Canucks prospects of week 7: Rathbone, Palmu and Silovs

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?

From highlight-reel goals to a defenceman with a multi-goal game, this was another week of exceptional accomplishments for Vancouver Canucks prospects.

1. Jack Rathbone

Defenceman Jack Rathbone, selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL draft with the 95th overall selection, has undoubtedly been one of their most underrated prospects. Rathbone is entering his sophomore season at Harvard University, and it may very well be his last. The fast-skating rearguard may opt to turn pro after this season.

In my many viewings, which began when Rathbone was a senior at Dexter High School, he always stood out. His skating is exceptional, as is his pin-point passing ability. His freshman year at Harvard saw him play regularly on the first pairing with Adam Fox, who has since signed with the New York Rangers. Rathbone recorded seven goals and 22 points in 33 games in the 2018-2019 campaign.

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Harvard began its hockey season with an impressive 7-3 victory over Dartmouth in NCAA action. Rathbone got things started with a goal at 1:42 of the first period when he joined the rush and buried a shot after receiving a drop pass.

He reads the play well and displays his powerful stride before unleashing his deadly accurate shot. Later Rathbone would add the eventual game-winner with a slick move to outmaneuver a defender and fire home a blast.

I would expect to see Rathbone used in a more offensive role this year with the loss of Fox. I would also anticipate a significant increase in ice-time with him being counted on more heavily in all situations.

2. Petrus Palmu

Petrus Palmu has been scoring at a prolific pace for JYP this season. Following a week that saw him add two goals and three assists in two games, Palmu has 16 points in just ten contests. The 1.60 points per game are the best in the league for players having played more than one game.

In the first of his two games this week, Palmu scored the game-winning goal and added two assists as JYP downed his former team TPS Turku 6-3. Both of his helpers were secondary assists with one coming on an empty-net tally. A day later, he would provide a goal and a primary power play assist in a 4-0 blanking of KooKoo.

3. Arturs Silovs

Following a short period of adjustment, Arturs Silovs has become one of the top goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League. Back to back stellar performances has earned him another spot in my prospects of the week. Friday night, he stopped 35 of 38 shots in a shootout victory versus the Saginaw Spirit.

He denied both Blade Jenkins and 2020 NHL draft prospect Cole Perfetti in the shootout to assure the win and in doing so, received second-star honours. In a Saturday afternoon affair, he would kick aside 37 of 38 pucks fired his way in a 5-1 downing of the Flint Firebirds. He would be named the first star of the game for his efforts.

Honourable mention

Nils Hoglander would only score once during this week, but it was spectacular. Undoubtedly, it will be in contention for goal of the year in the Swedish Hockey League.

Northeastern University forward Aidan McDonough, a seventh-round selection by the Canucks in the 2019 NHL draft, scored his first NCAA goal.

Make sure to check back next week to find out which prospects make the Canucks prospects of the week.