Sad seems it’s all going to end with a crash.
- Quinn's Quest

Take a nap.

FREE AGENTS FOR NHL TEAMS 2024: TOP COLLEGE, CHL AND EUROPEAN PLAYERS.


Today we look at this year’s class of free agents coming out of the CHL, NCAA and major European leagues.

Every year I do my best to pump the brakes on these player types. These players are in all likelihood not going to be difference-makers in an organization, even if once in a while an Ilya Mikheyev comes around. This is about building organizational depth and getting older, physically matured players who can play real minutes for an organization, whether in the NHL or AHL. The Vegas Golden Knights, the reigning champions, got Zach Whitecloud in free agency. Colorado, the prior champion, got Logan O’Connor. They may not be the sexiest names, but they help teams win.

While I spent many hours on this article, I do not cover the free-agent world as extensively as I do the NHL Draft or drafted NHL prospects. I therefore cannot claim to have a comprehensive scope of the free-agent world. There will be numerous players who sign that I don’t have listed here, but excluding them isn’t necessarily a commentary on the players; I may simply have never gotten around to watching them.

Projected Middle of the Lineup Player

1. Collin Graf, RW, Quinnipiac-ECAC

Graf was a major part of Quinnipiac’s NCAA title run last spring and has been a top player in the country again this season. He has a ton of offensive talent and has the potential to score in the NHL. He is a very skilled puckhandler who skates well and can create on the move like a pro. He sees the ice well, can run a power play with quick decisions, and has a good shot as well. His game can lack physicality at times and stick too much to the perimeter, which is my only concern about him, but I wouldn’t call him soft or a low-compete type. He is a player a lot of NHL teams will have interest in, and he could be a legit middle-six wing in the league. Last spring, the Red Wings were rumored to have gotten close to signing Graf before he decided to go back to school.

Projected to play NHL games

2. Maxim Tsyplakov, RW, Spartak-KHL

Tsyplakov is the main European free agent out there this season. The 25-year-old winger has been one of the better forwards in the KHL this season. He’s a big, powerful wing who plays a highly physical brand of hockey. He also has strong puck skills, offensive hockey sense and shooting ability. Inside the offensive zone, he is quite dangerous and can challenge goaltenders in several ways. Tsyplakov’s main issue comes down to his skating. He has a heavy stride that lacks NHL footspeed so the question will be: Is he just like a ton of other successful KHL players whose games can’t translate to the NHL, or does he have that something extra in him? I think because of how big and physical he is, he has a good chance to be an NHL player as a bottom-six wing.

3. Oscar Eklind, LW, Lulea-SHL

Eklind has developed well this season, becoming a top scorer for Lulea. He has an athletic toolkit of an NHL forward. He’s a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful frame, plays physically, and can bully his way to the net due to his strength and speed. Eklind has good hands and can finish plays. I don’t think he sees the ice at a super high level though. He has the makings of a potential bottom-six wing in the NHL.

4. Jacob Quillan, C, Quinnipiac-ECAC

Quillan was the MVP of the NCAA tournament last spring and has been a big part of a top Quinnipiac team again this year. He’s a strong skating center with good puck skills who can create offense with pace. His hockey sense is fine, good enough, to go with a strong compete level and ability to play both ways. At 6-0 without dynamic enough puck play, whether there’s enough to his game to be a real player is debatable, but he could be a very useful depth piece for an NHL organization.

5. Cooper Black, G, Dartmouth-ECAC

Black is a 6-foot-9 goalie, so his lower half is understandably sluggish getting around the net, but when you have a 6-foot-9 goalie who has some ability it’s still very intriguing. He reads the play quite well and is efficient moving around the net. He has the potential to be a legit backup goalie in the NHL if he can keep up with the pace of the higher levels.


Ostman, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound goalie from the University of Maine, will generate a lot of NHL interest. (Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images)
6. Victor Ostman, G, Maine-Hockey East

Ostman wasn’t as impressive this season as he was as a junior. He’s still a decent-sized goalie who is quite athletic and can make a lot of difficult stops. I felt his puck tracking and decisions weren’t great this year though, and he was a bit too chaotic in his crease. He has a lot of pro traits that could translate to success and there will be significant NHL interest despite a disappointing year.

Has a chance to play games

7. Samuel Mayer, LHD, Ottawa-OHL

Mayer has played well between Peterborough and the 67’s this season. He’s an athletic defenseman who may not have the strongest first few steps but has NHL footspeed in a 6-foot-3 frame. He plays hard and projects to be able to make stops and retrieve pucks versus men. The debate on Mayer will he his puck play. He doesn’t see the ice at a high level and whether the junior offense he’s shown translates is questionable, although I do think he has a pro-level point shot.

8. Christian Fitzgerald, C, Wisconsin-Big Ten

Fitzgerald came over to the Badgers with Mike Hastings from Mankato and had a strong sophomore season. He’s an excellent skater, with the quick twitch feet of an NHL player who will be able to gain the zone with the puck at the highest levels. He competes well and has a good amount of physicality in his play. Fitzgerald shows some skill, but I wouldn’t call him a natural scorer or playmaker, but more one with a direct style of play. His feet give him a chance even if the rest of his game doesn’t overly impress.

9. Drew Bavaro, RHD, Notre Dame-Big Ten

Bavaro has looked quite impressive in the Big Ten in the last two seasons. He’s a good-sized right-shot defenseman who unlike a lot of top free agents with size also skates quite well. He has the athleticism to play versus pros. His offensive touch is also decent. He has a strong point shot, it will just be about whether he can move pucks at higher levels. I think there’s just enough puck-moving skill to have a real shot to play NHL games.

10. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota-NCHC

Gaber has been a free-agent candidate for several years and this will be the spring he turns pro. Gaber is an excellent skater who competes hard and has a ton of energy in his game. He attacks with his skill and doesn’t shy away from going to the net. He has an excellent shot as well. He is quite small though and while talented, he doesn’t have the kind of tremendous sense you’d like in a guy that size. The rest of his game is good enough to give him a chance though to make it.

11. Jakub Rychlovsky, LW, Bili Tygri-Czechia

Rychlovsky scored at a high clip in the top Czech league and played games with their senior national team as well. The 22-year-old winger is a strong skater with good hands, offensive hockey sense and can finish from range. There’s a reasonable debate on how dynamic he is skill-wise for a 5-11 forward but he skates well enough to give himself a real chance to play games.

12. Dylan Wendt, RW, Western Michigan-NCHC

Wendt was quite productive for Western this season, scoring a lot of goals. He’s always been a talented player whose game took off this season. He skates well and handles the puck like a pro, and on his best shifts, he looks like an NHL prospect. His hockey sense isn’t the best, but he competes well enough and shows enough skill to be intriguing as a pro prospect.

