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Vancouver Canucks prospect update as Round 2 of CHL playoffs concludes |
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Before I review the results of last night's junior hockey playoff games, take a minute to read this feature on Kevin Bieksa from the terrific Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times.
It seems almost intentional that his name is spelled "Bieska" in the tweet, doesn't it?
Now 35, Bieksa certainly isn't the fleetest of foot anymore, but his heart is what made him an NHL player. That's still as big as ever.
After the Anaheim Ducks fell behind the Calgary Flames by a score of 4-1 on Monday night, Bieksa contributed two assists in the comeback that forced overtime and eventually earned the Ducks the win. Bieksa was named second star in the the game, and the Ducks are now up 3-0 in the series. They can eliminate the Flames with a win tonight.
The Ducks have some significant holes on their blue line—Cam Fowler was injured near the end of the regular season and Sami Vatanen has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. That has pressed 21-year-old Langley, B.C. native Shea Theodore into a big role, playing with Bieksa.
Even though he appeared in only 53 NHL games—and was healthy-scratched often this season, making just 34 appearances—Theodore leads all defensemen in playoff scoring so far, with two goals and five points. Right behind him? Bieksa, whose four assists in three games match Erik Karlsson and T.J. Brodie. His plus-three rating also ties him for first place among all defensemen in the postseason so far.
"I feel like we’re really feeding off each other and he’s a veteran guy with a lot of experience, and that always helps," Theodore said about his partner—who he grew up watching as a young Canucks fan.
"When he starts talking about playoff games that he watched me play 10 years ago I don’t really like that too much. I don’t like when he brings those conversations up,” Bieksa told Elliott with a smile. “But it’s fun to see some of the young guys coming up. It kind of reenergizes you a bit to see their passion, and they’re still trying to make a name for themselves. I enjoy that part."
Bieksa has taken a ton of criticism in Anaheim this season but if he keeps this up, I'm guessing Ducks fans won't be quite so bitter about the fact that his no-movement clause means he can't be exposed to Las Vegas in the expansion draft. My expectation is that the Ducks will find a way to work a side deal that will save them from losing one of their young defensemen instead.
Sounds like the league has decided to go ahead and treat the expansion draft with the razzle-dazzle that Vegas deserves.
Here's the rundown of all the timing and how the combined Expansion Draft / NHL Awards Show will come together at T-Mobile Arena.
Back to Bieksa. Though he had a tough season on the ice before he was dealt in 2014-15, the Canucks' freefall in the standings has coincided with his departure. The Canucks did obtain a second-round draft pick for Bieksa. That pick was part of the package that brought Brandon Sutter to Vancouver, but the third-rounder that Vancouver received in return was used on William Lockwood, who looked promising in his first year at Michigan this season.
Yes, the Canucks probably had to part ways with Bieksa as a key step in the rebuild-that's-not-a-rebuild, but Vancouver sure could have used his heart, grit and competitiveness over the past two seasons.
Now—back to the future:
• Olli Juolevi's season is now over, after the London Knights dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Erie Otters in Game 7 of their second-round series on Tuesday. Juolevi had two assists in the game, both on the power play, including the goal that forced overtime with 1:00 to play in the third period.
Juolevi will take some time off before getting started on his offseason training plan, which could include some time working with the Canucks' strength coach here in Vancouver. After winning the Memorial Cup last year, he feels a longer offseason will help him—and is focused on trying to make the Canucks next season.
A reminder—Juolevi is one of the younger members of his draft class. He turns 19 in a couple of weeks, on May 5.
That birthday means he isn't AHL-eligible next season—he either has to make the Canucks, go back to junior or (outside chance) sign to play a year in Europe.
Three defensemen were drafted in the Top 10 in the class before Juolevi's, and all have successfully made the jump to become fulltime NHLers: Noah Hanifin (5th overall, Carolina), Ivan Provorov (8th overall, Philadelphia) and Zach Werenski (9th overall, Columbus). The precedent is there—but it doesn't mean Juolevi should be labelled an instant bust if he does end up going back to the Knights for one more year.
Juolevi finished his playoffs with 3-5-8 in 14 games—sixth among OHL defensemen. The leader through the first two rounds is Erie's 21-year-old blueliner Darren Raddysh—an undrafted overager who has 14 points in 14 playoff games and also led all AHL defensemen in the regular season with 16-65-81.
The spotlight on Darren is extra-bright because his younger brother Taylor, who was picked in the second round by Tampa Bay last year, was a standout for Team Canada at last winter's World Junior Championship.
Overage players don't have a great track record for breaking into the NHL. Remember Dane Fox? He was Raddysh's teammate in Erie when he scored 107 points as a 20-year-old playing with Connor McDavid in 2013-14. Fox was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2016 trade deadline and spent this year putting up 76 points for the Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL.
Every player is different—Fox's flameout doesn't necessarily predict the future for Raddysh. He's a name we'll keep hearing as the AHL playoffs continue.
• Rodrigo Abols' playoffs also came to an end last night over in the QMJHL. Abols assisted on his team's lone goal, on the power play, as Acadie-Bathurst dropped a 7-1 decision to Blainville-Boisbriand. Abols finishes his postseason with 5-6-11 in 11 games.
• The news was better for Dmitry Zhukenov, who assisted on Olivier Galipeau's overtime game-winner to send Chicoutimi into the Q's semifinals after a seven-game win over Rouyn-Noranda. Zhukenov's 5-11-16 have time tied for third in the league's playoff scoring.
Chicoutimi will start its next series on the road against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday, while Guillaume Brisebois, Carl Neill and the rest of the Charlottetown Islanders will play host to Blainville-Boisbriand, also on Friday.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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