2022-23 Abbotsford Canucks Thread

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

Roster Composition: 2022-23 season

 

Departures: Descending by Point totals in 21/22 season.

1) Sheldon Rempal (LW/RW) : CAN to Henderson (AHL) ---------GP: 55, G: 33, A: 36, Pts: 69

2) Nic Petan            (C) : CAN to Minnesota  (NHL)----------------- GP: 37, G: 12, A: 32, Pts: 44

3) Madison Bowey  (D) : CAN to Montreal (NHL) --------------------GP: 53, G: 8, A: 20, Pts: 28

4) Justin Bailey:       (LW) : Released by Canucks (UFA)----------- GP: 30, G: 15, A: 12, Pts: 27

5) Jarid Lukosevicius: (RW) : Released from AHL deal (UFA) ---  GP: 62, G: 10, A: 9, Pts: 19

6) Devante Stephens: (D) : Released by Canucks (UFA) ----------GP: 59;  G: 3, A: 12, Pts: 15

7) Ashton Sautner:   (D): CAN to Winnipeg (NHL) ------------------- GP: 41, G: 3, A: 10, Pts: 13

8) Brandon Cutler: (C) : Released from AHL deal (UFA) ----------- GP: 36, G: 2, A: 6, Pts: 8 

9) Matt Murphy: (D) : CAN to Iowa Wild (AHL) ----------------------- GP: 16, G: 0, A: 8, Pts: 8

10) Brannon McManus: (C) Released from AHL deal (UFA) ------ GP: 7, G: 3, A: 0, Pts: 3

11) Adam Brubacher: (D) Released from AHL deal (UFA) ---------- GP: 20, G: 1, A: 2, Pts: 3

12) Brandon Hickey: (D) Released from AHL deal (UFA) ----------- GP: 15, G: 1, A: 1, Pts: 2

 

Acquisitions:

1) Arshdeep Bains (LW):      Signed NHL 3 year ELC deal - Free agent signing from Red Deer (WHL)

2) Linus Karlsson (C/RW):   Signed off of reserve list to NHL 2 year ELC deal from Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

3) Matt Alfaro (C):                Signed AHL 1 year deal - previously on PTO in 2022 from Wheeling (ECHL)

4) Yushiro Hirano (RW):      Signed AHL 1 year deal - previously on PTO in 2022 from Cincinnati (ECHL)

5) Christian Wolanin (D):     Signed NHL 1 year deal - Free agent signing from Los Angeles (NHL)

6) Wyatt Kalynuk (D):          Signed NHL 1 year deal - Free agent signing from Chicago (NHL)

7) Quinn Schmiemann (D): Signed AHL 2 year deal -  Free agent signing from Kamloops (WHL)

8) Chad Nychuk (D):           Signed AHL 1 year deal - Free agent signing from Brandon (WHL)

9) Colin Delia (G)                Signed NHL 1 year deal - Free agent signing from Chicago (NHL)

 

AHL graduates to Canucks/NHL:

Spencer Martin (G) To Vancouver (NHL) 

 

Wild card additions:

1) Nils Aman (C) - Loan to Leksands (SHL) - out clause option to return to SHL if he does not make the NHL 

 

Who's returning : Contract status & 21/22 stats

 

Forwards:

 

   Centers

1) Sheldon Dries: NHL deal - 762K x 2 years remaining / ------ GP: 54, G: 35, A: 27, Pts: 62

2) John Stevens: NHL deal - 750K x 1 year remaining /   ------- GP: 68, G: 19, A: 24, Pts: 43

3) Chase Wouters: AHL deal - 2 years remaining /           ------- GP: 60, G: 5, A: 13, Pts: 18

4) Justin Dowling: NHL deal - 750K x 1 year remaining /  ------- GP: 15, G: 5, A: 9, Pts: 14

5) Tristen Nielsen: AHL deal - 1 year remaining /              ------- GP: : 41, G: 7, A: 4, Pts: 11

6)) Carson Focht: NHL deal - 821K x 1 year remaining /  -------- GP: : 41, G: 3, A: 7, Pts: 10

 

   Left Wingers

1) Phil Di Giuseppe: NHL deal - 750K x 1 year remaining / ------ GP: 42, G: 12, A: 24, Pts: 36

2) Vincent Arseneau: AHL deal - 2 years remaining /          ------- GP: 42, G: 6, A: 5, Pts: 11