13. Carter King, C, Denver-NCHC

King has emerged this season as a top player for a top team in Denver. King is a very good skating center who, while he isn’t overly physical, competes hard and is a two-way player. He has good skill and offensive sense and has shown he can make a lot of plays at the collegiate level. Whether he’s dynamic enough for an undersized forward to play in the NHL is a whole other question, but there are pro components in his game.

14. Joshua Eernisse, RW, Michigan-Big Ten

Eernisse’s pure numbers won’t get you overly excited, and this is not a forward who gets power play time at Michigan. But he is a big, fast, and highly competitive winger. He is very physical and brings it every night. Eernisse uses his feet and good enough skill to take pucks to the net and creates enough offense in a highly translatable way to the pro game.

15. John Prokop, LHD, Union-ECAC

Prokop has led Union in scoring as a sophomore. He was always seen as a talented player in junior, but his defense was awful and he was inconsistent. His defending has improved enough to be a potential sign candidate with a chance to be a solid pro. He’s a tall defender who skates well and has enough skill to be interesting at higher levels.

16. Daniil Gutik, RW, Admiral-KHL

Gutik is a bit of a blast from the past. I rated him as a potential first-rounder in the summer of his first draft season five years ago, and then he promptly went undrafted following major skating and compete concerns. Those still exist in his game, but he’s a big winger with a very high skill level who has found some success in the KHL. There is stuff about his game that will cause you headaches but he’s probably the most purely talented player on this list.

17. Ben Kraws, G, St. Lawrence-ECAC

Kraws is on his third college team in St. Lawrence after stops in Miami and Arizona State and has found success being one of the better goalies in the country this season. Kraws is a tall, athletic goaltender. He can make a lot of difficult saves. He’s aggressive and takes away a lot of net from shooters. I question his hockey sense a bit at times and find him out of position too much.

Long shot to play games

18. Marcus Sylvegard, RW, Vaxjo-SHL

Sylvegard has been a top player in the SHL this season as a 24-year-old. He’s got a high skill level and can create a lot of chances in the offensive zone. His playmaking is good enough, but it’s his shot that makes him so dangerous. Sylvegard has a bullet of a one timer and is a legit threat to score from the faceoff dots. He’s been a great player in the SHL, but his so-so footspeed may be an issue in translating that offense to the NHL.

19. Marcus Hardegard, LHD, Lulea-SHL

Hardegard is a strong skating defenseman who is good on retrievals and defends well at the SHL level. The pure offense in his game won’t ever get you excited, but he can make a good first pass and has a strong point shot. He’s developed well of late and got a few games with the Swedish national team this season.

20. Zac Funk, LW, Prince George-WHL

Funk has been a huge part of a top offense in the WHL this season. There’s always a concern about translatability when a guy’s offense spikes as a 20-year-old in junior, but Funk does have some pro traits. In particular, he’s a good skater with strong puck skills. He has a decent wrist shot, scoring a lot of goals this season. His frame is average sized but he competes well and throws his weight around. I do question Funk’s hockey IQ for the higher levels.

21. Karsen Dorwart, C, Michigan State-Big Ten

Dorwart has been an important part of a very good Michigan State team this season. He’s got an NHL frame and is quite a strong skater. He killed penalties for the Spartans this season as well. The pure offense in his game isn’t amazing, but there’s enough skill and playmaking to go with the great athleticism to make me think he’s got a puncher’s chance to make it.

22. Jaxon Nelson, C, Minnesota-Big Ten

Nelson is a large center with good hockey sense who can play both ways at the college level. He has some offensive touch, but I don’t see a ton of natural skill and finish in his game and his skating is a notable issue for the pro game.

23. Jacob Bengtsson, LHD, Boston College-Hockey East

Bengtsson is a big defenseman who has played on both special teams for a top Boston College squad this season. He’s got good enough hockey sense to make a decent outlet pass, but it will be his so-so skating that will be the question for the pro game.

24. Justin Hryckowian, C, Northeastern-Hockey East

Hryckowian has been a productive player in Hockey East the last two seasons and was named best defensive forward last season. He is a competitive two-way center with good enough skill and hockey sense, but his skating for his size is limited and the pure offense in his game isn’t overly exciting.

25. Luke Krys, RHD, Providence-Hockey East

Krys transferred to Providence from Brown and has been a top player for them. He’s a 6-foot-2 defender who skates well and has a lot of physicality in his game. He’s shown more playmaking this season than in previous campaigns, but whether he can move pucks versus men will be the question in his game.

26. Arttu Hyry, RW, Karpat-Liiga

Hyry is a decent-sized winger who skates well and has had a good season in Finland. He’s scored quite a lot for Karpat given he’s gotten almost no power play time this season. He’s done that because Hyry is a strong skater with a direct style of play who can create offense in high-traffic areas. His pure skill/sense will be a minor question for the higher levels.

27. Dalton Bancroft, RW, Cornell-ECAC

Bancroft is a strong-skating winger with a decent-sized frame. He was a point-per-game player as a sophomore this season in college. He has some puck skills and offensive creativity, but I don’t think he’s a natural playmaker or going to be a major scorer at higher levels. The pace in his game gives him a long-shot chance to play some games, especially given that he’s quite physical too.

28. Bret Link, RW, Colorado College-NCHC

Link’s athletic tools are interesting. He’s 6-foot-3 and skates quite well. On his best shift, he looks like an NHL prospect. Those best shifts are inconsistent though, particularly when it comes to making plays with the puck. But he’s a freshman, so if he stays in school I wouldn’t be surprised if he pops in a year or two.

29. Andrei Chivilyov, C, SKA-KHL

Chivilyov has played a limited-minutes role for a top team in SKA since they acquired him midseason. He’s a strong-skating center with good hands. He competes well enough, getting to the net, showing some grit in his game and being a reliable two-way center. His pure sense and playmaking aren’t great and he’s probably not going to put up big scoring numbers as a pro.

30. T.J. Hughes, C, Michigan-Big Ten

Hughes is a highly skilled and creative center who has shown the ability to beat college defenders routinely with his puckhandling. He makes a lot of difficult plays and is dangerous inside the offensive zone. He’s a so-so skater though, which isn’t ideal with an average-sized frame.

31. Lynden Breen, C, Maine-Hockey East

Breen has been a top player in Hockey East over the last two seasons and a large part of Maine’s resurgence. Breen is an excellent skater who competes well enough and has a lot of pace in his game. He’s quite skilled and can create offense on the move. He’s quite small though and while talented he’ll need to prove he’s more than an AHLer and provide a ton of offense at the pro level.

32. Connor Punnett, RHD, Oshawa-OHL

Punnett started off on a strong offensive note this season although after being traded from Barrie to Oshawa he hasn’t been quite as productive. He’s still a good-sized defenseman who plays hard. The offense in his game is OK. He can make a decent outlet pass and has a hard point shot. He doesn’t have a ton of natural skill though, and his skating stride is heavy.

