Canucks Prospect Report: Checking in on Jurmo, Zlodeyev, and Truscott

While the Vancouver Canucks have only just begun their 2020-21 campaign, many of their prospects are well into their seasons. In this piece, we’ll check in on how some of them are doing.

Joni Jurmo, D — JYP (Liiga)/JYP U20 (SM-sarja)

Joni Jurmo, selected 82nd overall in the 2020 Draft, is a 6’4″, 198-pound defenceman who currently plays in the Jyvaskyla organization, where he has played for both the senior club and their U20 squad.

As per Elite Prospects, Jurmo is a smooth skater who can effortlessly transport the puck in transition. The Canuck Way’s own Matthew Zator and some other scouts went as far as to label the Finn as one of the best skating European defencemen in the entire draft.

Given his size and skillset, Jurmo is an interesting prospect. The Canucks seemed to have gotten a steal selecting the Finn in the third round, as scouts penned him in as a second-round talent. Sounds like a tidy bit of business for Canucks amateur scouting.

The defenceman’s primary weakness, however, lies in his defensive abilities. Jurmo himself identified that his main areas of improvement will be in his physical game.

"“I need to be tougher and close my gaps better […] It’s much more physical, when you make a small mistake [in men’s hockey], it shows on the scoreboard immediately.”"

This year, Jurmo has gone pointless in 17 games with the main team, who play in the Finnish Elite League. However, he’s recorded three primary assists and is a +4 through three games in the U20 SM-sarja.

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With minutes hard to come by in the Liiga, Jurmo’s assignment to the JYP juniors bodes well for his development. He will see prime minutes on a stacked U20 squad, featuring 2021 top prospect Carson Lambos and 2022 top prospect Brad Lambert.

Long term, look for Jurmo to assume a regular role in JYP’s lineup next season, as he continues to develop and mature into what hopes to be a stalwart on the Canucks’ blueline in the coming years.

Dmitri Zlodeyev, — Dynamo Krasnogorsk (VHL)/MHK Dynamo Moskva (KHL)

Dmitri Zlodeyev, the Canucks’ 2020 sixth-round selection, is a 5’11”, 183-pound centre, who has spent time in both the VHL and MHL (second and third-tier Russian leagues) with Dynamo Krasnogorsk and MHK Dynamo Moskva this year.

Most recently, Zlodeyev has been playing in Russia’s second-tier, although he has bounced around both leagues as of late.

Through 18 games in the VHL, Zlodeyev has recorded six goals, while in the MHL he’s scored four goals, 12 points, and is a +8 through 16 contests. He also featured in one game for the Russian national team at the Karjala Cup.

The Russian centre is hailed as an astute two-way player with excellent defensive capabilities. Zlodeyev seems to be another score for the Canucks scouting department, as his play this season has captured the eyes of many scouts this season.

As per The Canuck Way’s Matthew Zator, Zlodeyev can play effectively in all situations, has high-end hand-eye coordination, and is a faceoff specialist. Furthermore, in a spotlight piece on EPRinkside, Mitch Brown considers him a “full-blown defensive impact player.”

https://twitter.com/Fan2Abby/status/1348944285115109380?s=20

Looking at his most recent goal, Zlodeyev displays his oft-unmatched motor, skating hard to the boards as Moskva’s second forward in the zone to help recover the puck.

As Moskva moves the puck into open space for a shooting lane, Zlodeyev takes up space around the net and emphatically pots home the rebound for his sixth goal of the year.

Before an injury in late-November, the 175th-overall pick in 2020 was actually set to make his KHL debut with the big club, but that has not materialized yet.

With that said, Zlodeyev has some areas in his offensive game to refine before taking his next step; however, his defensive foundation is extremely promising for Canucks fans.

Jacob Truscott, D — Michigan Wolverines

Jacob Truscott, the 144th-overall selection in the 2020 Draft, is a 6’1”, 178-pound defenceman playing with the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Big Ten.

The freshman has recorded one goal, four points, and is a +8 through 14 games this season. Although, Truscott has seen limited opportunities this season, given Michigan’s stacked blueline.

The left-handed defenseman plays regular third-pairing minutes, as 2021 top prospect Owen Power and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Cam York round out the Wolverines’ top-four.

As a fifth-round pick, Truscott is another player who seems to have fallen into the Canucks’ lap at the 2020 Draft.

https://twitter.com/NHLPC/status/1318584401404567557?s=20

Looking at the results above, Truscott’s pre-draft performance seems to have ranked him as a second-round talent. In fact, Craig Button ranked him 59th overall on his draft board. 

Truscott is considered an offensive-minded, mobile defenseman with exceptional hands and passing. While he possesses skill, Truscott does seem to leverage his strengths selectively.

However, he has the ability to make smart plays if he wants.

In this clip, Truscott patiently draws in two Michigan State forecheckers at his own blueline before threading a pass through the pressure to Jay Keranen, who skates into open space to slot home the Wolverine’s ninth goal of the game.

So, while Truscott looks like a bit more of a project for the Canucks, he should assume a more prominent role on the Wolverines blueline, as Cam York is expected to turn pro soon.

While the Canucks have seen many of their recent draft picks graduate on to the professional scene over the past few years, these youngsters look to be next in line.

So, what are your thoughts on the Canucks’ prospect pool this season? Let us know in the comments!