3) Karel Plasek: NHL deal - 846K x 2 years remaining /     -------- GP: 8, G: 0, A: 0, Pts: 0

 

   Right Wingers

1) Will Lockwood: NHL deal - 1 year remaining /                ------- GP: 46, G: 9, A: 16, Pts: 25

2) Danila Klimovich: NHL deal - 855K x 2 years remaining / ----- GP: 62, G: 8, A: 10, Pts: 18

3) Marc Gatcomb: AHL deal - 1 year remaining /                 ------- GP: 6, G: 0, A: 0, Pts: 0

 

 

Defensemen:

 

   Left handed Defensemen

1) Jack Rathbone: NHL deal - 850K x 2 years remaining / -------- GP: 39, G: 10, A: 30, Pts: 40

2) Guillaume Brisebois: NHL deal - 750K x 1 year remaining / --- GP: 26, G: 2, A: 5, Pts: 7

 

   Right handed Defensemen

1) Noah Juulsen: NHL deal - 750K x 1 year remaining / --------- GP: 50, G: 3, A: 13, Pts: 16

2) Jett Woo: NHL deal - 860K x 1 year remaining / ---------------- GP: 42, G: 2, A: 6, Pts: 8

3) Alex Kannok-Leipert: AHL deal - 1 year remaining / ------------ GP: 41, G: 1, A: 4, Pts: 5

4) Brady Keeper: NHL deal - 762K x 1 year remaining / ----        Did not play due to injury

 

Goalies:

 

Mikey DiPietro: NHL deal - 840K x 1 year remaining / -------- GP: 34, W: 15, SV%: 901

Arturs Silovs: NHL deal - 786 x 2 years remaining /  ---------- GP: 10, W: 3, SV%: 888

 

Management & Staff:

General Manager - Ryan Johnson 

Head Coach: Jeremy Colliton 

Assistant Coach: Gerry Agnew

Assistant Coach: Jeff Ulmer

Goaltending Coach: Marko Torenius

 

Projected Lineup

 

Di Giuseppe - Dries - Karlsson

Dowling - Stevens - Bains

Nielsen - Wouters - Lockwood

Arseneau - Alfaro - Klimovich

 

Focht/Gatcomb

 

Wolanin - Juulsen 

Brisebois - Keeper

Kalynuk - Woo 

 

Schmiemann/ Kannok-Leipert

 

Delia / Silovs

 

Stories to follow:

 

1) With the new management's devotion to development how will Klimovich, Woo, Bains, and Karlsson be used in the lineup? With the exodus of several key veterans from the lineup, several young player will be thrown into key positions. Wouters and Nielsen caught the eye of new head coach Jeremy Colliton at development camp citing that these two players had "pro like" approaches to the camp. Will he lean on the young players or will he make them earn their keep? Klimovich was chastised publicly by Ryan Johnson at year end interviews sharing that Klimovich had much to improve including his maturing on the ice after questionable body language during games and showing frustration by slamming sticks or foregoing backchecks. He may have to earn his way up the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the playoffs for the Canucks. Will Jett Woo finally show Canucks management, media, and fans that he is a bonafide defensive prospect, or will the presence of Juulsen and healthy Brady Keeper stunt his ascension up the lineup? Colliton has been known to trust young players in key roles as seen with Chicago's AHL system before he was promoted to the NHL. 

 

2) What will happen with Mikey DiPietro? With his agent coming out and calling out the previous regime's development team and management group for mishandling Mikey's development, will he finally be dealt? If not, will he start the season in Abbotsford? With a crowded crease with signing Colin Delia as the third string goalie and the commitment to Silovs from Ryan Johnson and Ian Clark, looks like DiPietro's time with the organization will be coming to an end. However, if he returns does he start as the backup and SIlovs loaned to an ECHL club or does he find a way to work himself back up the depth chart? Effectively he is number 5 as of now. Colin Delia despite having some horrendous numbers in Chicago played in a very defensively poor system, can he rebound and play well here? Ian Clark is very high on Silovs, will he take a step this season?

