This year’s Vancouver Canucks pre-season was the most competitive in recent memory, and with an interesting NHL camp comes an interesting AHL season. Here are four players to watch for the Utica Comets in 2015-16.
Utica Comets to Watch in 2015-16
Brendan Gaunce – Forward
Gaunce, drafted 26th overall in 2012, hadn’t come particularly close to making the NHL until this pre-season. Gaunce demonstrated a strong work ethic, superb defensive ability, along with some offensive prowess that’s strong enough for him to supply adequate secondary scoring if needed. Despite an undoubtedly impressive pre-season, Gaunce finds himself down on the farm to play his sophomore year in the American Hockey League. It is likely that the young winger will ease into an increased role and develop into one of the Comets’ core members, and perhaps earn himself a call up or two to the Canucks. It will be interesting to see how he continues to develop throughout his second year of pro hockey.
Nicklas Jensen – Forward
Since being drafted in the first round in 2011 (29th overall), Danish forward Jensen has yet to live up to expectations. Besides a goal outburst late in 2013-14 in which he scored three goals in five games, Jensen hasn’t been able to make much of an impact at the NHL level, and has failed to leave a significant mark in even the minors. Over the past couple years, Jensen has been passed on the prospect depth chart by Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann and Ronalds Kenins among others. With more talent coming through the pipeline, Jensen will have to prove he’s worth keeping, or the club may choose to move on from the young forward.
Andrey Pedan – Defenceman
Pedan has emerged as one of the Canucks’ most intriguing defense prospects. Blessed with intimidating size, Pedan is a physical beast on the blueline, something the Canucks lack on their back end. While the Russian may have mental lapses on the defensive side of the game, the organization has also been impressed by his surprisingly strong outlet passes. Pedan was unfortunately injured for the duration of this year’s pre-season, but don’t be shocked if we see the young defender get called up at points throughout the campaign.
Linden Vey – Forward
After a dissapointing pre-season, Vey was put on waivers, eventually clearing and joining the Comets. Considered a near lock to be on the Canucks roster for 2015-16, Vey was badly outplayed by the likes of McCann and Adam Cracknell, and is now playing in the AHL for the time being. Vey, 24, was acquired for a 2nd round pick in the summer of 2014, and the results thus far have been dissapointing. Considering that more competition is climbing through the pipeline, namely Cole Cassels, the skilled centre may be in tough to make the roster next season, and it will be intriguing to see how he performs knowing this may be his last chance to impress Canucks management.
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