Prospect Info: 2019 Prospects

[ChilliBilly]

As previously stated, I think Woo will get a legit chance with the Canucks. At least the 7th D man for a season, jumping up and down into Utica.

 

[Bitz and Bites]

As previously stated, I think Woo will get a legit chance with the Canucks. At least the 7th D man for a season, jumping up and down into Utica.

Yeah,Woo has a skillset which will allow him to spot in as a safe bottom pairing D-man when he's ready for NHL duty and hopefully work his way up the lineup from there.

 

[M2Beezy]

As previously stated, I think Woo will get a legit chance with the Canucks. At least the 7th D man for a season, jumping up and down into Utica.

Hes PROJECTING well Billy, still a LONG road ahead to the NHL for him, as we have seen with OTHER prospects

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

They’ve received the icetime they’ve deserved.
And more. On merit, both belong in the ECHL.

Now is where I slyly enter and say "I wanted Hague > Lind".... but I'm still not 100% that he is a washout. I think Gadjovich still has decent 4th line potential.

 

[Svencouver]

Jim Benning's simpleton nature has validated dislike of intellectualism (i.e Gillis) and ushered in an era of hunches and saying things like "playing the right way' that make absolutely zero sense.

This might be a little bit of a reach...

 

[Southern_Canuck]

Sun Dec 16

AHL

Utica 1 Charlotte 2 (OT)
Demko 27 saves on 29 shots

Lukas Jasek (7) ASST: None

ECHL

Wichita 2 Kalamazoo 3

OHL

Ottawa 3 Peterborough 6
DiPietro did not dress (at WJC camp)

Guelph 8 Oshawa 5
Brassard 0 points, -1

S_C

 

[DFAC]

Woo was considered a mid to late first round pick last year until injuries derailed his season. I don’t mind the pick at 37 and think he has a chance to play. He was one of the younger players in the draft.

Don’t mind a bit of a throwback player with a physical edge on this team that has been soft for many years either.

Here's hoping he becomes Bieksa-lite.

We haven't had a defenceman like that since.... well Juice.

 

[Southern_Canuck]

Tue Dec 18

AHL

Utica 4 Charlotte 3 (OT)
Demko 33 saves on 36 shots

Brendan Gaunce (7) ASST: Guillaume Brisebois (5), Jesse Graham (8)
Evan McEneny (3) ASST: Brendan Gaunce (5), Zack MacEwen (11)
Reid Boucher (15) ASST: Lukas Jasek (9), Tanner Kero (16)
Darren Archibald (8) ASST: Brendan Gaunce (6)

S_C

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Gaunce is certainly making a case that he's too good for the AHL. Now he just needs to make a case to stay in the NHL.

 

[Ryp37]

Here's hoping he becomes Bieksa-lite.

We haven't had a defenceman like that since.... well Juice.

Where does this Bieksa comparison come from

Hes nowhere near as tough or gritty as juice, the guy has been in one fight his entire dub career

 

[tyhee]

Gaunce is certainly making a case that he's too good for the AHL. Now he just needs to make a case to stay in the NHL.

I don't think he had an opportunity this season, though. The offseason free agents were going to be in the lineup no matter what, so Schaller with his 5 assists, -4 and CF% of 45.6 in 29 games plays in the NHL while Gaunce with his 2 goals, 1 assist, +3 and CF% of 54.1 in 3 games goes to the AHL.

Yes, the stats are an extremely small sample for Gaunce and so are misleading and don't take into account past performance. But realistically, does anyone think Schaller actually earned his spot on the team over Gaunce? Does anyone think that the Canucks would have fewer points this season with Gaunce in the lineup instead of Schaller? Was there anything actually accomplished by that signing?

 

[M2Beezy]

I don't think he had an opportunity this season, though. The offseason free agents were going to be in the lineup no matter what, so Schaller with his 5 assists, -4 and CF% of 45.6 in 29 games plays in the NHL while Gaunce with his 2 goals, 1 assist, +3 and CF% of 54.1 in 3 games goes to the AHL.

Yes, the stats are an extremely small sample for Gaunce and so are misleading and don't take into account past performance. But realistically, does anyone think Schaller actually earned his spot on the team over Gaunce? Does anyone think that the Canucks would have fewer points this season with Gaunce in the lineup instead of Schaller? Was there anything actually accomplished by that signing?

Agreed, nice post. Time for management to cut their mistakes, learn from it, try and get anything for Schaller and allow Gaunce back up to get the shot hes earned

 

[sting101]

I don't think he had an opportunity this season, though. The offseason free agents were going to be in the lineup no matter what, so Schaller with his 5 assists, -4 and CF% of 45.6 in 29 games plays in the NHL while Gaunce with his 2 goals, 1 assist, +3 and CF% of 54.1 in 3 games goes to the AHL.

Yes, the stats are an extremely small sample for Gaunce and so are misleading and don't take into account past performance. But realistically, does anyone think Schaller actually earned his spot on the team over Gaunce? Does anyone think that the Canucks would have fewer points this season with Gaunce in the lineup instead of Schaller? Was there anything actually accomplished by that signing?

