The Canuck Way
Fansided

Which Canucks prospects will make the NHL roster next?

By Jonathan Bailey

VANCOUVER, CANADA - NOVEMBER 3: Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the second period of their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena on November 3, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 8-5. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - NOVEMBER 3: Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the second period of their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena on November 3, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 8-5. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
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Nils Aman warming up for the Canucks before a game against the Los Angeles Kings. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Nils Aman warming up for the Vancouver Canucks before a game against the Los Angeles Kings. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Canucks sent Aman down, for now

After he played 68 games for the Canucks last season, it was a bit of a surprise to see Nils Aman get cut by Vancouver after training camp, but here we are. The 2022-23 season was Aman’s first in North America, and he wasn’t necessarily great but did manage to stick.

That wasn’t the case this year, and the 23-year-old is taking advantage of his time in the minors. In 17 games with Abbotsford last season, Aman scored four goals, five assists, and nine points, and this season he’s picked up where he left off with four goals, three assists, and seven points in only eight games.

Aman played a decent amount of penalty kill last year, but his faceoffs were definitely an area of improvement heading into 2023-24. The Swede won only 38.2 percent of his draws, which was one of the worst marks in the NHL. In addition, Aman only managed to take 50 shots in 68 games, which is simply not enough offensive involvement, even for a young player.

Aman’s NHL sample size definitely gives him an advantage over his peers, but it’s not like he was burning the league down either. He ended up in the AHL for a reason, and it’s likely to round out his game in a North American setting. He’s a candidate to replace an extra body – like Jack Studnicka – put probably won’t play a solid run of NHL games this season.

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