Vancouver Canucks top prospects of week 25: Dahlen, Pettersson, Jasek

We’re spending this week’s recap on the continent of Europe. Jonathan Dahlén left the greatest parting gift with his childhood team and you get to see a prospect that you have probably forgotten about. Here are your top Canucks propects of the week.

All good things must come to an end. No, I’m not talking about the Vancouver Canucks‘ season. Or about the interesting string of tweets from Francesco Aquilini (Canucks PR might want to learn that we have 280 characters per tweet now).

The illustrious careers of Henrik and Daniel Sedin have crossed the finish line. Being more than worthy for the Hall of Fame, there aren’t many words that I can add to what has been already said. With their departure, they create openings for our younger players to take over (good luck with that).

Although none of our prospects should be expected to fill those shoes , we can see them establish their own stories for the next several years. Perhaps they will touch this city in a profound way. Maybe they will get the chance to compete for the ultimate prize in this league. Maybe not. For now, we can continue to brag about our prospect pool and annoy everyone else around the NHL fandom.

Utica Comets and Owen Sound Attack

In case you missed it, Kole Lind debuted with the Utica Comets. With three AHL games under his belt, Lind has no points. Don’t panic. Like I said last week, the transition will take time. This is best to give Lind a taste of what is expected in pro hockey and how hard he needs to work this summer. Not every prospect can make an immediate impact like our number three prospect of the week. Lind is almost 19-years-old, not 21. Give him time.

For what it’s worth, Comets GM Ryan Johnson says he likes what he sees. However, I don’t care much for what Johnson has to say. He is rarely a useful source of information, and considering his position, it’s disappointing.

Over in the OHL, Owen Sound takes on the best team in the OHL, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In three games this week, the Attack have a 2-1 lead over the Greyhounds. Brett McKenzie had another good week, picking up a goal and four assists. No game winners this week, but still quietly working.

Jonah Gadjovich only has one point in seven playoff games. He’s playing a lot of minutes, but can’t seem to find the back of the net. Hopefully, he can get out of this funk for the purposes of covering him. Fortunately, the team around him is deep.

Jack Rathbone, Olli Juolevi and Petrus Palmu

Before the top three, I just wanted to bring up Jack Rathbone. I don’t know if his season is over at Dexter School, but his stats have not changed since the last update. Although, thanks to Ryan Biech, we learned Jack Rathbone had a hat trick and an assist to send the U18 Cape Cod Whalers to the National Midget Semifinals.

As for TPS Turku, their season is over, after being swept by Tappara. Petrus Palmu finished the Liiga playoffs with five points in ten games. His teammate Olli Juolevi had seven points in the same number of games. TPS will play in a Bronze Medal game.

After that, we will see if either report to Utica. I believe the transfer for Juolevi is simple, but Palmu would likely need to be brought in on an ATO like Lukas Jasek. There may be considerations for the World Championships, but based on Olympic selections, I wouldn’t be so confident.

No. 3 – RW Lukas Jasek (Utica Comets, AHL/Liberec, Czeck Extraliga)

Lukas Jasek is not exactly a household name in the Canucks prospect pool. I always find it funny when Canucks fans rave about our prospect pool. More often than not, a majority of who they name came from the most recent draft. These fans are not unique. Every fanbase has people guilty of recency bias.

Jasek was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. At the time, he was an excellent gamble, especially because few fans had any exposure to him. Unknown players are interesting, but statistical models loved Jasek for what he accomplished in his draft year.

In the last three years, Jasek has not left the Czech Republic. With HC Trinec, he was denied opportunity and was shuffled between the top two leagues in the country. Signing with Liberec gave him more opportunities.

Resurgence

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Canucks fans have likely forgotten him long ago. His contract runs until the end of the next season. Things didn’t look good for Jasek based on his 18 points in 48 games this season. From the outside looking in, it seemed like his production was regressing.

Just when it seemed like Jasek was going to be another inconsequential sixth round pick, he signed a tryout with the Utica Comets. His debut last week was impressive and that was not a flash in the pan. Jasek had another goal and two assists in a home and home with the Toronto Marlies. Utica was shut out by Syracuse, but Jasek is off to a great start.

Yes, the sample size is very small (six points in four games). Jasek will also turn 21 this August. However, this short run is providing some glimmer of hope, which is nice. Will it amount to anything? Maybe. For now, let’s see how he does in the playoffs.

Here is a GIF of his goal:

No. 1 – LW Jonathan Dahlén (Timrå IK, SHL)

Did you notice something different? For the first time this season, I have designated Timrå in the SHL. You know what that means. Jonathan Dahlén led his favourite team growing up back to the SHL! Down 3-1 in the promotion series, Timrå rallied back to win three consecutive times and move up from the Allsvenskan.

Dahlén’s team has not been in the SHL since 2013. The talented winger had 14 points in the playoffs, leading his team. 18 years ago, a certain player did the same thing. This special person was like Dahlén. He also played in Timrå and was instrumental in promoting the team to the SHL (called the Swedish Elite League back then).

That player also led Timrå with 14 points and like Dahlén, led the team in points during every year they were there. Henrik Zetterberg is that player. He was Dahlén’s favourite when he was little. Zetterberg is still remembered as a hero to this day for promoting Timrå to the big league. Do you believe in destiny? Dahlén will likely be remembered for doing the same.

Zetterberg did spend two more years with Timrå in the SHL before making the jump to North America. Judging by how the Canucks are “accelerating the rebuild,” I would think the sooner they get Dahlén here, the better.

Instead of his goals this week, I would prefer to show you this instead. This is five-year-old Jonathan Dahlén doing his best Henrik Zetterberg impression. It really doesn’t get better than this.

The impact and future

Does this mean Jonathan Dahlén will follow the same path as Zetterberg? Probably not. He can play centre, but does his best work on the wing (just like Elias Pettersson). Dahlén has also spent most of the last two years on the wing (also like Pettersson).  Speaking of Pettersson, this was the reaction from Dahlén’s friend and former teammate.

What is truly special is that this young man became the person he idolized. And maybe, just maybe, he carves out his own niche in the NHL where one day, kids in Sweden will strive to be just like him.

I told you how important this was to Swedish hockey players. And if this is Dahlén’s final season in Sweden, then he left one hell of a parting gift with his team. It’s a tremendous accomplishment and I respect how the loyalty has ultimately paid off. Jim Benning and Trevor Linden may grossly overvalue character, but I can appreciate this level of devotion.

He is committed to winning and I will be very interested to see what comes next. I know the Canucks would like him to join the Utica Comets as soon as possible for the end of the season and playoffs. If he can stay healthy this time around during training camp, I do wonder if he makes a difficult decision for Travis Green.

Next: Looking back on our favourite Sedin moments

Personally, I think he could use some time in the AHL, adjusting his play to North American ice. The same can be said for Pettersson, but it would not be the first time the Canucks rushed a pair of prospects to the team. Travis Green will be tough to please, as he places an incredible value on fitness, skating and 5v5 play with or without the puck. Perhaps the coaches and management can keep each other in check. Or perhaps that’s giving them too much credit.