33. Simon Tassy, RW, Wisconsin-Big Ten

Tassy performed well with Wisconsin this season, coming over from Mankato with Mike Hastings. Tassy is a skilled forward. He competes hard, has some physicality in his game and can create in the interior parts of the offensive zone. His skating isn’t great, especially for an average-sized winger.

34. Joey Larson, RW, Michigan State-Big Ten

Larson was a top scorer on Michigan State this season. His shot is excellent, and on the power play, he’s a true threat to score from range with how hard and accurate his one-timer is. He has good hands and inside the offensive zone, he can create a lot of chances. His skating is just OK, and I’d like to see him stray away from the perimeter too.

35. Gleb Veremyev, LW, Colorado College-NCHC

Veremyev is a big and extremely physical winger who had a good sophomore season at Colorado College. He has some skill too, but his feet are a major issue when projecting him to the NHL especially, when the offense he brings isn’t amazing.

FREE AGENTS FOR NHL TEAMS 2024: TOP COLLEGE, CHL AND EUROPEAN PLAYERS.


Today we look at this year’s class of free agents coming out of the CHL, NCAA and major European leagues.

Every year I do my best to pump the brakes on these player types. These players are in all likelihood not going to be difference-makers in an organization, even if once in a while an Ilya Mikheyev comes around. This is about building organizational depth and getting older, physically matured players who can play real minutes for an organization, whether in the NHL or AHL. The Vegas Golden Knights, the reigning champions, got Zach Whitecloud in free agency. Colorado, the prior champion, got Logan O’Connor. They may not be the sexiest names, but they help teams win.

While I spent many hours on this article, I do not cover the free-agent world as extensively as I do the NHL Draft or drafted NHL prospects. I therefore cannot claim to have a comprehensive scope of the free-agent world. There will be numerous players who sign that I don’t have listed here, but excluding them isn’t necessarily a commentary on the players; I may simply have never gotten around to watching them.

Projected Middle of the Lineup Player

1. Collin Graf, RW, Quinnipiac-ECAC

Graf was a major part of Quinnipiac’s NCAA title run last spring and has been a top player in the country again this season. He has a ton of offensive talent and has the potential to score in the NHL. He is a very skilled puckhandler who skates well and can create on the move like a pro. He sees the ice well, can run a power play with quick decisions, and has a good shot as well. His game can lack physicality at times and stick too much to the perimeter, which is my only concern about him, but I wouldn’t call him soft or a low-compete type. He is a player a lot of NHL teams will have interest in, and he could be a legit middle-six wing in the league. Last spring, the Red Wings were rumored to have gotten close to signing Graf before he decided to go back to school.

Projected to play NHL games

2. Maxim Tsyplakov, RW, Spartak-KHL

Tsyplakov is the main European free agent out there this season. The 25-year-old winger has been one of the better forwards in the KHL this season. He’s a big, powerful wing who plays a highly physical brand of hockey. He also has strong puck skills, offensive hockey sense and shooting ability. Inside the offensive zone, he is quite dangerous and can challenge goaltenders in several ways. Tsyplakov’s main issue comes down to his skating. He has a heavy stride that lacks NHL footspeed so the question will be: Is he just like a ton of other successful KHL players whose games can’t translate to the NHL, or does he have that something extra in him? I think because of how big and physical he is, he has a good chance to be an NHL player as a bottom-six wing.

3. Oscar Eklind, LW, Lulea-SHL

Eklind has developed well this season, becoming a top scorer for Lulea. He has an athletic toolkit of an NHL forward. He’s a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful frame, plays physically, and can bully his way to the net due to his strength and speed. Eklind has good hands and can finish plays. I don’t think he sees the ice at a super high level though. He has the makings of a potential bottom-six wing in the NHL.

4. Jacob Quillan, C, Quinnipiac-ECAC

Quillan was the MVP of the NCAA tournament last spring and has been a big part of a top Quinnipiac team again this year. He’s a strong skating center with good puck skills who can create offense with pace. His hockey sense is fine, good enough, to go with a strong compete level and ability to play both ways. At 6-0 without dynamic enough puck play, whether there’s enough to his game to be a real player is debatable, but he could be a very useful depth piece for an NHL organization.

5. Cooper Black, G, Dartmouth-ECAC

Black is a 6-foot-9 goalie, so his lower half is understandably sluggish getting around the net, but when you have a 6-foot-9 goalie who has some ability it’s still very intriguing. He reads the play quite well and is efficient moving around the net. He has the potential to be a legit backup goalie in the NHL if he can keep up with the pace of the higher levels.


Ostman, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound goalie from the University of Maine, will generate a lot of NHL interest. (Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images)
6. Victor Ostman, G, Maine-Hockey East

Ostman wasn’t as impressive this season as he was as a junior. He’s still a decent-sized goalie who is quite athletic and can make a lot of difficult stops. I felt his puck tracking and decisions weren’t great this year though, and he was a bit too chaotic in his crease. He has a lot of pro traits that could translate to success and there will be significant NHL interest despite a disappointing year.

Has a chance to play games

7. Samuel Mayer, LHD, Ottawa-OHL

Mayer has played well between Peterborough and the 67’s this season. He’s an athletic defenseman who may not have the strongest first few steps but has NHL footspeed in a 6-foot-3 frame. He plays hard and projects to be able to make stops and retrieve pucks versus men. The debate on Mayer will he his puck play. He doesn’t see the ice at a high level and whether the junior offense he’s shown translates is questionable, although I do think he has a pro-level point shot.

8. Christian Fitzgerald, C, Wisconsin-Big Ten

Fitzgerald came over to the Badgers with Mike Hastings from Mankato and had a strong sophomore season. He’s an excellent skater, with the quick twitch feet of an NHL player who will be able to gain the zone with the puck at the highest levels. He competes well and has a good amount of physicality in his play. Fitzgerald shows some skill, but I wouldn’t call him a natural scorer or playmaker, but more one with a direct style of play. His feet give him a chance even if the rest of his game doesn’t overly impress.

9. Drew Bavaro, RHD, Notre Dame-Big Ten

Bavaro has looked quite impressive in the Big Ten in the last two seasons. He’s a good-sized right-shot defenseman who unlike a lot of top free agents with size also skates quite well. He has the athleticism to play versus pros. His offensive touch is also decent. He has a strong point shot, it will just be about whether he can move pucks at higher levels. I think there’s just enough puck-moving skill to have a real shot to play NHL games.

10. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota-NCHC

Gaber has been a free-agent candidate for several years and this will be the spring he turns pro. Gaber is an excellent skater who competes hard and has a ton of energy in his game. He attacks with his skill and doesn’t shy away from going to the net. He has an excellent shot as well. He is quite small though and while talented, he doesn’t have the kind of tremendous sense you’d like in a guy that size. The rest of his game is good enough to give him a chance though to make it.

