Canucks Wrap: Canucks Prospects in Action, Big Bucks Wanted

World Junior Championship performances related to the Vancouver Canucks are underway with Finnish defenceman Joni Jurmo helping his country wrap things up on day one with a 6-1 victory over Latvia. Jurmo, the 3rd round NHL Draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks two summers ago, played 10:30 in ice time and had three shots on goal.

Next up, defenceman Jacob Truscott, a 5th-rounder from 2020, will play for Team USA against Germany at 8 pm mountain time.

Wednesday, Canucks 2022 1st-rounder, 15th-overall Jonathan Lekkerimaki of Sweden will make his tournament debut against Switzerland while some local BC boys will get their starts with Team Canada against the Latvians.

Hab-Land

Montreal Hockey Now tells us about the five Montreal Canadiens prospects who are jumping into the World Juniors.

And speaking of prospects, Canadiens 2022 26th-overall pick Filip Mesar can’t wait until the dream of playing in the NHL with his countryman and this summer’s top overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky comes true. Quite the Slovakian duo.

Out West

Nice scoop by our cohort Adrian Dater at Colorado Hockey Now. Per his source, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is looking to become the highest paid player in the NHL on his next contract. If unsigned, he’s a UFA next July.

The Vegas Golden Knights locked up forward Nicolas Roy to a five-year, $15 million contract and likely will need to move a player on the NHL trade market to become salary cap compliant.

Retro-flashback time! Pretty cool, the San Jose Sharks are reportedly going to honour the California Golden Seals with their third or fourth jerseys this season. The Seals were one of the six teams to join the NHL and double the size of the league in 1967, along with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, and St. Louis Blues.

Out East

NYI Hockey Now wonders if the Islanders are about to execute a deal on the NHL trade market to accommodate the contract the NHL world believes they have in place with UFA centre Nazem Kadri?

While 37-year-old centre Patrice Bergeron was signing with the Boston Bruins for one year at $2.5-million, 36-year-old forward Evgeni Malkin signed a four-year, $24.4-million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a result of Geno’s and 35-year-oid defenceman Kris Letang’s six-year, $36.6 million deal, the Penguins will likely have to pull off a trade to get cap compliant.

Washington Hockey Now says the Capitals have some prospects that appear ready to push for an NHL roster spot.

Last two …

ICYMI for your perusal, our most recent “Vancouver Canucks of Tomorrow” and “Vancouver Canucks Roll Call”:

Joni Jurmo (WJC – Team Finland)

Justin Dowling