Canucks prospects of week 21: Jasek, Costmar and Brisebois

Each week, I will be featuring the Vancouver Canucks’ top three prospects. Here’s a look at who stood out in week 21.

In a week where there weren’t any earth shattering offensive displays put forth by any of the prospects of the Vancouver Canucks, it’s time to honour those who contribute in other ways.

1. Lukas Jasek

Watching the Utica Comets games regularly, one can’t help but notice the consistent effort of forward Lukas Jasek. The proficiency of his overall game deserves recognition. Jasek plays in all situations, can play both center and wing, and is very responsible defensively. His 14 goals are fourth-best on the team, while his plus-minus total of -plus 17 is tops among the forwards. He also can play up and down the lineup while contributing in a variety of ways.

The Canucks selected Jasek in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL draft, with the 174th overall selection. He remained in the Czech Republic playing at various levels for three more seasons before joining the Comets for a few games near the end of the 2017-2018 season.

I remember watching Jasek at the 2018 World Junior Championships and not being impressed. However, since joining the Comets, his play has been exemplary.

In games this past week, Jasek garnered two assists in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Laval Rocket on Wednesday and added a shorthanded tally in the 5-4 overtime victory over the Syracuse Crunch.

2. Arvid Costmar

When you are the third last player selected in the NHL draft, it comes with minimal expectations. However, week after week, Arvid Costmar continues to stand out.

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Although he is the only European prospect the Canucks have that is playing at the junior level, his numbers are staggering.

Costmar’s 38 points in 23 games, a plus-minus rating of plus-19, to go along with his league-leading faceoff percentage, suggest a complete two-way center that can be beneficial to a team in numerous ways.

Playing this past week for the Sweden U19 club at the Five Nations tournament in Berlin, Germany, Costmar, once again proved his worth. After dropping their first game 3-2 to Switzerland, Sweden rattled off three straight wins to finish in the top spot with nine points.

In their second contest, the Swedes trailed Germany 2-0 midway through the game. Costmar scored to put Sweden on the board. The Swedes caught fire in the third period, scoring five times for a 6-4 triumph.

The next encounter featured a matchup with the rival Finns in what proved to be the decisive game in the tournament as Finland finished one point back of Sweden. Costmar provided a goal and two assists in that affair. He then closed out the event with a primary helper in a 5-2 victory over the Czech Republic.

3. Guillaume Brisebois

Unheralded defenceman Guillaume Brisebois quietly goes about his business with little fanfare. Although the plus-minus statistic often isn’t indicative of a player’s overall performance, such a wide discrepancy as exists with the Comets is hard to ignore.

Brisebois is a plus-21, and he’s the only regular left-side defender with a positive number. He has contributed offensively as well with four goals on the season. Brisebois appeared in only one game this past week as he was summoned to the Canucks because of an injury to Oscar Fantenburg. Albeit, he managed a power play tally in the match versus Laval, which tied the game 2-2.

Honourable mentions

Jonah Gadjovich, Olli Juolevi, Ashton Sautner, Tyler Madden, Linus Karlsson and Dmitri Zhukenov each managed two points in games this week.

Please check back next week to see which of these Vancouver Canucks talents will be featured.