11. Jakub Rychlovsky, LW, Bili Tygri-Czechia

Rychlovsky scored at a high clip in the top Czech league and played games with their senior national team as well. The 22-year-old winger is a strong skater with good hands, offensive hockey sense and can finish from range. There’s a reasonable debate on how dynamic he is skill-wise for a 5-11 forward but he skates well enough to give himself a real chance to play games.

12. Dylan Wendt, RW, Western Michigan-NCHC

Wendt was quite productive for Western this season, scoring a lot of goals. He’s always been a talented player whose game took off this season. He skates well and handles the puck like a pro, and on his best shifts, he looks like an NHL prospect. His hockey sense isn’t the best, but he competes well enough and shows enough skill to be intriguing as a pro prospect.

13. Carter King, C, Denver-NCHC

King has emerged this season as a top player for a top team in Denver. King is a very good skating center who, while he isn’t overly physical, competes hard and is a two-way player. He has good skill and offensive sense and has shown he can make a lot of plays at the collegiate level. Whether he’s dynamic enough for an undersized forward to play in the NHL is a whole other question, but there are pro components in his game.

14. Joshua Eernisse, RW, Michigan-Big Ten

Eernisse’s pure numbers won’t get you overly excited, and this is not a forward who gets power play time at Michigan. But he is a big, fast, and highly competitive winger. He is very physical and brings it every night. Eernisse uses his feet and good enough skill to take pucks to the net and creates enough offense in a highly translatable way to the pro game.

15. John Prokop, LHD, Union-ECAC

Prokop has led Union in scoring as a sophomore. He was always seen as a talented player in junior, but his defense was awful and he was inconsistent. His defending has improved enough to be a potential sign candidate with a chance to be a solid pro. He’s a tall defender who skates well and has enough skill to be interesting at higher levels.

16. Daniil Gutik, RW, Admiral-KHL

Gutik is a bit of a blast from the past. I rated him as a potential first-rounder in the summer of his first draft season five years ago, and then he promptly went undrafted following major skating and compete concerns. Those still exist in his game, but he’s a big winger with a very high skill level who has found some success in the KHL. There is stuff about his game that will cause you headaches but he’s probably the most purely talented player on this list.

17. Ben Kraws, G, St. Lawrence-ECAC

Kraws is on his third college team in St. Lawrence after stops in Miami and Arizona State and has found success being one of the better goalies in the country this season. Kraws is a tall, athletic goaltender. He can make a lot of difficult saves. He’s aggressive and takes away a lot of net from shooters. I question his hockey sense a bit at times and find him out of position too much.

Long shot to play games

18. Marcus Sylvegard, RW, Vaxjo-SHL

Sylvegard has been a top player in the SHL this season as a 24-year-old. He’s got a high skill level and can create a lot of chances in the offensive zone. His playmaking is good enough, but it’s his shot that makes him so dangerous. Sylvegard has a bullet of a one timer and is a legit threat to score from the faceoff dots. He’s been a great player in the SHL, but his so-so footspeed may be an issue in translating that offense to the NHL.

19. Marcus Hardegard, LHD, Lulea-SHL

Hardegard is a strong skating defenseman who is good on retrievals and defends well at the SHL level. The pure offense in his game won’t ever get you excited, but he can make a good first pass and has a strong point shot. He’s developed well of late and got a few games with the Swedish national team this season.

20. Zac Funk, LW, Prince George-WHL

Funk has been a huge part of a top offense in the WHL this season. There’s always a concern about translatability when a guy’s offense spikes as a 20-year-old in junior, but Funk does have some pro traits. In particular, he’s a good skater with strong puck skills. He has a decent wrist shot, scoring a lot of goals this season. His frame is average sized but he competes well and throws his weight around. I do question Funk’s hockey IQ for the higher levels.

21. Karsen Dorwart, C, Michigan State-Big Ten

Dorwart has been an important part of a very good Michigan State team this season. He’s got an NHL frame and is quite a strong skater. He killed penalties for the Spartans this season as well. The pure offense in his game isn’t amazing, but there’s enough skill and playmaking to go with the great athleticism to make me think he’s got a puncher’s chance to make it.

22. Jaxon Nelson, C, Minnesota-Big Ten

Nelson is a large center with good hockey sense who can play both ways at the college level. He has some offensive touch, but I don’t see a ton of natural skill and finish in his game and his skating is a notable issue for the pro game.

23. Jacob Bengtsson, LHD, Boston College-Hockey East

Bengtsson is a big defenseman who has played on both special teams for a top Boston College squad this season. He’s got good enough hockey sense to make a decent outlet pass, but it will be his so-so skating that will be the question for the pro game.

24. Justin Hryckowian, C, Northeastern-Hockey East

Hryckowian has been a productive player in Hockey East the last two seasons and was named best defensive forward last season. He is a competitive two-way center with good enough skill and hockey sense, but his skating for his size is limited and the pure offense in his game isn’t overly exciting.

25. Luke Krys, RHD, Providence-Hockey East

Krys transferred to Providence from Brown and has been a top player for them. He’s a 6-foot-2 defender who skates well and has a lot of physicality in his game. He’s shown more playmaking this season than in previous campaigns, but whether he can move pucks versus men will be the question in his game.

26. Arttu Hyry, RW, Karpat-Liiga

Hyry is a decent-sized winger who skates well and has had a good season in Finland. He’s scored quite a lot for Karpat given he’s gotten almost no power play time this season. He’s done that because Hyry is a strong skater with a direct style of play who can create offense in high-traffic areas. His pure skill/sense will be a minor question for the higher levels.

27. Dalton Bancroft, RW, Cornell-ECAC

Bancroft is a strong-skating winger with a decent-sized frame. He was a point-per-game player as a sophomore this season in college. He has some puck skills and offensive creativity, but I don’t think he’s a natural playmaker or going to be a major scorer at higher levels. The pace in his game gives him a long-shot chance to play some games, especially given that he’s quite physical too.

28. Bret Link, RW, Colorado College-NCHC

Link’s athletic tools are interesting. He’s 6-foot-3 and skates quite well. On his best shift, he looks like an NHL prospect. Those best shifts are inconsistent though, particularly when it comes to making plays with the puck. But he’s a freshman, so if he stays in school I wouldn’t be surprised if he pops in a year or two.

29. Andrei Chivilyov, C, SKA-KHL

Chivilyov has played a limited-minutes role for a top team in SKA since they acquired him midseason. He’s a strong-skating center with good hands. He competes well enough, getting to the net, showing some grit in his game and being a reliable two-way center. His pure sense and playmaking aren’t great and he’s probably not going to put up big scoring numbers as a pro.

30. T.J. Hughes, C, Michigan-Big Ten

Hughes is a highly skilled and creative center who has shown the ability to beat college defenders routinely with his puckhandling. He makes a lot of difficult plays and is dangerous inside the offensive zone. He’s a so-so skater though, which isn’t ideal with an average-sized frame.

