Development Camp is in the books for another year. Here's Trevor Linden's summary of the week's activities:
Linden is quick to praise the team's scouting staff for bringing in the top-level prospects—Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser and Olli Juolevi. A good goalie, a scoring winger and a smart defenceman: if those three all live up to expectations, it does create a strong foundation for the future, doesn't it?
As the standout from, if you will, the second tier, Linden namechecks defenseman Troy Stecher, who certainly seems to have use his opportunity at camp to make a strong impression.
Nevertheless, I think the plan will be for Stecher to start the season in the AHL. We talked last week about how that's what Utica coach Travis Green thinks is best for Stecher's development.
Green likes Stecher's compete level, he will need time though because step from college to AHL is a big one. #Canucks
Also, Stecher can be assigned to the Comets without needing to clear waivers.
Management has said that the plan for next season is for Ben Hutton to play on the second pairing with Erik Gudbranson, but I wondered if there was any possibility that Hutton could be assigned to Utica.
Could he get beat out for a job at training camp? Probably not.
According to CapFriendly, Hutton needed three seasons OR 70 games of NHL action to lose his waiver exemption as a player who started his NHL career at age 22. He played 75 games in 2015-16, so he would need to be exposed to waivers if the Canucks wanted to send him to the AHL next season.
CapFriendly shows Nikita Tryamkin as the Canucks' only defenceman with NHL experience who could be sent down, but remember—the Canucks promised him when he signed that he'd stay in the NHL for as long as he was here in North America.
There is also an out clause if he does not stay in the NHL. Very interested in seeing him play. https://t.co/CBS3nbOT6p
Stecher's a right-handed shot, by the way. Here are the defencemen that are currently ahead of him on next year's depth chart:
Left side:
• Alex Edler
• Ben Hutton
• Luca Sbisa
• Andrey Pedan
Right side:
• Chris Tanev
• Erik Gudbranson
• Philip Larsen
• Nikita Tryamkin (though he shoots left, he usually plays the right side)
• Alex Biega
Alex Biega is on a one-way contract with a cap hit of $750,000 for the next two seasons, but I'm not expecting to see him in the Canucks' starting lineup in October. Andrey Pedan is still an RFA and I'd guess the Canucks will be trying to sign him to a two-way contract, even though he will need to be exposed to waivers if he's assigned to the AHL.
Last season, the Canucks used a total of 11 defencemen. Even if the Canucks can keep all the players listed above in the organization, it's not out of the question for Stecher to get a call-up when the inevitable injuries come to pass if he performs well when he gets to Utica.
Linden also mentions that because Stecher is a local boy, he's working out regularly with the Canucks group here in Vancouver. That should give him a leg up in terms of his fitness and in giving him a chance to build on the positive first impression that he seems to have made with the organization.
Linden's final shoutout goes to new assistant coach Doug Jarvis, who did his first week of work on the ice at Shawnigan Lake last week. Trevor says Jarvis' approach brings back memories of Pat Quinn for him—high praise!
Canucks Army is reporting that one player who flew under the radar did enough to earn himself a pro contract last week:
Carcone's a 20-year-old right wing who went undrafted. He put up 47 goals and 89 points to lead Drummondville of the QMJHL in scoring last season. He's on the small side at 5'10" and 170 pounds, but he was also second on his team with 80 penalty minutes last season, so it appears that he plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Nothing official yet on this signing, but it sounds like the organization liked enough of what they saw from Carcone on the Island to give him a chance to develop within the organization next season.
Carcone wore No. 58 in Shawnigan Lake and is one of the players featured in this highlight video from the team's prospects game.
In terms of on-ice action, the next few weeks are going to be uncomfortably quiet. The next big event on the calendar will be the Team Canada Summer Showcases.
Those kick off on July 26, with the U17 and U18 players gathering in Calgary. According to Hockey Canada, the World Junior Evaluation Camp will take place in Toronto, starting July 30. The Canadians will take part in a mini-tournament against Sweden, the U.S. and Finland in Plymouth, Michigan later that week.
Canucks' prospect Guillaume Brisebois will be part of the Canadian group, while Brock Boeser will be on Team USA. I can't find rosters for Finland or Sweden, but Olli Juolevi should certainly be part of the Finnish team.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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