Vancouver Canucks final top prospect report: Utica Comets Edition
With the final prospects report of the 2017-18 season, the Utica Comets are the last ones standing. Stay tuned for news on their playoff series and more.
All good things must come to an end. Vancouver Canucks fans had little to celebrate during the NHL season and the gut punch from the draft lottery just added insult to injury. However, one thing kept the spark for the team’s most ardent supporters: the prospects.
And this season had some incredible seasons to follow. Whether we saw Elias Pettersson breaking records, Kole Lind carving up the WHL or Jonathan Dahlén becoming a hero in Timrå, it was a lot of fun.
With any season, it had its ups and downs, but the prospects kept people interested in the team, especially when the Canucks lost their star rookie, Brock Boeser, to injury.
European prospects update
There are a couple notes about World Championship rosters. Elias Pettersson was named to the preliminary roster for Sweden. Anders Nilsson was also named as an aside. The Canucks could potentially have two representatives wearing the Tre Kronor. Unsurprisingly, Pettersson was named SHL rookie and forward of the year.
Rick Dahliwal noted this morning that Finland announced their roster and Olli Juolevi did not make the cut. You can’t be too surprised considering the NHL talent available. I would also remind you that Juolevi did not make the Olympic team earlier in the year either. Regardless, it is disappointing for him as well as Canucks fans.
Jonathan Dahlén was recognized for his remarkable season winning the Allsvenskan awards for best forward and MVP, per Ryan Biech.
Lastly, the Finnish Liiga is announcing finalists for some of their awards. Petrus Palmu is one of the three finalists for Rookie of the year. Congratulations to Petrus for his great season and nomination!
A close series
I have to give it to the Utica Comets. On paper, they had no chance in their series against the Toronto Marlies. Down 2-0 in best of five, it seemed like the end was nigh for the Canucks farm team. However, fortune shone brightly on the Comets.
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When Comets leading scorer Reid Boucher ended his season prematurely with a hand injury in Vancouver, we did not expect him back for the first round of the AHL playoffs. Boucher healed up quickly and joined his team for a potential elimination game.
He opened the scoring in Game three and started an outburst that chased Marlies goaltender, Garret Sparks from his net. Utica took the contest with authority in a 5-2 victory, breathing new life into their own building.
The Marlies could not contain Boucher in Game four, where his two goals led to another 5-2 victory, tying the series. It was incredible. Utica was in a position to upset the best team in the AHL. However, the Marlies would receive some reinforcements of their own in Andreas Johnsson, who individually dismantled the Comets in a heartbreaking 4-0 loss in Game five.
Utica rose to the occasion and almost stole the series, but just came up short. An incredible way to end a season plagued by injuries and a rotating cast of new faces in the lineup. Next year could get very interesting with a few graduated Canucks prospects.