 

3) Much criticism was made about the defensive structure instilled by the Abbotsford Canucks - handled by Gerry Agnew. Not only was Abbotsford Defensive structure a mess much like the parent club, but the deployment of young dman such as Woo and Leipert who both spent considerable amount of games on the wing ( Woo - 1 assist in 16 games and Leipert 1 goal and 1 assist in 12 games) was a huge red flag for fans and media. Will they be able to rectify a porous defensive structure, which effectively became their Achilles heel down the final stretch. Despite being top 5 in goals against in the AHL, down the stretch many insiders noticed their defensive game really slip allowing big goal margin losses in the final 20 games of the season. I relatively young and inexperienced group, can they find a way to mesh together and be solid defensively? The loss of Sautner (their best defensive defensemen) and Bowey (most all around defenseman) will be felt.

 

4) Will Abbotsford finally announce a captain in their second year. Much anticipation and speculation was made that Ashton Sautner, a long time Canuck property would be the first captain in franchise history. He has now moved onto Manitoba and much swirling around the leadership of the player after a dismal result in round 1 against the Bakersfield Condors. John Stevens a steady presence since Utica has been noted as a steady force in the locker room and a steady hand for young players such as Klimovich, Lockwood, and Wouters. Or will local product Noah Juulsen receive the captaincy? Dries and Di Giuseppe are the team's best players but with likelihood that they will be the first to be called up, they won't likely occupy a pivotal captain role.

 

5) With Rutherford recently stating that he likes the state of the parent club's defense and potentially Rathbone deserving a look at the NHL level, leaves a sizeable offensive hole on the blueline for the Abbotsford Canucks. Rathbone was Abbotsford's main stirring stick for offense from the blueline. With Madison Bowey also departing, who will step up? Will Wyatt Kalynuk a recent UFA signee realize his offensive touch since his college roots or will former North Dakota product Christian Wolanin serve as the main trigger man from the point. Both have higher offensive ceilings than the rest of the d-core. 

 

6) With a lack of an ECHL affiliate, what will the Abbotsford Canucks do with sizeable depth. Currently as it stands, they have 4 extra forwards, 3 extra dman, and 1 extra goalie. There is so much ice time to go around and most often AHL teams will not carry more than 25 players on roster. I fully expect a few players to be sent down, likely to Trois le Rivers located in Quebec. With their affiliation with Kalamazoo expiring, and their past usage of sending Silovs to Trois le Rivers, to also avoid border issues should covid issues arise, I fully expect the Canucks to send some players there. Likely Plasek, Hirano, Nychuk, and DiPietro (if not dealt).

 

7) Who will provide the offense? Abbotsford was ranked 11th for goals for but losing their top scorer Sheldon Rempal to a divisional foe (Henderson Silver Knights) stings, and the loss of center depth with Nic Petan makes that top six look pretty ripe. The new additions of Karlsson and Bains will bring some skill and creativity, but both haven't played in the AHL yet and may be too quick for them to assume prime scoring positions. Klimovich has flashed brilliance at times but in other times has looked completely disinterested eerily similar to Nikolay Goldobin at times. Has all the skill but lacks consistency and work ethic to boot. Can Carson Focht rebound after a very poor sophomore season? Can Tristan Nielsen show more offensive potential (after his 4 goal effort late in March gave many hope he could) much like in his days with the Giants? Will Dakota Joshua or Will Lockwood be around or will they be with the parent club? Can a healthy Karel Plasek finally make a mark at the AHL level, after only played 8 games for the Canucks last season? There are a lot of question marks up front, which would lead one to think, they will have to be sound defensively to win games next season. Justin Dowling was very good, so was John Stevens, but is that enough depth?

 

8) Will the Abbotsford Canucks finally have a dedicated broadcasting team and station? Last year to catch games fans had to buy AHL subscriptions or weight for the youtube highlights. Sportsnet 650 at times broadcasted the games late in the regular season once the Vancouver Canucks were done but even so, reception was spotty in Vancouver and was more clear on station 107.1 dedicated to Abbotsford audiences with clearer reception.  Canucks fans whether in the Fraser Valley or in Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island etc are eager to have more accessible coverage to the farm team. 

 

9) 

 

 

Season opener is on October 14th against the Ontario Reign (LA's AHL affiliate) and home opener is on October 28th against the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim's AHL affiliate). 

 

10) Each AHL team must adhere to the "development rule" for roster construction: https://theahl.com/faq 

Quote

What is the AHL’s development rule?

