Canucks Prospects Update

We're a few days away from a break for the Canucks, but there is plenty to like about how the team is playing and where they are heading as an organization.

Around the globe, Canucks prospects are making names for themselves in the various leagues with highlight reel plays, point streaks, and tangible improvements.
It's been a few weeks since our last prospect update, so it's a great time to check in on various prospects around the world.

Russia

• Vasili Podkolzin's captured a silver medal at the World Juniors earlier this month after a fantastic performance for Russia. He ended the event with one goal and four assists in seven games. He returned to the KHL on January 12th and has appearing in three games since. Although he has failed to register a point this season in the KHL, he is getting a regular role on their fourth line now.
• Artyom Manukyan remains out of the Avangard Omsk line-up while recovering from an injury suffered in the pre-season.

Sweden

• Nils Hoglander had a standout performance for Sweden at the World Juniors with 11 points in 7 games en route to a bronze medal. He returned to the SHL and picked up right where he left off. He picked up an assist in both the January 9th game and the 11th contests to extend his SHL point streak to 7 games. He was unfortunately held off the scoresheet on Thursday to end that streak. Canucks fans are expecting a big second half from the 2019 2nd round pick.
• Linus Karlsson moved from Karlskrona HK to BIK Karlskoga in the Allsvenskan this past week. He made his presence felt with his new team right away with a two-assist performance in his debut. This move should allow the young Swede a bigger role for the remainder of the season. In 37 Allsvenskan games this season, he has eight goals and 16 assists.
• Arvid Costmar was loaned to Mora IK in the Allsvenskan in December and has appeared in 6 games in the second division. He has been held pointless in those contests and was not dressed in their most recent game. He has twenty-six (12-14-26) in seventeen games with the U20 Linkoping HC team in SuperElit and was held pointless in four SHL games with Linkoping.

Finland

• Toni Utunen was unable to secure a medal at the World Juniors as Finland lost to Sweden in the bronze medal game. The young defenceman returned to Tappara in Liiga and appeared in one game registering 10:51 in ice-time and two shots on goal.
• Petrus Palmu has seen his scoring pace slow down a bit, but continues to play a big role for JYP in Liiga. He currently has 25 points (9-16-25) in twenty-eight games this season.

Czech Republic

• Karel Plasek is back up to the top league in the Czech Republic after seeing some time in the second division prior to the World Juniors. He has three goals and two assists in twenty-five Extraliga games this season.

NCAA

• Earlier this week, Tyler Madden was named a nominee for the Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in collegiate hockey. It's the beginning of the process that will see the number whittled down to the final three in April. So, there is a long way to go in the process, but it's an indicator of how well the young pivot has been playing. Madden has 30 points (16-14-30) in 21 games this season with Northeastern University, which is good enough to be tied for third in NCAA scoring. CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR MADDEN!
• Aidan McDonough's has been a huge benefactor of Madden's scoring as he now has eighteen points (8-10-18) in eighteen NCAA games this season. Prior to being held off the scoresheet on Saturday, the 2019 7th round pick had a nice five game point streak surrounding the holidays.
• After a rather slow start to the season, William Lockwood has found his scoring touch. Since November 22nd, Lockwood has points in seven of his last ten games and currently has eleven points (5-6-11) in 19 games.
• Jack Malone has scored one goal and assisted on four others in fourteen games this season with Corenell University. Cornell is the #1 ranked program in the NCAA in the most recent rankings.
• Jack Rathbone sits at four goals and 10 assists in 15 NCAA games this season. Harvard is ranked 16th in the nation.

CHL

• Carson Focht continues to score big goals for the Calgary Hitmen and is currently tied for their goal-scoring lead with 21 on the season. He ranked fourth on the Hitmen with 34 points on this season.
• Unfortunately, the Hitmen lost Egor Damula to injury earlier this month, but for Canucks prospect Jett Woo, that means a bigger role. So far, so good for the 2018 2nd round pick as he has points in nine of his last 11 games, which included a seven-game point streak.
• Arturs Silovs has seen some struggles over the last little bit - he is 9-10-0-1 with a 4.04 GAA and 0.883 SV%
• Ethan Keppen is hoping for a big second half to the season - he has scored thirteen goals and registered nine assists in thirty-five games with Flint this year.