31. Lynden Breen, C, Maine-Hockey East

Breen has been a top player in Hockey East over the last two seasons and a large part of Maine’s resurgence. Breen is an excellent skater who competes well enough and has a lot of pace in his game. He’s quite skilled and can create offense on the move. He’s quite small though and while talented he’ll need to prove he’s more than an AHLer and provide a ton of offense at the pro level.

32. Connor Punnett, RHD, Oshawa-OHL

Punnett started off on a strong offensive note this season although after being traded from Barrie to Oshawa he hasn’t been quite as productive. He’s still a good-sized defenseman who plays hard. The offense in his game is OK. He can make a decent outlet pass and has a hard point shot. He doesn’t have a ton of natural skill though, and his skating stride is heavy.

33. Simon Tassy, RW, Wisconsin-Big Ten

Tassy performed well with Wisconsin this season, coming over from Mankato with Mike Hastings. Tassy is a skilled forward. He competes hard, has some physicality in his game and can create in the interior parts of the offensive zone. His skating isn’t great, especially for an average-sized winger.

34. Joey Larson, RW, Michigan State-Big Ten

Larson was a top scorer on Michigan State this season. His shot is excellent, and on the power play, he’s a true threat to score from range with how hard and accurate his one-timer is. He has good hands and inside the offensive zone, he can create a lot of chances. His skating is just OK, and I’d like to see him stray away from the perimeter too.

35. Gleb Veremyev, LW, Colorado College-NCHC

Veremyev is a big and extremely physical winger who had a good sophomore season at Colorado College. He has some skill too, but his feet are a major issue when projecting him to the NHL especially, when the offense he brings isn’t amazing.
- Pacificgem

I don’t see much here worth a contract

NHL Draft 2024 prospects ranking: Celebrini No. 1 on Corey Pronman’s list, Silayev and Richardinson next
Corey Pronman
Mar 12, 2024
67


Today I am doing a three-quarters-of-the-season update on the 2024 NHL Draft, with my opinion on the top prospects in the class.

This has become one of the more unique drafts I’ve covered from a talent distribution standpoint. At the top, there is a projected superstar in Macklin Celebrini. The top five picks or so all look like potential impact players in the NHL. I have four players projected as potential No. 1 defensemen in the NHL, to go along with Celebrini. In that sense, this draft class looks quite strong. Usually, though, there are about 20 players you are excited about in a given draft — players you think will be a top-six forward, top-four defenseman or a No. 1 goalie. This draft has fewer than that in my view. Usually, it’s a steady drop in talent throughout the first round with more players appearing in each tier, but this year I see a very uneven amount of players bulked at the top.

Ranked players are placed into tiers and given tool grades. Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player is graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.


Tier

Position

League
Search
Tier 1
Elite NHL player
1
Macklin Celebrini
C
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
DOB:
13-Jun-06
Ht:
6' 0.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 1
C
NCAA (H-EAST)
Tier 2
NHL All-Star
2
Anton Silayev
D
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
DOB:
11-Apr-06
Ht:
6' 7.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 2
D
RUSSIA
3
Sam Richardinson
D
LONDON
DOB:
7-Jun-06
Ht:
6' 2.5"
Shoots:
L

TIER 2
D
OHL
4
Carter Yakemchuk
D
CALGARY
DOB:
29-Sep-05
Ht:
6' 2.75"
Shoots:
R

TIER 2
D
WHL
5
Artyom Levshunov
D
MICHIGAN STATE
DOB:
28-Oct-05
Ht:
6' 2.0"
Shoots:
R

TIER 2
D
NCAA (BIG10)
Tier 3
Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player
6
Berkly Catton
C
SPOKANE
DOB:
14-Jan-06
Ht:
5' 10.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 3
C
WHL
7
Ivan Demidov
RW
SKA ST. PETERSBURG JR.
DOB:
10-Dec-05
Ht:
5' 11.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 3
RW
RUSSIA-JR.
8
Cayden Lindstrom
C
MEDICINE HAT
DOB:
03-Feb-06
Ht:
6' 3.25"
Shoots:
L

TIER 3
C
WHL
Tier 4
Top of the lineup player
9
Zayne Parekh
D
SAGINAW
DOB:
15-Feb-06
Ht:
6' 0.0"
Shoots:
R

TIER 4
D
OHL
10
Zeev Buium
D
DENVER
DOB:
7-Dec-05
Ht:
6' 0.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 4
D
NCAA (NCHC)
11
Konsta Helenius
C
JUKURIT
DOB:
11-May-06
Ht:
5' 10.75"
Shoots:
R

TIER 4
C
FINLAND
12
Adam Jiricek
D
PLZEN
DOB:
28-Jun-06
Ht:
6' 2.5"
Shoots:
R

TIER 4
D
CZECHIA
13
Cole Eiserman
LW
USA U-18
DOB:
29-Aug-06
Ht:
6' 0.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 4
LW
NTDP
Tier 5
Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
14
Igor Chernyshov
LW
DYNAMO MOSCOW
DOB:
30-Nov-05
Ht:
6' 2.0"
Shoots:
R

TIER 5
LW
RUSSIA
15
Beckett Sennecke
RW
OSHAWA
DOB:
28-Jan-06
Ht:
6' 2.25"
Shoots:
R

TIER 5
RW
OHL
16
Tij Iginla
C
KELOWNA
DOB:
4-Aug-06
Ht:
5' 11.75"
Shoots:
L

TIER 5
C
WHL
17
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
RW
MORA
DOB:
5-Oct-05
Ht:
6' 1.0"
Shoots:
R

TIER 5
RW
SWEDEN-2
Tier 6
Middle of the lineup player
18
Liam Greentree
RW
WINDSOR
DOB:
01-Jan-06
Ht:
6' 2.25"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
RW
OHL
19
Michael Hage
C
CHICAGO
DOB:
14-Apr-06
Ht:
6' 0.5"
Shoots:
R

TIER 6
C
USHL
20
Trevor Connelly
LW
TRI-CITY
DOB:
28-Feb-06
Ht:
6' 0.25"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
LW
USHL
21
Egor Surin
C
YAROSLAVL JR.
DOB:
1-Aug-06
Ht:
6' 1.0"
Shoots:
L
TIER 6
C
RUSSIA-JR.
22
Charlie Elick
D
BRANDON
DOB:
17-Jan-06
Ht:
6' 3.25"
Shoots:
R

