Canucks Daily: VAN Prospects in Action, Port Moody Puckster!

It’s a busy Sunday for the Vancouver Canucks prospects involved in the World Junior Championship and it’s been a monumental couple of days for some guys who likely grew up Vancouver Canucks fans. Port Moody’s Kent Johnson, the 5th-overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Draft, scored a lacrosse style ‘Michigan’ goal against the Czech Republic on Saturday in Team Canada’s 5-1 victory.

Not sure why it’s not called “the Mike Legg goal” after the guy who actually scored it for the Wolverines in the 1996 NCAA playoffs against the University of Minnesota. It’s not a difficult name to say or remember. Legg, a London Ontario native, is actually a fire fighter in Burnaby.

Canada is a perfect 3-and-0 in the tourney thus far and has outscored the opposition 21-to-4.

Was it Kent Johnson's Michigan, or Mason McTavish's unassisted goal that was the best goal of the tournament so far? Drop your pick ⤵️@HockeyCanada #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Xahx8HtFJP

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 14, 2022

Johnson added an assist in the game, North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard had one as well, while Kamloops forward Logan Stankoven added two.

Victoria native Dylan Garand picked up the win in net.

Canucks

As we speak, Vancouver Canucks defenceman prospect Joni Jurmo is helping Team Finland with a commanding lead over Slovakia in Sunday’s early game in Edmonton. He was the team’s 3rd-round selection in the draft two years ago.

Two other Vancouver prospects go head-to-head in a battle for the top spot in Group B when Sweden’s forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki takes on Team USA defenceman Jacob Truscott in the late game. Lekkerimaki was the club’s 1st-round pick this summer, Truscott a 5th-rounder from 2020.

NHL Twirl

In other Hockey Now cities, there’s plenty of chatter. Jimmy Murphy discusses the rumour that the Bruins would like to return Milan Lucic to Boston. Calgary Hockey Now offers the Calgary Flames‘ perspective on the trade talk.

Boston also takes a look at the WJC so far for speedy Bruins forward prospect Fabian Lysell, who last season tallied 62 points in 53 games for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. The Swedish winger was taken by the B’s in the 1st-round, 21st-overall in 2021.

Detroit Hockey Now goes deep with an evaluation and comparison between former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, now running the Edmonton Oilers, and current GM Steve Yzerman. They break down what’s referred to as the Cranbrook native’s “Yzerplan” for building back the NHL franchise in Motown.

Please enjoy what’s left of the weekend.