Canucks prospects of week 14: Rafferty, Hoglander and Podkolzin

Each week, I will be featuring the Vancouver Canucks top three prospects. Here’s a look at who stood out in week 14.

A member of the Utica Comets continues to make noise, far exceeding expectations, while some of the Canucks European prospects prepare for the World Junior Championships.

1. Brogan Rafferty

When general manager Jim Benning signed Brogan Rafferty as a free agent out of Quinnipiac University, it was with little fanfare. The Canucks had signed NCAA free agents in the past with minimal impact to the organization. However, this time he appears to have uncovered an absolute gem. In his final year at college, Rafferty posted 24 points in 38 games. He has already surpassed that total in his first year of professional hockey.

The Comets won all three games this past week and head into the Christmas break on a high note. Rafferty played a dominant role in all three victories. Wednesday night versus the Belleville Senators, he would contribute a pair of power play assists, including one on the game-winning goal by Kole Lind, in a 4-3 decision.

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Two nights later, with the Comets trailing 2-0, Rafferty, once again, would set up Lind for the Comets’ opening goal. He then added a power play marker 14 seconds into the third period to put the Comets up 3-2.

After the Laval Rocket had tied the game, Rafferty provided the secondary assist, while on the power play, on Sven Baertschi’s game-winning goal. The Comets would prevail 5-3.

The following night the Comets edged the Rochester Americans by a final score of 4-3 in a highly entertaining affair.

Rafferty drew assists on both the Comets’ first two goals, giving him seven points for the week. With his effort, Rafferty now leads all American Hockey League defencemen by a sizable margin. His 29 points in 31 games, is second on the Comets and eighth in the entire AHL.

2. Nils Hoglander

Another Canucks prospect that has fans extremely excited is Swedish sensation Nils Hoglander. While playing professionally in the SHL, Hoglander has provided an astonishing collection of highlight-reel goals. He will be representing Sweden at the upcoming World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, which begins on Boxing Day.

In a recent pre-tournament game, Hoglander potted a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as Sweden downed the Czech Republic 5-1. In action yesterday, Hoglander would provide the primary assist on the opening goal for Sweden in a 6-4 loss to Team USA. How well Sweden does at this event is uncertain, but Hoglander will undoubtedly be entertaining to watch.

3. Vasili Podkolzin

The World Junior Championships will undoubtedly be exciting to watch for Canucks fans, and Vasili Podkolzin is just one of the manyreasons why. Podkolzin, the Canucks’ first-round selection at the 2019 NHL draft, has been the subject of much controversy regarding his deployment in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Recently, he has been playing for SKA Neva St. Petersburg in the VHL and has seen increased ice-time. Podkolzin’s KHL contract still has another year remaining, and he will not be eligible to come to North America until the 2021-2022 season.

In a recent pre-tournament tune-up for the WJC, Podkolzin had three assists as the Russian squad downed Kazakhstan 5-0. He certainly will be closely watched by Canucks’ fans at this event.

Honourable mentions

Other Utica Comets’ players who performed well this past week in addition to Rafferty and Lind were Jonah Gadjovich, Olli Juolevi and Guillaume Brisebois.

Be sure to come back next week to see which of the Canucks’ exceptional prospects are featured in the prospects of the week.