kuzma of Province Sports.

We were getting matched up with the two Swedes and I think we did a pretty good job overall. He (Pettersson) is definitely a higher pick than me, but I definitely wanted to show that I can compete at the level he’s competing at because we’re battling for the same spot. I wanted to show everybody that I can play at the same pace that he can. — Adam Gaudette, via Ben Kuzma, Province Sports

Gaudette definitely showed why he had 52 points in 37 NCAA games last season as a reliable two-way centre. After being drafted in the fifth round, Gaudette may be looking to challenge for an NHL roster spot after next season. He won’t be satisfied with a fourth-line role, either.

The future is bright down the middle. Imagine a trio of Pettersson-Bo Horvat-Gaudette!

4. Jonah Gadjovich & Petrus Palmu still have much to prove

Though I was a fan of drafting these two Owen Sound Attack forwards at the draft, I was not a fan of their play on Thursday’s prospects game.

Jonah Gadjovich looked sluggish with awkward puck control and skating. Petrus Palmu seemed overwhelmed by the bigger players that were on the ice. He was not the offensive dynamite many claimed him to be.

Of course, that’s why these players were picked where they were.

In their defence, Gadjovich did not get the chance to do what he does best — dominating the net-front. The game was fast-paced and fluid. There were no power plays. The majority of the play was 4-on-4 and 3-on-3.

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Hence, there were not many times Gadjovich could park himself in front of the opposition’s net. He did, however, look good along the boards battling for the puck.

Petrus Palmu

As for Palmu, he did have a few scoring chances, like the one shown in the video above. For a guy known for his offensive touches, the lack of finish was frustrating to watch. He wasn’t getting stapled into the board by the bigger players but he was easily contained by the larger defenders.

I thought that the chemistry between the two of them would translate to some nice passing plays. Turns out, each player struggled to hold his own and did not get the chance to prove themselves.

5. Zack MacEwen is an intriguing mix of size and skill

As a 20-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent out of the QMJHL, forward Zack MacEwen has never been on the prospects radar for many Canucks fans. MacEwen had just signed an AHL contract this past season.

At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, many see MacEwen’s stature and think of him as a grit-first guy. He, however, showed on Thursday how he had 31 goals and 74 points in 66 games with the QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques and nine more points in seven playoff games.

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I am not saying that MacEwen is ready to dominate the AHL and challenge for a spot on the Canucks opening night roster. Quite far from it, actually. MacEwen is a project.

On Thursday, MacEwen explored some chemistry with Brock Boeser and was able to show his offensive assets. Aside from the cannon of a shot that his massive frame can produce, MacEwen also knows how to use his body to protect pucks.

While not physically crushing, he effectively smothered the opposition puck carrier with his size. His stick was active in a good way. He had good two-way instincts and would be a much better player if his skating improves. He worked very hard when he is on the ice.

Bottom line, MacEwen had moments of magic and promise. He has the tools to be an effective bottom-six NHL forward thanks to his size, shot and ability to check. If he can put all these things together and improve his mobility, it may not be long before Zack hits the NHL.

Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects sums it up the best:

A hard-nosed power forward that doesn’t do any one thing to a particularly outstanding degree, but does the little things right. Lots of positive signs in his development and is starting to put the pieces together for a solid career.

6. Olli Juolevi at 190 pounds is better than ever before

Weight has become a hot topic of discussion amongst Canucks prospects. Whether it be Jake Virtanen being too heavy to be effective or Elias Pettersson being too featherweight to survive the NHL, weight has been an arguing point for Canucks fans.

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So when Olli Juolevi apparently showed up and tipped the scales north of 190 pounds, I was split on whether I should cheer for the added strength and endurance or be weary for the loss of mobility and conditioning.

Well, Thursday’s performance from the Canucks’ top prospect defenseman showed that not only has he added power to his frame but also composure that comes with experience.

In particular, the shootout portion showed the creativity that flows in Juolevi’s mind as well as his deft hands when in tight spaces offensively.

Though I would love to see more urgency in Juolevi’s game when the puck is on his stick, his game is perfectly fine defensively. The added mass to his frame helped him to withstand the check from larger opposition forwards without hurting his mobility.

Sami Salo works with Olli Juolevi

As a guy who rarely makes flashy forays into the offensive end, Juolevi could benefit from working with longtime Canuck Sami Salo famous for his booming slap shot. Here is a feature video from the Canucks highlighting Salo’s work with Juolevi.

7. Chatfield and Brisebois proved their worth

Though Juolevi deservedly received all the attention on the blueline side of things, two other defensemen stood out in Thursday’s prospects match: newly signed Jalen Chatfield from the OHL Windsor Spitfires and former third-round pick Guillaume Brisebois.

Chatfield and Juolevi played together for most of the night. Although he wasn’t physically imposing, his skating was sure and strong at all times. He had multiple forays into the offensive zone and joined the rush on most occasions.

Perhaps his confidence came from having Juolevi as his partner. Chatfield seemed confident moving the puck around, in many ways like Ben Hutton except that Chatfield may be a bit more aggressive with the puck.

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Is it just me or does Chatfield give off a Brent Burns-like aura/personality?

Guillaume Brisebois

Despite the criticism Jim Benning received for picking Brisebois with the pick acquired in return for Eddie Lack, Brisebois is finally starting to show why the Canucks drafted him and why Team Canada junior teams are always keeping him around.

In fact, Brisebois is quite the dynamic defender and has a nice frame at 6-foot-3. He uses the frame well to be strong defensively and be confident rushing the puck into the enemy territory. He is not a hard hitter.

The more and more fans watch Brisebois, they will come to appreciate how good of a defenseman he could be. A two-way defender with smart instincts and a good frame is always in demand at the NHL level.

8. Quiet night for Dahlen no cause for concern

After coming to Vancouver at the trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators, Jonathan Dahlen was elated to find out that his best friend and linemate Elias Pettersson was going to be joining him as one of the best prospects in the Canucks organisation.

Despite speculation that the two Swede forwards could show glimpses of premature Sedin-esque chemistry, the two did not wow those gathered at Rogers Arena with offensive teamwork.

Many were disappointed, and understandably so. Team White’s top line of Boeser-Pettersson-Dahlen was a look into the future, a definite possibility for Vancouver’s top line in a few years’ time.

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But Boeser took the night off and simply enjoyed being on the ice, leaving Dahlen and Pettersson without a third forward to work with in many occasions in the offensive zone.

As for Dahlen’s individual performance, he seemed a lot more comfortable being involved in the thick the of play than Pettersson was. Dahlen drove to the net and drew a defender back with him, giving Pettersson a better shooting lane and more time to roof the puck past the Team Blue netminder.

Dahlen had a nice backhand opportunity against netminder Michael DiPietro on a partial breakaway. Otherwise, Dahlen was a quiet force on the ice the same way we know Juolevi to be.

Like Juolevi, Dahlen does many things well aside from scoring. He is very hungry for the puck in the offensive zone.

Had Dahlen’s night ended like that, I would have left room for slight concern. But I am not worried at all after seeing that move in the shootout that oozed with confidence and the aura of a goal scorer. Dahlen is a scorer and score he will.

Next: The Need to Exploit the Cap Space in a Rebuild

Now that the summer development camp is over, the next event on the Canucks agenda is the Young Stars Classic. This year’s Young Stars Classic will take place in Penticton, B.C., beginning September 8th.