 

In the AHL, player development is a top priority. The American Hockey League and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association have the following development rule in place:

 

Of the 18 skaters (not counting two goaltenders) that teams may dress for a game, at least 13 must be qualified as “development players.” Of those 13, 12 must have played in 260 or fewer professional games (including AHL, NHL and European elite leagues), and one must have played in 320 or fewer professional games. All calculations for development status are based on regular-season totals as of the start of the season.

Players that are considered development players who have played less than 260 pro games are:

Alfaro, Bains, Brisebois Focht, Gatcomb, Hirano, Kannok-Leipert, Kalynuk, Karlsson, Keeper Klimovich, Lockwood, Nielsen, Nychuk, Plasek, Schmiemann, Rathbone, Wolanin Woo, Wouters

 

Players that are considered veteran exempt players or players who have played less than 320 pro games and who are 25 or older before July 1st of this upcoming season:

Dries, Stevens

 

Players considered veterans who have played 320 pro games or more and are over 25 or older before July 1st of this upcoming season:

Arseneau, Di Giuseppe, Dowling  

Quote

Starting in 2020-21, players that are not age 25 by July 1st before the season, will be exempted from veteran status.

 

*European Elite Leagues: The following leagues qualify as leagues that contribute to one's veteran or veteran exempt status.

European Elite Leagues: The following leagues qualify as leagues that contribute to one's veteran or veteran exempt status. National League (Switzerland), Czech Extraliga (Czech Republic), Slovak Extraliga (Slovakia), Kontinental Hockey League (Russia), Swedish Hockey League (Sweden), Liiga (Finland) and Deutsche Eishockey Liga (Germany).

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by CRAZY_4_NAZZY

[-AJ-]

Not the kind of guy who actually attends games, but the lower cost of Abbotsford games, while still allowing for a close connection to the Vancouver Canucks has made me split an 18-ticket flex pack with my best friend, so I'll be going to nine games this year! Excited to actually get to know the Abby boys better this year.

 

In case anyone still doubted that a team in Abbotsford could work if they were a Vancouver affiliate instead of a Calgary one, I'm exhibit A. Pretty sure I only attended two or three Heat games in their entire tenure.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

"I'm ready for pro hockey... Abbotsford seemed like a great choice. I love BC."

Learn a little bit more about one of the newest players, Quinn Schmiemann.

 

 

[Captain Canuck #12]

23 hours ago, Muttley said:

Sounds pretty mild, but: Real good last year. Tough too.

 

Quinn Schmiemann

Defense -- shoots L
Born Jul 23 2001 -- Wilcox, SASK
[21 yrs. ago]
Height 6.02 -- Weight 200 [188 cm/91 kg]

Drafted by Tampa Bay Lightning

- round 6 #182 overall 2019 NHL Entry Draft

 

			Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	3	0	0	0	0	1	--	--	--	--	--
2017-18	Notre Dame Hounds	SJHL	1	0	0	0	0		--	--	--	--	--
2018-19	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	58	5	23	28	30	-7	6	0	2	2	10
2019-20	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	60	5	32	37	56	25
2020-21	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	22	2	15	17	31	14
2021-22	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	58	14	40	54	65	24	17	2	16	18	2

I thought he sounded more Medium........but I guess we can just agree to disagree!

[bigbadcanucks]

Personally, I care not if the Johnny Canucks are a sub .500 team as long as the prospects get to play and develop. 

 

I am happy to see the Carter Bancks/Cal O'Reilly/Wacey Hamilton wannabes (Rempal, Petan, Bailey, Stephens, Sautner, etc.) unsigned to make room for the 20-22 year old brigade. Hopefully, with the upgrade in the Player Development department, we will get to witness what many of us believe to be what the AHL franchise is intended for.

 

I'll be cheering for Woo, Klimovich, Lockwood, Karlsson, Aman, Juulsen, Keeper, Brisebois, Silovs, Dipietro, Bains, et. al. to develop into bonafide NHL prospects who can step in at some point in time.  If they have a winning record while doing so, that will be a bonus.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Hear from Chad Nychuk, the latest Abby signing, on the origins behind his nickname "The Rossburn Rifle", his time with Brandon Wheat Kings, and his Ping Pong skills:

 

On July 22nd, Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced that the club had signed major junior free agent defenceman Chad Nychuk to a one-year AHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season. Nychuk joins Abbotsford from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

 

“Chad is a player we watched throughout his junior career,” said Abbotsford GM, Ryan Johnson. “After making a very good impression at development camp in Vancouver, we are excited to have him join our group in Abbotsford this season.”

