Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the summer of 2023, each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a look at one NHL team’s top prospects or other topical article. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! You can find all the articles here as well as our extensive NHL Draft preview. Today, we look at the 2023 Vancouver Canucks Top Prospects.
For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
2023 Vancouver Canucks Top Prospects
1.) Tom Willander
Tom Willander, the Canucks first selection in 2023, certainly adds a lot of value to the future wave of talent. Willander was taken at 11th overall, which at the time may have seemed a bit early. Add to the fact that guys like Zach Benson and Axel Sandin Pellikka were also there for the taking made it more of a questionable pick. But that does not mean that the Boston University commit isn’t an excellent prospect.
Willander has the traits to be an elite skater at the NHL level. He pairs that with excellent puck-moving ability, making him the definition of a modern-day defender. In the offensive zone, he isn’t very flashy, but he makes few mistakes and keeps the play moving positively. But what makes him special is all those aforementioned traits topped off with an extremely efficient defensive game. Willander is incredibly smart and with his skating, he can face just about any type of forward and effectively shut them down.
2.) Aatu Raty
Aatu Raty was an interesting case back before he was selected in the second round (52nd overall) by the Islanders in 2021. Coming into his draft season, Raty was undeniably the top prospect, having earned praise for a couple seasons before his draft year. But it all came crumbling down quickly for the Finnish center. He came in as older than most of the other draft eligibles, had a disappointing start, and then was left off of Finland’s world junior team.
However, after slipping in the draft, Raty would take that leap he was expected to take a year earlier. He exploded onto the scene with 41 points in 47 games against men in the Finnish Liiga. Raty then made the jump to the AHL for two games that same year. Then last year, after being traded to the Canucks, would get 15 NHL games, scoring three points. However, at the AHL level split between two teams, he scored 27 points in 52 games, not a bad rookie AHL season. Raty could look to have a longer term role in the NHL this upcoming season.
3.) Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Jonathan Lekkerimaki was a highly coveted prospect in the 2022 NHL draft. Certainly, he made an impression on fans and scouts, as he was publicly praised and was one of the fan favorites. Lekkerimaki is an incredible goal-scorer, with one of the best shots coming into his draft year in the class. He would also find open space in the offensive zone, displaying high vision and IQ, in order to take advantage of his shot. Plus, while his playmaking wasn’t a “wow” factor, he could dish the puck well and efficiently. He also possessed a high energy on the ice, getting involved physically and on the forecheck, despite his size.
Unfortunately, he suffered a major foot injury last season, and it cut his year short. He played 31 games total between the J20 Nationell (two games, five points) and the Allsvenskan (29 games, nine points). On top of that, his World Junior performance for Sweden was underwhelming, with four points in seven games. However, upon returning to Djurgardens in the playoffs, he excelled. Next year, he will play in the SHL alongside fellow Canucks prospect, Elias Pettersson (the defenseman).
4.) Arturs Silovs
Two forwards and one defensemen made the top-three. So what better way could they go then to have a goalie at number four? Arturs Silovs is a big goalie, at 6’4” and 203 pounds. Along with that size, he has solid athleticism and is quick laterally. In his first extended look at pro hockey (AHL and ECHL) in 2021-22, he struggled a bit. At the ECHL level, playing 10 games, he did solid (.920 save percentage, 2.37 goals against average). However, at the AHL level, it was tough sledding (.888 SV%, 3.10 GAA). However, he turned it around at the end of that season, with a .952 SV% and 1.22 GAA in four World Cup games with Latvia in 2021-22.
That ending kickstarted a new beginning for Silovs last year. Getting a fresh start in the AHL, he established himself as the starter with 44 games played, and securing a modest .909 SV% and 2.44 GAA. It was good enough to earn him a five-game stint in the NHL, where he had a .908 SV% and 2.75 GAA. Silovs may not be ready for a full-time role in the NHL, either as a backup or starter, but he certainly established himself as someone who can play admirably if called upon. He solidified himself as one of the best goaltending prospects not yet in the NHL.
5.) Elias Pettersson
Elias Pettersson is an excellent skater with strong transitional traits, in the same ilk as a prospect like Willander. Pettersson is a more physical presence in his own end than Willander, while Willander’s defensive game is more timing and IQ-based. Offensively, Pettersson has a strong shot, and his playmaking has improved since being taken in the third round (80th overall) in the 2022 draft.
Last season, he truly made a name for himself. While there was some concern about his lack of physicality coming out of his draft year, plus offensive consistency, those doubts were erased last season. He started the year out in the J20 Nationell, where he had 15 points in 14 games, before making the jump to the SHL in a decent role. He managed seven points in 43 games, proving his value at a higher level. Pettersson’s emergence on the back end certainly helps strengthen the Vancouver Canucks prospects pipeline.
6.) Arshdeep Bains
Arshdeep Bains is number one on a list of best names within the Canucks pipeline. When looking at his on-ice value, there’s a chance we get to see that name on an NHL scoresheet one day. Bains has good size (6’1” and 183 pounds) and high energy. He plays hard every shift, getting involved physically and willingly gets to the dirty areas. But not only that, he has some underrated puck skills that has allowed him to find some offensive success in years past.
An undrafted free agent, Bains was signed by the Canucks after a 112-point campaign in the WHL. That contract allowed him to play in the AHL last season, with a chance to prove he can produce at the pro level. Playing 66 games in the AHL, he managed to produce 38 points, showing grit and determination in order to quickly move up the depth charts. That determination and playstyle could get Bains to continue proving everyone wrong, giving him a shot at the NHL some day, and soon. He adds an element to the Vancouver Canucks prospect pipeline that they currently lack.
