Vancouver Canucks prospects of week 12: Hughes, Demko, Carcone

In the wake of the Vancouver Canucks ending their losing streak, the Utica Comets have started a winning streak with the return of their netminders. A forgotten prospect tops the list of prospect performances this week.

Last night was not a match for the ages. Not a clash between titans, but an opportunity for the Vancouver Canucks to get out of their worst losing streak of the season. Willie Desjardins and his LA Kings delivered, showing why they belong in 31st place. But let’s be honest here, the Canucks beat the worst team in the league. The bar doesn’t get lower than that, but you have to give it to them for breaking the streak.

Over on the farm, the Utica Comets finally received some help. Anders Nilsson‘s return to the Canucks lineup allowed Richard Bachman to head back to the AHL. Additonally, Thatcher Demko returned after missing nearly two months with a concussion. He did not disappoint, but more on that later.

The team’s European prospects have gone cold and nothing new has happened in the last four days. Why the short time frame? Well, I was late on the new roundup last week and considering what the Comets accomplished this week, I couldn’t wait on this.

Before we get to the top three, let’s just do our quick survey on North America. Jett Woo picked up a pair of assists and has looked solid this season. Michael DiPietro made 26 saves in a winning effort over the Flint Firebirds. Matthew Thiessen has hit a wall, struggling for the last month in the USHL. And Tyler Madden got the game winning goal in Northeastern’s lone game over the weekend.

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Olli Juolevi

Lastly, we need to update you on Olli Juolevi. He raised a couple concerns when he was scratched in Utica’s game against Laval. We weren’t sure if he was hurt, being punished or pulled for a trade/call up. Turns out it was an injury and Jeff Paterson told us that Juolevi would head back to Vancouver to get his knee looked at.

Best case scenario, he’s fine, rests his knee and gets back to Utica. However, what we don’t want to see is surgery. That likely ends his season and for those penciling Juolevi into the lineup next year, he will have an even bigger uphill battle next year.

You can say it isn’t fair since he had his back surgery earlier this year, but the Canucks won’t hold a spot open because they feel bad for him. And with this team’s slow infusion of young players into the lineup, we will be told that Juolevi will have to “earn it,” no matter how arbitrary the standard. So, we’re hoping for the best. But the fact that he has to fly from Utica to Vancovuer tells me that this isn’t nothing. Otherwise, the Canucks wouldn’t bother to go through the trouble and let him recover in Utica.

No. 2 – Thatcher Demko (G) (Utica Comets, AHL)

The return of Thatcher Demko has been greatly anticipated by Canucks fans. Some were not happy with his preseason and hoped he would get back to action quickly. Concussions are frightening and this league does not do enough to admit nor address the real problems at hand.

We are seeing that now with Sven Baertschi, who can’t even work out for 15 minutes without getting dizzy. Young men live impaired lives after hockey and some died prematurely to fulfill the outdated “tough guy” role that continues to be misinterpreted despite the research we have.

My soap box aside, it is good to see Thatcher Demko again. Some jumped the gun early, brushing him off to the side to make way for Michael DiPietro. Keep in mind, DiPietro has yet to play a professional game. If you are ready to jump off the Demko wagon, all I ask is to wait until we see both play a season in the minors. It seems premature to write off Demko yet.

With that all in mind, it’s fantastic to hear that the Comets have won three straight games since our last prospect update. Yeah, the AHL is cruel. Teams can play three games in four nights for several consecutive weekends. And it’s good to see the Comets climb out of their own losing streak like the Canucks.

Demko played in two games, one against Laval and one against Belleville. His first game was a relatively light test, making 19 saves on 21 shots and earning the first star of the night. CanucksArmy’s Cory Hergott said Demko was good and did not at all look rusty.

He busier against Belleville, making 26 saves on 28 shots. Not overworked, but still good. Demko also made a great save on a breakaway during the second period.

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No. 1 – Michael Carcone (LW/RW) (Utica Comets, AHL)

Now for the main event. If anyone in the audience knows who Michael Carcone is, I give you a tip of the hat. I don’t expect most fans to remember him. Carcone was signed in the summer of 2016 as an undrafted free agent from the QMJHL.

His numbers before this year didn’t stand out too much, but he did have 15 goals last season. The start of this year was rather quiet for the kid from Ajax, Ontario, but he didn’t let that stop him. During this three game winning streak, Carcone has three goals and three assists. And the Utica Comets did not fail to deliver. We have GIFs. Legally usable GIFs!

That first goal was my favourite. It’s a lot more fun to watch players create offence and Carcone delivered that in spades this week. I don’t know what kind of pace he will be able to keep after this, but it is exciting. With 14 points in 17 games, Carcone is one point behind the Canucks prospect points lead (currently held by Zack MacEwen, who has played 21 games).

Carcone is an RFA at the end of the season and if he keeps playing like this, he is sure to get a new contract with the club. For his efforts, Carcone was the third star against Laval and Belleville and the second star against Rochester.

Carcone is intersting for a few reasons. He plays a speed-oriented, aggressive style of play. You can say he sometimes hogs the puck and doesn’t pass when he needs to, but you can see a lot of versatility in his game. I’m not sure if Carcone has the NHL in his future and it’s not likely he keeps this pace, but he may be a valuable depth piece for the farm down the line.

In a time where injuries are plaguing both clubs, it is nicer that the Comets can pull from within and not have to sign as many players out of the ECHL. They still do, but at least the counts are getting lower. We’ll see what the prospect crew gets up to next week.