No Schaller didn't. Gaunce is better

I dont have an issue with it though because a bottom 5 team shouldn't be satisfied with its worst players from the past seasons. If all it does is light a fire under Gaunce Granlund Gagner Goldobin Boucher then that is accomplishing something.......these are not core players they have to be at their best at all times.

Iget the feeling from Gaunce he will find a way back in and i like that he's getting some confidence back playing C in Utica

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I don't think he had an opportunity this season, though. The offseason free agents were going to be in the lineup no matter what, so Schaller with his 5 assists, -4 and CF% of 45.6 in 29 games plays in the NHL while Gaunce with his 2 goals, 1 assist, +3 and CF% of 54.1 in 3 games goes to the AHL.

Yes, the stats are an extremely small sample for Gaunce and so are misleading and don't take into account past performance. But realistically, does anyone think Schaller actually earned his spot on the team over Gaunce? Does anyone think that the Canucks would have fewer points this season with Gaunce in the lineup instead of Schaller? Was there anything actually accomplished by that signing?

The argument isn't just Gaunce vs Schaller - the roster is still full once you take him out. It's about Gaunce vs Beagle, or Gaunce vs Motte, or Gaunce vs Granlund. I'd have him in, but it's not so simple. Especially once Baertschi is back.

 

[Catamarca Livin]

Maybe Gaunce is improving because of the extra depth. We did not see much improvement the last couple year despite opportunities.

 

[VanJack]

Gaunce is one of at least six forwards in Utica, who'll bring a lot more to the table than Schaller who can't even get on the ice anymore. In fact when Sutter and Baertschi return, Jimbo is going to have some decisions to make.

The easiest decision I guess is to farm out Gaudette and put Schaller on waivers....after all, they're apparently willing to pay Gagner $3m a season to play in the minors. Problem is, Gaudette is playing far too well right now to send down. A trade brewing?

 

[Southern_Canuck]

Wed Dec 19

ECHL

Toledo 6 Kalamazoo 3
Kulbakov 25 saves on 29 shots, pulled at end of 2nd

S_C

 

[Blue and Green]

Gaunce is one of at least six forwards in Utica, who'll bring a lot more to the table than Schaller who can't even get on the ice anymore. In fact when Sutter and Baertschi return, Jimbo is going to have some decisions to make.

The easiest decision I guess is to farm out Gaudette and put Schaller on waivers....after all, they're apparently willing to pay Gagner $3m a season to play in the minors. Problem is, Gaudette is playing far too well right now to send down. A trade brewing?

Waiving Schaller is fine by me. I do have to say that, notwithstanding being overpaid and not producing offensively, Schaller has done a decent job defensively and I very much doubt that there are 6+ forwards currently in Utica who could outplay him right now at the NHL level.

The only trade commodity at centre is Sutter and any deal is unlikely to happen until the approach of the Feb 25 trade deadline, especially given that Sutter is still not back yet from a lengthy injury.

Gaudette still needs noticeable improvement in his offensive skills to fill the 3C role.

 

[Hugh Mungus]

Tue Dec 18

AHL

Utica 4 Charlotte 3 (OT)
Demko 33 saves on 36 shots

Brendan Gaunce (7) ASST: Guillaume Brisebois (5), Jesse Graham (8)
Evan McEneny (3) ASST: Brendan Gaunce (5), Zack MacEwen (11)
Reid Boucher (15) ASST: Lukas Jasek (9), Tanner Kero (16)
Darren Archibald (8) ASST: Brendan Gaunce (6)

S_C

Demko's played really well ever since his cold start, really excited to see what happens next year with our goalie situation.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Demko's played really well ever since his cold start, really excited to see what happens next year with our goalie situation.

"since his cold start" ? What exactly do you mean by this?

He had a concussion out of Vancouver training camp and missed the first 17 games of the AHL season. Once cleared to play he sat one out - 18. the Comets have played 13 games since that point and he has played 10 of them. The most goals he has surrendered in a single game is 3:
2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-3

Where is the "cold start"?

 

[M2Beezy]

"since his cold start" ? What exactly do you mean by this?

He had a concussion out of Vancouver training camp and missed the first 17 games of the AHL season. Once cleared to play he sat one out - 18. the Comets have played 13 games since that point and he has played 10 of them. The most goals he has surrendered in a single game is 3:
2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-3

Where is the "cold start"?

Probably meant in training camp and pre season where he didnt look all that good

 

[Bad Goalie]

Probably meant in training camp and pre season where he didnt look all that good

How many preseason games did he play in where he "didn't look all that good"?

 

[VanJack]

Unfortunately those posters who complained that Jimbo's off-season UFA binge would only bring in players who'd get in the way of younger guys, has been borne out. The only guy who's really carved out a role for himself is Roussel, who essentially slots in for Dorsett.

As far as Beagle and Schaller are concerned, you'd have trouble convincing me that with Gaudette, Gaunce and maybe even someone like MacEwan or Jasek, the Canucks would be any worse off on ice, at a fraction of the cap-hit.

 

[M2Beezy]

How many preseason games did he play in where he "didn't look all that good"?

Point missed

 

[Icebreakers]

Gaunce has no offensive creativity and also doesnt have the skill set to be an impact player in the NHL. The only way he can be a full time NHLer if he becomes a monster on faceoffs and a defensive beast. Something like Paul Gaustad. Perfect 4th line C for a contending team.