TIER 6
D
WHL
23
Sacha Boisvert
C
MUSKEGON
DOB:
17-Mar-06
Ht:
6' 2.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
C
USHL
24
Julius Miettinen
C
EVERETT
DOB:
20-Jan-06
Ht:
6' 2.5"
Shoots:
L
TIER 6
C
WHL
25
Dominik Badinka
D
MALMO
DOB:
27-November-05
Ht:
6' 3.0"
Shoots:
R
TIER 6
D
SWEDEN
26
Nikita Artamonov
LW
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
DOB:
17-Nov-05
Ht:
5' 11.0"
Shoots:
L
TIER 6
LW
RUSSIA
27
Cole Beaudoin
C
BARRIE
DOB:
24-Apr-06
Ht:
6' 2.0"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
C
OHL
28
Aron Kiviharju
D
HIFK
DOB:
25-Jan-06
Ht:
5' 9.25"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
D
FINLAND
29
Leo Sahlin Wallenius
D
VAXJO JR.
DOB:
10-Apr-06
Ht:
5' 11.5"
Shoots:
L
TIER 6
D
SWEDEN-JR.
30
Adam Kleber
D
LINCOLN
DOB:
24-Mar-06
Ht:
6' 5.0"
Shoots:
R
TIER 6
D
USHL
31
Ryder Ritchie
RW
PRINCE ALBERT
DOB:
3-Aug-06
Ht:
5' 11.75"
Shoots:
R

TIER 6
RW
WHL
32
Marek Vanacker
LW
BRANTFORD
DOB:
12-Apr-06
Ht:
6' 0.5"
Shoots:
L

TIER 6
LW
OHL
33
Adam Jecho
C
EDMONTON
DOB:
24-Mar-06
Ht:
6' 4.75"
Shoots:
R

TIER 6
C
WHL
34
Matvei Shuravin

Pierre LeBrun
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Imagine someone had told Patrik Allvin at the NHL GM meetings 12 months ago that his Vancouver Canucks would be sitting first in the Western Conference the next time he stepped foot in these same meetings.

“Ah, I do think that we had hopes during the process that we would be going in the right direction, but I wouldn’t think we would be in first place, no, definitely not,” Allvin told The Athletic with a smile.

Twelve months ago, the Canucks were out of a playoff spot. Now, here they are. Sure, there have been some tougher moments in the second half of the season, especially in the month leading up to the trade deadline, but as of Monday morning, the Canucks are still first in the conference, albeit by just one point.
By any single measure, it’s been a fantastic turnaround year for a Canucks team that nobody picked to be at the very top.

“I think we’re still learning every day,” Allvin cautioned. “I do give the coaches and the players a lot of credit for working as a unit and having a partnership together. Everything starts with trust. That’s been the biggest thing.”

And when Allvin says he feels his team is still learning every day, he means playing these games right now in March and battling for first place is the kind of meaningful hockey a lot of his players haven’t experienced. Never mind what’s coming next in April.

“A lot of guys haven’t played in the playoffs,” said the Canucks GM.

The Canucks ended up being quiet during trade deadline week earlier this month, although that certainly doesn’t tell the whole story, as the front office made a splash on Jan. 31 with the Elias Lindholm acquisition from Calgary (more on that in a moment) and was among the busiest teams in the league from September on when most clubs don’t really touch their roster a whole lot:

• Sept. 19: Vancouver traded Tanner Pearson and a 2025 third-round pick to Montreal for Casey DeSmith

• Oct. 8: Vancouver traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to Toronto for Sam Lafferty

• Oct. 17: A minor-league deal with Pittsburgh, Jack Rathbone and Karel Plasek for Mark Friedman and Ty Glover

• Nov. 28: Vancouver traded Anthony Beauvillier to Chicago for a 2024 fifth-round pick

• Nov. 30: Vancouver traded a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to Calgary for Nikita Zadorov

• Dec. 15: Vancouver traded Jack Studnicka to San Jose for Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round pick

Then of course the big one for Lindholm, and when you consider the trade history of Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, it’s no surprise it was a January deal. The Hockey Hall of Fame executive has always tried to get ahead of things trade-wise.
After that, as our Canucks columnist Thomas Drance pointed out and as other league sources also confirmed, Vancouver had gone after two specific rentals in Chris Tanev and Jake Guentzel but didn’t get them.

“We had prioritized a couple of players that we had interest in, and for different reasons we weren’t able to execute (those deals), but then there wasn’t a Plan B or a panic move,” Allvin said. “To your point, I think we addressed our needs even going back to the Casey DeSmith pickup in the summer. So I’ve learned from Jim, I’m always trying to stay ahead of things.

“I think having Jim around for those critical decisions, he’s very good for me,” added Allvin.

Obviously Allvin can’t name Guentzel, but it’s believed whatever the Penguins wanted was a price the Canucks didn’t feel comfortable paying given some of the future assets already spent this year and the balance of what the team needs to look like past this season, too.

“That’s where, for us, it was more where we are today and how would that impact next year and the following year?” Allvin said of some of the internal conversations before the deadline. “And obviously with the signing of Petey, that was important for us, too, so we have our core here moving forward.”

The contract extension for Elias Pettersson a few weeks ago was indeed something that mattered timing-wise to the Canucks front office. They would have liked to have had it done last summer, of course, but as everyone knows, Pettersson wanted to wait — and until 3-4 weeks ago, he still wanted to wait until after the season. But Allvin and Rutherford implored their star player to get something done before the deadline, which would help them develop a more concrete vision about the team’s core.

Through that process, rumors of trade discussions popped up, and the white noise and burden of it all became enough for Pettersson to green-light his agents to finally negotiate with the Canucks.

“This has been a process since I got here to get to know him and express how much it mattered having him in the core,” Allvin said. “Also the importance for his teammates to know where he’s going to be. It’s easy to say that you’re not going to be affected by all the rumors, but at some point you get affected. I think it started to creep up with the outside noises, and I think Petey also felt that where the team was going and the direction we’re going pleased him and got him excited.

“And also the relationship he has with Rick Tocchet meant a lot for him,” added Allvin.

So, looking back, was a Pettersson trade really an option had he not signed?

“I mean, again, my job is to try to be ahead of things, and yeah, teams are calling when there’s a player like that who potentially is walking into his last year as (an) RFA and we’ve seen other teams who have struggled signing players like that,” Allvin said without naming Matthew Tkachuk and his forced exit out of Calgary two years ago as an RFA one year away from UFA status.

“So, I don’t know … but we’re very happy to get him signed.”

Happy not to have ever had to open the other door in that equation, that’s for sure.

Looking ahead, the Canucks have a slew of pending UFAs on the roster, namely Lindholm, Zadorov, DeSmith, Dakota Joshua, Lafferty, Teddy Blueger, Tyler Myers and Ian Cole.

Let’s start with Lindholm.

“Initially when we made the deal, I talked to his camp and said our intention was to sign him,” Allvin said. “But obviously it’s got to work for both sides. We’ll see. I think it’s been a little bit of an adjustment time for him. And in fairness, the whole team hasn’t played great, we knew we were going to have a tough February schedule workload-wise, it was heavy and we got out of it with a .500 record which is the reason we’re still sitting at the top I think.