7.) Danila Klimovich
Klimovich, a second round selection (41st overall) in the 2021 NHL draft, is a center who has slowly continued to develop over the last two years. Following his selection in the 2021 draft, he immediately made the jump to the AHL. In his first year, he scored 18 points in 62 games, a modest statline for a player coming over from Europe to the smaller North American rinks, at a pro level. Last season, while he didn’t have as big of a jump as some might have wished, he scored 29 points in 67 games.
Despite the fact his production hasn’t popped, he has taken strides in other ways. While he has always been a goal-scorer, his abilities to find space for his teammates to find him away from the puck was inconsistent. But he took a big step in the right direction in that department last season. As his role will likely grow next season in the AHL, putting all the pieces together is the next step to reach the NHL level. Can he do it?
8.) Jack Rathbone
Jack Rathbone already has 28 NHL games under his belt, coming in the last three seasons. Before making his NHL debut, Rathbone had wrapped up two NCAA seasons with Harvard, where he scored 53 points in 61 games, as a defender. Those seasons came after being drafted in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2017 NHL draft. His first taste of pro-action came in 2020-21, where he totalled 16 games between the NHL and AHL (eight games each). He had an impressive nine points in the AHL in that span.
But what made Rathbone a name to watch in the Vancouver Canucks prospects pipeline is his second pro season. He had 40 points in 39 AHL games, with an additional nine NHL games added under his belt. Unfortunately, he took a step back this past season, which led to his regression on this list. Rathbone is now 24-years-old, and the clock will continue to tick away the longer he goes without proving himself.
9.) Linus Karlsson
Karlsson may not be a household name, but after the season he just had, he could be one very soon. Originally, Karlsson was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2018 NHL draft in the third round (87th overall). That season, he had recorded 52 points in 42 J20 Nationell games, alongside of 13 SHL games (one point). In 2019, Karlsson would be dealt to the Canucks organization. That season, he would end up struggling in the Allsvenskan, the Swedish equivalent of the AHL (18 points in 52 games). However, he would quickly turn it all around the next two seasons. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Karlsson would play 100 Allsvenskan games, scoring 91 points.
Following those two successful seasons, Karlsson would get a chance at the SHL level, full-time. Playing in 52 games, he managed 46 points, his most impressive season yet. After that, he decided to make the jump to North America, where he played in the AHL. In 72 AHL games, he managed to produce 49 points. As a 23-year-old rookie, that’s pretty impressive. Karlsson possesses excellent IQ, a willingness to get to the net-front for tips and rebounds, and has a solid shot. Skating was the biggest issue, and remains a weakness, but it did not hold him back as a rookie in the AHL. He should compete for a roster spot this summer.
10.) Lucas Forsell
Forsell is one of the prospects around the league who is catching steam and fast. In 2021, he was drafted in the seventh round (201st overall). That came after he played four J18 Region games (with 10 points), 13 J20 Nationell games (11 points) and one SHL game (no points). The very next year, he played 35 J20 games (34 points) and 30 SHL games (six points). Then, last season, he played a majority of his games in the SHL, where he had 13 points in 35 games. That’s quite the rise, in short order, for a guy taken outside the top-200 prospects.
One of the biggest traits in Forsell’s game is his undeniable work ethic shift-by-shift. He’s never caught stationary on a play, at any point. Forsell will play in the SHL again next season, but there he can work on building consistency and overall efficiency in the offensive end, to boost his ceiling further and become more projectable to the pro ranks. As it stands, Forsell seems well on his way to getting into some NHL contests.
HM (Round 4 or Later): Jacob Truscott
Truscott was a fifth round draft choice back in the 2020 NHL draft. The left-shot defender, who stands at 6’1” and 179 pounds, has quietly been putting his game together over the last three seasons. Playing for the University of Michigan, with the likes of Adam Fantilli, Matty Beniers, Kent Johnson and Owen Power, among others, he is coming off his best season to date. In his first two seasons, he scored 22 points in 66 NCAA games. Last season, he managed 16 points in just 23 games, before an injury cut his season short.
Since being drafted, Truscott has always had tools, but could never put them all together to build his game to its fullest potential. In other words, he was very raw, with a ton of work to be done. Then, in his second season, he was paired with the gifted offensive defenseman, Luke Hughes. He was forced into a defensive style, which he surprisingly excelled in. Then last season, before the injury, he had his biggest role with Michigan to date. Playing alongside Hughes yet again, he opened his bag of offensive skill. While he maintained a surprisingly effective defensive ability, his two-way game seemingly has come together. He may not be NHL-ready yet. Truscott could use another year or two to prove his offensive game in a full season. But he took massive strides, bolstering the Vancouver Canucks prospects pipeline.
In The System
The Canucks currently have young players, such as Nils Hoglander, who have already graduated to the NHL level. Those players include Hoglander, Nils Aman, Jack Studnicka, Quinn Hughes, and Vasili Podkolzin. Meanwhile, players that just missed out on the Vancouver Canucks prospect top-10 rankings include Aidan McDonough, Tristen Nielsen, Max Sasson, Jett Woo, and Nikita Tolopilo.
With all of that said, while they have elite players like Elias Pettersson (the forward), Hughes and Thatcher Demko, the Canucks can’t seem to turn that into wins. Maybe the depth of the Vancouver Canucks prospects can help them gain the necessary help to take that step in the right direction. Despite the lack of a truly elite prospect outside the NHL, they have a number of players who can make an NHL impact. Will it be enough to turn the Canucks back into Stanley Cup contenders?
