Vancouver Canucks top prospects of week 27: Elias, Demko, MacEwen
No. 3 – RW Zack MacEwen (Utica Comets, AHL)
Let’s talk about the Utica Comets. Past the Canadian border, the Comets started their Calder Cup playoffs in Toronto to take on the Marlies. Utica left the weekend down two games to none and on the brink of elimination (the first round is a best of five).
Head coach Trent Cull made the call to scratch Kole Lind and Jonathan Dahlén in game one of the series. I understand the decision on Lind since he is still making the transition, but there is no excuse to keep Dahlén in the press box.
I know the AHL is a battle between development and winning, but putting in one of the most high profile Canucks prospects in the lineup can accomplish both. There is no way an ECHL enforcer should take up that spot.
Dahlén played in game two, but Lukas Jasek was pulled from the lineup. Again, the Comets have a better chance of winning with both in the lineup. Cull has done well during the season to develop prospects, considering the circumstances, but if you are up against the best team in the AHL, you need to pull out all the stops. Gooning it up has put you on the verge of being swept. We will see what happens in game three.
Now, we can talk about Zack
Zack MacEwen is not a familiar name among some of you. He wasn’t drafted, but the Canucks took a chance on the young forward when he became a free agent out of the QMJHL. Jim Benning liked him for his power game, speed and soft hands.
In his rookie season with the Comets, he did well for himself, scoring 10 goals and collecting 33 points. Keep in mind, Jake Virtanen only had 19 points last season with the Comets. Also keep in mind, that MacEwen and Virtanen are the same age and one is in the AHL while the other is in the big leagues. This should help set reasonable expectations, but we know how this market is.
I am impressed with the progress MacEwen made this season. He went from undrafted player to noticeable Canucks prospect after a single year. I’m sure nobody remembers Yan-Pavel Laplante or Danny Moynihan, so this could be a feather in Benning’s cap (he could certainly use it).
MacEwen only had one goal in the playoffs, but it happened on the power play and it was a beauty. The young man has the celebration down too.
Regardless of what happens in the third game of the series, MacEwen has caught my attention for next year’s training camp. He won’t make the Canucks, but I am intrigued by how he will build on his rookie season.
No. 2 – G Thatcher Demko (Utica, AHL)
You have to feel for Thatcher Demko. He is faced with the toughest task of taking on the best team in the AHL. And in that first playoff game, they truly showed it. Demko dealt with 47 shots, making 44 saves. Unfortunately, his team lost the first game 3-2 in overtime.
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Demko appears well adjusted and is making great plays out there. He is in a tough goaltending battle with Garret Sparks; although Demko is tested more often. That’s just how it goes when Utica can’t even come close to matching the depth on the Marlies roster. And that is with three of their best players out of the lineup. Truly scary.
Things got worse in game two as Demko gave up four goals on 28 shots. However, I would not lay too much blame at his feet. His defencemen were victimized by bad bounces, but there is something critical happening in this series.
Because Utica is unable to win on skill alone, they are trying to wear the Marlies down physically. This is leading to a lot of penalties. Utica took seven penalties in game one and seven more in game two. You are not doing yourself any favours by running a parade to the penalty box.
Down to a single game
As mentioned earlier, the Comets are one game away from being knocked out of the playoffs. Canucks fans on the West Coast can’t even watch the Comets play, unless they shell out $45 to watch a terrible quality stream.
It doesn’t sound good, but the best stories are ones that overcome adversity. The Toronto Maple Leafs are proving that now, pushing their series to a game seven after being down 3-1. The Comets could come back. But it will take near-perfect goaltending to do it.
I hate it when teams rely this much on their goalies to win. It’s a ridiculous amount of pressure on one guy and masks the fact that the team isn’t very good. Keep that fact in mind when you hear people say Demko is enough for the Canucks to make the playoffs next year.
Fortunately, Reid Boucher‘s broken hand has recovered. He just cleared waivers and will join the Comets on Wednesday for their elimination game. The team needs their leading scorer more than ever to stay alive in the series.
No. 1 – RW/C Elias Pettersson (Växjö Lakers, SHL)
Well, the Golden Boy did it. Elias Petterson and the Växjö Lakers did not make the league finals into a series. They won by a landslide, sweeping Skellefteå by a combined score of 20-1. Just when you thought he was done making history, Pettersson found a new way to do it.
All four games took place during this week’s review and Pettersson crushed it, scoring six goals and adding four assists. He cruised on to winning the Le Mat Trophy with Växjö in dominant fashion. I won’t break the site or your phones with GIFs, so I will pick my two favourite goals.
In case you forgot, Pettersson received a gold helmet for leading the SHL in scoring during the regular season. With his 19 points in 13 games, he got another one for the playoffs. His incredible accomplishments were summed up well on Sunday.
Related Story: Elias Pettersson leads Vaxjo to SHL Championship
Another record broken
We all know that Pettersson holds the record for the best SHL season for his age group (U20). This year’s performance in the playoffs puts him at the very top of his age group. In yet another list that featured Daniel and Henrik Sedin (twice each), Pettersson has passed both. His efforts in the postseason also tie for the seventh best among all players in SHL history.
Fun fact, Anze Kopitar had 11 points in 10 playoff games when he was in the SHL. Pettersson has been phenomenal in Sweden this year. And that’s an understatement. He did not immediately play in the NHL like some of the other high profile picks in his draft class, but cemented his place in Swedish hockey history.
Patience was always the key with Pettersson, but he is progressing far faster than anyone could have hoped; except for Thomas Gradin of course. From this point, Pettersson will likely be added to the Swedish national team at this year’s World Championships.
The Future
He will be an excellent player for years to come, regardless if he plays centre or not. Patience is the key for Pettersson and I understand the debut of Brock Boeser has skewed expectations. Keep in mind, Boeser did not play a full season until the third year after his draft.
Assuming Pettersson plays next year, it’s only his draft+2 year. I could say don’t expect a Calder worthy season, but I know I’m wasting my time in doing so. Enjoy it, Canucks fans. Pettersson is one of the most exciting prospects this team has ever had since a pair of twins from Örnsköldsvik.
We can quibble over how many times Green will healthy scratch the rookie (you know it’s coming), but that will come in the fall. The Vancouver Canucks have something truly special with Elias Pettersson, and the clock is ticking.
Next: How Vancouver will handle their restricted free agents
Surround him with incredible talent. Find people who can excel or even surpass him. Because, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and Thatcher Demko cannot do this alone. The NHL is an ever-growing arms race, but the Canucks can sleep well knowing they have at least one hell of a star player in the making.