While the Vancouver Canucks prospect pool isn’t as deep as it was a few years ago, there are still a bunch of intriguing prospects in the system. The 2021 NHL draft brought in six new prospects into the fold.
We like to cause some debate here at The Canuck Way and one of the best ways to do that is ranking prospects.
Now we could do things the old fashioned way with one or multiple articles ranking the prospects all the way down to the number one spot. However, that will take too much time. Is there an easier way to rank the Canucks prospects? The answer is yes.
In 2016, Youtuber, Sportsnet contributor and very loud Toronto Maple Leafs super fan Steve “Dangle” Glynn came up with a unique way of ranking prospects. He called it the prospect pyramid and has been making a video about it every year since.
Instead of ranking prospects by number in articles, he decided to break up the prospects into tiers. The higher the tier a prospect was in, the potential and chances of making the NHL were higher.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here is Dangle’s latest Leafs prospect pyramid.
Borrowing Dangle’s idea, let’s rank the Canucks prospects using the pyramid system. We’ll rank the prospects with quick blurbs about them.
Here’s how the tiers work
Tier one: First line, top-two, or elite starter potential. Can make an impact immediately.
Tier two: Top-six potential or a top-four defenceman very likely. Goalies have high potential to be elite. Can be an impact player soon.
Tier three: Top-nine potential or top-four to top six defenceman or potential Starter. May take one or two years before becoming an NHLer
Tier four; Potential to be a bottom six forward, top six defenceman or backup goalie
Tier five: Potential to be a depth forward or depth defenceman or an AHL starter
Tier six: Everybody Else
With that out of the way, let’s get started!
Tier one: None
No Canucks prospect is in this tier. This tier is reserved for a top tier blue-chip prospect. Basically, he would have to be a high pick that has potential to be a star. In the past, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes would be in the first tier.
Tier two: Vasili Podkolzin, Jack Rathbone
Vasili Podkolzin has left the limited minutes of the KHL behind and is expected to make an impact in the NHL with his feisty two-way game. Not much to be said that hasn’t already been said about the Canucks’ top prospect. I’ve raved about him a lot already.
Jack Rathbone is also on here having already played eight games with the Canucks at the late stages of last season where he scored a goal and tallied two assists. Rathbone has the potential to be a top-four defenceman and has a good chance to make the team out of training camp. Rathbone displays excellent skating, decent passing and a good shot. A full season in the NHL could help him take those skills to the next level and get better in his own end.
Tier three: Danila Klimovich, Michael DiPietro, Jett Woo and Joni Jurmo
Danila Klimovich was the Canucks 2nd round pick at the 2021 draft. He could be a potential steal. The Belarusian signed an entry level deal on July 28th. He could be playing in the QMJHL or with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL.
This past Tuesday, Canucks general manager Jim Benning told The Athletic that it is most likely Klimovich will play in the QMJHL. The team he will sign for is to be determined.
Jim Benning tells The Athletic that Danila Klimovich is most likely to play in the QMJHL next season
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) August 16, 2021
"I think the plan's gonna be for him to go to Rouyn's camp and then come to our training camp and we'll see where he's at... it'd probably be best right now playing in the Q"
Klimovich is a pure goal scorer, that is physical and hard to play against in the corner as described by Canucks Army’s Chris Faber.
Michael DiPietro went over a year without playing a competitive hockey game but near the end of last season he went 3-1-0 in four starts posting a 2.52 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
DiPietro is going to be the starter in Abbotsford and he is determined to learn and get better. Under Ian Clark’s guidance last season and the eye of Abbotsford goalie coach Curtis Sanford, he will continue to develop his game and hopefully be a solid NHL goaltender down the line.
Jett Woo played 28 games with the Utica Comets for his first professional season. He only managed three goals and two assists but according to Matthew Zator of The Hockey Writers, Woo was playing on a pairing with Rathbone how handled the offense while Woo handled the defence. Woo brings big hits, smart defensive play and has a good stride. Expect him to play in the top pair with Abbotsford and hopefully he continues his strong defensive play and the point totals return.
Woo has the potential to be a top-four defenceman for the Canucks and one that fans will love.
Joni Jurmo was the Canucks first draft pick in 2020 being selected in the third round. Jurmo spent some time on loan to Kiekko-Espoo of the Mestis (the second tier men’s hockey league in Finland) from JYP. He was pointless in 20 Liiga games but with Kiekko-Espoo he managed five goals and eight assists in 10 games.
Jurmo is an interesting prospect and I believe has top four potential. His skating is what makes him stand out and he brings some skill and size with 6’4″ frame. All he needs to do is improve his play in his own end.