 

We sat down with Nychuk to talk to the newly signed blue liner.

 

Talk to us about your time in the WHL with Brandon.

 

Obviously it was a really fun four years, I’m sort of a hometown kid when I went in as a young guy. I made a lot of really good friends really quickly and I have nothing but thank you’s for the coaches, management and staff. I’ll always be grateful for that.

 

What excites you about playing in the AHL with Abbotsford?

 

I think just taking that next step. Obviously, being a hockey player, that’s one of the things you look forward to the most. As for Abbotsford, obviously I’ve heard nothing but good things about it and I’m really excited.

 

Last month was the first time we saw you in Canuck colours, tell us about your Development Camp experience back in July.

 

It was really fun, I met a lot of really good guys. You kind of get to know the WHL guys that you’ve been playing against for the last few years, then as the week went on I started to get to know the college and European guys. That was the big thing that I took out of it. As for the hockey side, there were a lot of good players there and I feel like it was a good week.

 

How would you describe your playing style?

 

I think that I have just turned myself into a two-way defenceman. For the first few years, I thought of myself as an offensive defenseman. But I learned pretty quick that in order to make it to the next level, I had to be able to take care of both ends. The last few years I have mainly been focusing on that and hopefully I can keep that moving forward.

 

What do you like to get up to in the off-season?

 

Right now in the summer I have just been training in Brandon, Manitoba. My cabin is about an hour and a half north of Brandon, so I like to go there with my family on the weekends. But during the week, just skating, working out, the usual stuff. Lots of golf as well.

 

Talk to us about your nickname “The Rossburn Rifle”.

 

I was just sitting at the rink one day when our media guy came up to me and told me he was going to use that nickname. He thought it was just going to be a little joke or whatever , but it turned into a pretty good thing. A lot of my buddies started wearing t-shirts and started to send me pictures of them. Some of the proceeds went to the (Brandon) Wheat Kings, and the rest I was able to donate to some stuff around Rossburn. Things like buying local kids hockey equipment and some work on the local reserve. It was a really good fundraiser.

 

Tell us more about your hometown Rossburn and growing up there.

 

I owe a lot of it to Rossburn. As I get older, I can’t really skate at the rink there because it’s winter ice, it’s not in during the summer. So I had to make the move to Brandon. But I’ve had nothing but support from Rossburn, all of the support I get is so surreal and I’m very grateful for it. I owe a lot to Rossburn.

 

Can you tell us a fun fact or a hidden talent about yourself?

 

I play a few sports, I like to play every sport that I can. I used to be pretty good at ping pong, but I’ve gotten away from it a little bit recently. Hopefully I can maybe get back to that, so I would say ping pong.

 

https://abbotsford.canucks.com/news/q-and-a-with-chad-nychuk

 

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Full image:

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[bigbadcanucks]

On 8/25/2022 at 11:21 AM, Muttley said:

Not really related but could it be? I doubt it but what a major undertaking...

 

 

You know that McCallum is a senile old coot who's best move is to consent to being institutionalized (jail would be a good place for the demented buffoon), right?

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[Ilya Mikheyev]

 

 

Didn't see a thread on this signing, but sounds like he's having a decent camp so far. A quick intro:

 

Quote

On July 22nd, Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced that the club had signed major junior free agent defenceman Chad Nychuk to a one-year AHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season. Nychuk joins Abbotsford from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

 

 

Quote

 

[Coconuts]

Regular Chad or GigaChad 

[Crabcakes]

1.1 ppg is a lot for a D even a 20 year old in the WHL...... a late bloomer perhaps

[Sophomore Jinx]

What's not to like about this signing? Has some tools, late bloomer? He'll be in a great environment to succeed.

 

I'm going to really enjoy seeing the baby Nux live this season, and with my nervous anticipation with the big boys set to go, I've already sent out applicable notices to my boss (no more OT, especially game nights), my spouse (don't bug me, see you next summer), and my friends (it's hockey season, you're either with me, or against me)

GCG!!! 

[Ilya Mikheyev]

Absolutely, I thought Abby needed one more LHD until I saw the Athletic article about camp. Great option who can graduate into a ELC next year if he shows a decent transition to pro.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Day 1 of training camp.