“But as I said earlier, we’ve got guys who haven’t played in important games in March.”

All part of the learning process, Allvin stressed again.

It’s been a tough go for Lindholm by any definition, with just seven points in 19 games with Vancouver.

“Part of it is that we play a different style and hopefully he can find his game more offensively,” Allvin said. “I think he’s been good defensively and solid, but I think he would agree he would like to contribute more.”

In terms of the other pending UFAs on the roster, Allvin says there are two ways to look at it: The club has potential cap space, but also players in the system ready to step in.

“Again, based on the conversations that I have had with the players’ agents and the players, it’s an environment that the players like. So we’ll have to figure out if it works for both sides.”

But at this point on the calendar, those are probably after-the-season conversations.

“At this point, we probably wait, yeah,” Allvin said. “Unless they come in and they’re begging to sign a really team-friendly deal.”

As for the latest on injured star goalie Thatcher Demko, Allvin says he’s still week to week and that it’s hard to set a specific time frame. Does Demko’s injury lead the Canucks to wonder about workload and having a second goalie who can play enough games to ensure their No. 1 has a manageable schedule? Allvin feels the coaching staff was managing that pretty well with Demko throughout the season but pointed again to a tough team schedule in February.

“It was a tough workload and a tough stretch for us in February after the break,” said Allvin. “I think this is something (a goalie plan) that we continue to manage. Will Casey come back (next season)? He’s been playing excellent for us. He’s been a great teammate. And we also have (Arturs) Silovs, who is capable as well.

“We’ll see here how things go down the stretch.”

But as far as Demko getting solid support in a tandem, Allvin feels DeSmith proved in Pittsburgh he can be that guy.

“I also think when you have a goalie like Demko, you know, I think in his mind he wants to play every game,” Allvin said.

That’s how those stud goalies are wired, to be sure.

In the meantime, what’s the plan for 2022 first-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki?

“Well, I think he’s got his final game (in the Swedish League) coming up, but I do think he’s in the discussion for the world championship team,” Allvin said.

So it sounds like Lekkerimaki might stay back and get ready to play for Sweden in the men’s worlds instead of joining AHL Abbotsford, although no final decision there yet. The Canucks are weighing the benefits of Lekkerimaki coming over to play some AHL games or staying home to train and recover ahead of the worlds.

“That’s something we’ll talk about,” Allvin said. “Initially our plan was to bring him over to Abbotsford. But then the Swedish (national team) coach reached out.”

A GM’s duties never end. Allvin recently signed a contract extension (his current deal was expiring after this season) and was surprised at how quickly time had flown by since being named Canucks GM in January 2022.

“I can tell you it was crazy that it’s already been two years,” smiled Allvin. “When Jim called to talk about it, I said, ‘Geez, we’re there already?’ It went quick!

“I’ve been fortunate to be one of those guys that was around good people. I would say a lot of the experienced GMs would tell me that it’s definitely different sitting in the big chair, and I was fortunate enough to experience it for a couple of weeks in Pittsburgh (as interim GM) when Jim stepped down.

“So, yeah, it’s different (sitting in the big chair).”

What has he learned most since becoming a GM?

“Good question,” Allvin said. “I think delegating and trusting your staff, so you can hold them accountable. I don’t believe in micro-managing. I believe in empowering. I think that’s the culture I came from growing up in Pittsburgh and seeing so many executives move on to different teams. The reason why is that Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford were excellent in that regard, trusting their staff and holding us accountable.

“I think that’s something I continue to do now.”

Allvin then paused before mentioning another important thing he’s learned: Building a strong relationship with the coach, which he feels he absolutely has with Tocchet.

“What I really like is his ability to communicate with people,” Allvin said of Tocchet. “The hours he puts in there, to having individual meetings with players, I think that’s paying off.

“And part of it was I felt we needed that accountability and credibility with guys who have done it, like Tocchet, Footer (Adam Foote) and (Sergei) Gonchar, they all won Cups.”

And, the Canucks GM added, the coaching staff’s influence in teaching the team’s young, core players is paramount.

“That’s the biggest thing for us to continue to raise the bar,” said Allvin.

Awesome stuff, thanks for posting Mak!!

Pierre LeBrun
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Imagine someone had told Patrik Allvin at the NHL GM meetings 12 months ago that his Vancouver Canucks would be sitting first in the Western Conference the next time he stepped foot in these same meetings.

“Ah, I do think that we had hopes during the process that we would be going in the right direction, but I wouldn’t think we would be in first place, no, definitely not,” Allvin told The Athletic with a smile.

Twelve months ago, the Canucks were out of a playoff spot. Now, here they are. Sure, there have been some tougher moments in the second half of the season, especially in the month leading up to the trade deadline, but as of Monday morning, the Canucks are still first in the conference, albeit by just one point.
By any single measure, it’s been a fantastic turnaround year for a Canucks team that nobody picked to be at the very top.

“I think we’re still learning every day,” Allvin cautioned. “I do give the coaches and the players a lot of credit for working as a unit and having a partnership together. Everything starts with trust. That’s been the biggest thing.”

And when Allvin says he feels his team is still learning every day, he means playing these games right now in March and battling for first place is the kind of meaningful hockey a lot of his players haven’t experienced. Never mind what’s coming next in April.

“A lot of guys haven’t played in the playoffs,” said the Canucks GM.

The Canucks ended up being quiet during trade deadline week earlier this month, although that certainly doesn’t tell the whole story, as the front office made a splash on Jan. 31 with the Elias Lindholm acquisition from Calgary (more on that in a moment) and was among the busiest teams in the league from September on when most clubs don’t really touch their roster a whole lot:

• Sept. 19: Vancouver traded Tanner Pearson and a 2025 third-round pick to Montreal for Casey DeSmith

• Oct. 8: Vancouver traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to Toronto for Sam Lafferty

• Oct. 17: A minor-league deal with Pittsburgh, Jack Rathbone and Karel Plasek for Mark Friedman and Ty Glover

• Nov. 28: Vancouver traded Anthony Beauvillier to Chicago for a 2024 fifth-round pick

• Nov. 30: Vancouver traded a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to Calgary for Nikita Zadorov

• Dec. 15: Vancouver traded Jack Studnicka to San Jose for Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round pick

Then of course the big one for Lindholm, and when you consider the trade history of Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, it’s no surprise it was a January deal. The Hockey Hall of Fame executive has always tried to get ahead of things trade-wise.
After that, as our Canucks columnist Thomas Drance pointed out and as other league sources also confirmed, Vancouver had gone after two specific rentals in Chris Tanev and Jake Guentzel but didn’t get them.

“We had prioritized a couple of players that we had interest in, and for different reasons we weren’t able to execute (those deals), but then there wasn’t a Plan B or a panic move,” Allvin said. “To your point, I think we addressed our needs even going back to the Casey DeSmith pickup in the summer. So I’ve learned from Jim, I’m always trying to stay ahead of things.

