The Canuck Way
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Canucks: 3 prospects people want to see play NHL games this year

By Brayden Ursel

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 09: Kole Lind #13 of the Utica Comets looks to play the puck past Maxim Lamarche #2 of the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 9, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the The Utica Comets 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - MARCH 09: Kole Lind #13 of the Utica Comets looks to play the puck past Maxim Lamarche #2 of the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 9, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the The Utica Comets 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Mikey DiPietro of the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Mikey DiPietro of the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Mikey DiPietro – Goaltender

Despite his smaller frame, Mikey DiPietro is a quality goaltending prospect for the Canucks and the team needs to get him into a game very soon.

The 21-year-old netminder from Windsor Ontario took a massive leap forward in his development with the Utica Comets last season, but unfortunately, because of circumstances presented by the pandemic, DiPietro hasn’t played an actual game of hockey in over a calendar year.

Any prospect will tell you they’d rather practice every day with an NHL team as opposed to getting reps in at the AHL level, but at the end of the day, not getting that game experience is eventually going to take a toll on your overall game — even if you’re taking shots against NHL players in practice on a daily basis.

Realistically, DiPietro has to jump Braden Holtby on the depth chart to find himself some starts, but it’s something the Canucks need to make happen. At least once the team is either eliminated from the playoff race, or they’ve locked down a spot in the post-season. He won’t see games in the playoffs, so it’s important for him to start once the Canucks know more about their playoff picture.

DiPietro was drafted by the Canucks in the third round (64th) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft behind other Canucks selections Lind (33rd) and Elias Pettersson (5th).

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