Vancouver Canucks Prospects of Week 2: Podkolzin, Focht and Perron
By Rick Warman
Each week I will be featuring the Vancouver Canucks top three prospects of the week. Along with any other notable performances, should there be any that deserve mentioning?
1. Vasili Podkolzin
Much has been stated concerning the questionable deployment thus far this season of Vancouver Canucks prize prospect Vasili Podkolzin. Recently, however, Podkolzin has gone from being the extra forward to regular fourth-line duty in the Kontinental Hockey League. He has also played occasionally in the VHL, which is a second-tier Russian men’s league.
This week he saw action in the Russian junior league the MHL. Podkolzin earned my top prospect of the week honour with a three-assist game in a 4-2 victory by SKA-1946 in the junior ranks. In two games at that level this season, Podkolzin has four assists. Although he hasn’t recorded any points this season at the KHL level, he has shown dominance when playing versus his peers.
The Canucks selected Podkolzin in the first round of the 2019 NHL draft with the tenth overall selection. His current KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg expires at the end of the 2020-2021 season. He is a strong candidate to step directly into the Canucks lineup upon his arrival for the 2021-2022 season.
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2. Carson Focht
With the Calgary Hitmen trailing 3-2 in the third period on Friday night Carson Focht was able to bury the equalizer to force overtime. In the extra session, Focht broke down the left side following a turnover by the Edmonton Oil Kings and fired a wrist shot for the game-winner.
Saturday night versus the Red Deer Rebels, Focht was once again prominent. He had a secondary assist on the powerplay 4:29 into the game. The Hitmen went on to win the game 5-1. On the season Focht now has three goals and two assists in three games played.
3. Francis Perron
The Utica Comets played their only two games of the preseason Friday and Saturday night versus the Binghamton Devils. Francis Perron had one goal and one assist in the first game which was won 6-1 by the Comets. He added another goal in the Saturday affair, a 4-3 loss to the Devils.
The Canucks acquired Perron at the draft along with a 2019 seventh-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Tom Pyatt and a 2019 sixth-round selection.
Honourable Mention
Jonah Gadjovich opened the scoring for the Comets on Friday night when he deflected a point shot from Olli Juolevi. Gadjovich added two assists in the Saturday game. Gadjovich looks primed to play a more significant role this season.
Next. . dark
The Comets regular season gets underway Saturday, Oct. 5 versus the Devils in Binghamton. Be sure to check back next week to see which prospects are featured.