“I think having Jim around for those critical decisions, he’s very good for me,” added Allvin.

Obviously Allvin can’t name Guentzel, but it’s believed whatever the Penguins wanted was a price the Canucks didn’t feel comfortable paying given some of the future assets already spent this year and the balance of what the team needs to look like past this season, too.

“That’s where, for us, it was more where we are today and how would that impact next year and the following year?” Allvin said of some of the internal conversations before the deadline. “And obviously with the signing of Petey, that was important for us, too, so we have our core here moving forward.”

The contract extension for Elias Pettersson a few weeks ago was indeed something that mattered timing-wise to the Canucks front office. They would have liked to have had it done last summer, of course, but as everyone knows, Pettersson wanted to wait — and until 3-4 weeks ago, he still wanted to wait until after the season. But Allvin and Rutherford implored their star player to get something done before the deadline, which would help them develop a more concrete vision about the team’s core.

Through that process, rumors of trade discussions popped up, and the white noise and burden of it all became enough for Pettersson to green-light his agents to finally negotiate with the Canucks.

“This has been a process since I got here to get to know him and express how much it mattered having him in the core,” Allvin said. “Also the importance for his teammates to know where he’s going to be. It’s easy to say that you’re not going to be affected by all the rumors, but at some point you get affected. I think it started to creep up with the outside noises, and I think Petey also felt that where the team was going and the direction we’re going pleased him and got him excited.

“And also the relationship he has with Rick Tocchet meant a lot for him,” added Allvin.

So, looking back, was a Pettersson trade really an option had he not signed?

“I mean, again, my job is to try to be ahead of things, and yeah, teams are calling when there’s a player like that who potentially is walking into his last year as (an) RFA and we’ve seen other teams who have struggled signing players like that,” Allvin said without naming Matthew Tkachuk and his forced exit out of Calgary two years ago as an RFA one year away from UFA status.

“So, I don’t know … but we’re very happy to get him signed.”

Happy not to have ever had to open the other door in that equation, that’s for sure.

Looking ahead, the Canucks have a slew of pending UFAs on the roster, namely Lindholm, Zadorov, DeSmith, Dakota Joshua, Lafferty, Teddy Blueger, Tyler Myers and Ian Cole.

Let’s start with Lindholm.

“Initially when we made the deal, I talked to his camp and said our intention was to sign him,” Allvin said. “But obviously it’s got to work for both sides. We’ll see. I think it’s been a little bit of an adjustment time for him. And in fairness, the whole team hasn’t played great, we knew we were going to have a tough February schedule workload-wise, it was heavy and we got out of it with a .500 record which is the reason we’re still sitting at the top I think.

“But as I said earlier, we’ve got guys who haven’t played in important games in March.”

All part of the learning process, Allvin stressed again.

It’s been a tough go for Lindholm by any definition, with just seven points in 19 games with Vancouver.

“Part of it is that we play a different style and hopefully he can find his game more offensively,” Allvin said. “I think he’s been good defensively and solid, but I think he would agree he would like to contribute more.”

In terms of the other pending UFAs on the roster, Allvin says there are two ways to look at it: The club has potential cap space, but also players in the system ready to step in.

“Again, based on the conversations that I have had with the players’ agents and the players, it’s an environment that the players like. So we’ll have to figure out if it works for both sides.”

But at this point on the calendar, those are probably after-the-season conversations.

“At this point, we probably wait, yeah,” Allvin said. “Unless they come in and they’re begging to sign a really team-friendly deal.”

As for the latest on injured star goalie Thatcher Demko, Allvin says he’s still week to week and that it’s hard to set a specific time frame. Does Demko’s injury lead the Canucks to wonder about workload and having a second goalie who can play enough games to ensure their No. 1 has a manageable schedule? Allvin feels the coaching staff was managing that pretty well with Demko throughout the season but pointed again to a tough team schedule in February.

“It was a tough workload and a tough stretch for us in February after the break,” said Allvin. “I think this is something (a goalie plan) that we continue to manage. Will Casey come back (next season)? He’s been playing excellent for us. He’s been a great teammate. And we also have (Arturs) Silovs, who is capable as well.

“We’ll see here how things go down the stretch.”

But as far as Demko getting solid support in a tandem, Allvin feels DeSmith proved in Pittsburgh he can be that guy.

“I also think when you have a goalie like Demko, you know, I think in his mind he wants to play every game,” Allvin said.

That’s how those stud goalies are wired, to be sure.

In the meantime, what’s the plan for 2022 first-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki?

“Well, I think he’s got his final game (in the Swedish League) coming up, but I do think he’s in the discussion for the world championship team,” Allvin said.

So it sounds like Lekkerimaki might stay back and get ready to play for Sweden in the men’s worlds instead of joining AHL Abbotsford, although no final decision there yet. The Canucks are weighing the benefits of Lekkerimaki coming over to play some AHL games or staying home to train and recover ahead of the worlds.

“That’s something we’ll talk about,” Allvin said. “Initially our plan was to bring him over to Abbotsford. But then the Swedish (national team) coach reached out.”

A GM’s duties never end. Allvin recently signed a contract extension (his current deal was expiring after this season) and was surprised at how quickly time had flown by since being named Canucks GM in January 2022.

“I can tell you it was crazy that it’s already been two years,” smiled Allvin. “When Jim called to talk about it, I said, ‘Geez, we’re there already?’ It went quick!

“I’ve been fortunate to be one of those guys that was around good people. I would say a lot of the experienced GMs would tell me that it’s definitely different sitting in the big chair, and I was fortunate enough to experience it for a couple of weeks in Pittsburgh (as interim GM) when Jim stepped down.

“So, yeah, it’s different (sitting in the big chair).”

What has he learned most since becoming a GM?

“Good question,” Allvin said. “I think delegating and trusting your staff, so you can hold them accountable. I don’t believe in micro-managing. I believe in empowering. I think that’s the culture I came from growing up in Pittsburgh and seeing so many executives move on to different teams. The reason why is that Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford were excellent in that regard, trusting their staff and holding us accountable.

“I think that’s something I continue to do now.”

Allvin then paused before mentioning another important thing he’s learned: Building a strong relationship with the coach, which he feels he absolutely has with Tocchet.

“What I really like is his ability to communicate with people,” Allvin said of Tocchet. “The hours he puts in there, to having individual meetings with players, I think that’s paying off.

“And part of it was I felt we needed that accountability and credibility with guys who have done it, like Tocchet, Footer (Adam Foote) and (Sergei) Gonchar, they all won Cups.”

And, the Canucks GM added, the coaching staff’s influence in teaching the team’s young, core players is paramount.

“That’s the biggest thing for us to continue to raise the bar,” said Allvin.
- Makita

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