Welcome back to the CanucksArmy Blackfish Prospect Report.

We are jammed-packed today, so let's waste no time with an intro and dive right into the good stuff.
<h1>Abbotsford Canucks</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-132774 size-full" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Abby-1.png" alt="" width="1797" height="736" />

The Abbotsford Canucks laid an egg on Saturday evening, falling to the Colorado Eagles by a 6-1 margin after defeating them 2-1 in a shootout just one night prior. Aside from that, it’s been a relatively positive start for the team, who now sport a 2-1-0-1 record through four games.

So far, the story has been about Nikita Tolopilo, who’s stopped 49 of 53 shots faced to run a 1.92 goals against and 0.925 save percentage out the gate. As was the case for most of last season – his rookie year – it’s not just the lack of goals he’s allowing but the sheer poise he shows in each of his outings. In his lone start this past week, the Colorado Eagles held momentum for much of the game, despite eventually losing to the Canucks’. In the second period, specifically, Tolopilo faced 14 shots – some of which were in high-danger range – but stopped all en route to a 29-save victory.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1848536803848163603

When signed in the fall of 2023, you’d be hard-pressed to find a suitor who felt he’d see NHL games this soon. However, if he continues with these types of performances, he may handcuff this management group into offering his first cup of coffee in Vancouver.

In the forward group, let us immediately address the elephant in the room: where in the world is Jonathan Lekkerimäki? For those unaware, that's a Carmen Sandiego reference...

In previous installments, we reported that he left the team's training camp scrimmage over two weeks ago after falling awkwardly into the boards. Well, he’s missed all four games since the beginning of the season with what the team calls an illness.

We have spoken to several connections around the team, and that's the best answer we have been given (illness). We know he's been practicing with the team, and it remains unclear what he's actually dealing with. Of course, we will provide an update as soon as more information is available. His next opportunity to make his season debut will be this Friday, as the Canucks host the San Diego Gulls for their home opener.

Never have we been happier to see a photo of him in a practice jersey.

https://twitter.com/abbycanucks/status/1848439511493320905

After being sent down from Vancouver earlier in the week, Aatu Räty made his Abbotsford season debut. As expected, he played top minutes to average 20:17 over the two-game weekend series. He did not find the scoresheet – although he nearly grabbed an assist on a goal that was called off due to a Tristen Nielsen kicking motion – but he provided an extra element to the offensive side of the puck and a strong half-wall presence on their powerplay.

Of course, when you think of Aatu Räty, you think of face-offs and his ability to win draws. This weekend, he did just that, drawing into the lineup and winning 26 of 44 draws (59% win rate).

It’s not often that we say this, but it wasn’t the strongest weekend for the typically sound Max Sasson. Despite scoring one of only two goals for the team (see below), he was a retched minus-5 on Saturday and lost more draws than he won over the two-game stretch. As a result of the weak game, he skated the lowest minutes (15:47) he’s experienced all season. Performances like Saturdays are quite unique to his game, so it’s okay to chalk this down as a one-off.

Here's the goal from Friday, where he made a cheeky move to the backhand after a strong play in the neutral zone by Nate Smith and a threaded pass from Tristen Nielsen.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/DPJT6S56JVv6x7Rxn2/giphy.gif" />

Despite that assist, the same can be said about Nielsen, who assisted on Sasson's goal and called the game in a shootout on Friday. On Saturday, he shared that same stat line as Sasson and went minus-5 for the evening. Through four games, however, he does lead this team in scoring.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/ienXFB0x7RY8squ27z/giphy.gif" />

On Saturday, Ty Glover drew into the lineup for his season debut on Saturday and made his presence felt, firing three shots on net and grabbing the team’s only goal of the night with a redirection at the netfront.

https://twitter.com/abbycanucks/status/1847838553394253960

Let’s talk about the two rookie defenders, Kirill Kudryavtsev and Elias Pettersson.

It may not be filled with offensive highlight material, but D-Petey has been adjusting nicely during his first four games of the season. The expected warts are there as he adjusts to the timing and overall speed of the game. However, he’s been a major fixture in the team’s penalty kill, including getting called upon during 5-on-3 situations, and averaged 18:16 over the weekend in a top-four role.

With his game's defensive and physical aspects covered, he’s also been getting more comfortable with the puck on his stick. He also grabbed a second assist on Ty Glover’s tally on Saturday (shown above).

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1848586105735839890

Over to the other 20-year-old defender, where there was a major role increase for Kudryavtsev. If you remember from last week’s installment, he skated as the team’s seventh defender and topped out at 9:55 minutes of ice time during his debut weekend.

Well, just one week into his pro career, he not only drew in as a regular fixture this weekend but finished second – among the entire team – in ice time with a whopping 22:18 minutes on Friday. He was featured on the team’s top penalty-killing unit and took turns swapping back and forth from the left to the right side of the ice. That number dropped to a hair under 17 minutes on Saturday, but boy, that is a significant and welcomed jump.

There are always questions about whether a young player's game will translate appropriately to the pro ranks. So far, the Russian defender has showcased his confident and smooth approach to the game in all three zones of the ice.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1847456544189010184

As you'll see from last week's (his debut weekend) montage, he looks right at home.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1846255557067657481

Dropping down to the ECHL, the Kalamazoo Wings opened their season over the weekend and took a 3-2 overtime victory in Cincinnati. Who called the game in overtime, you ask?

As he did to clinch the Memorial Cup with Saginaw last year, Josh Bloom cut across the slot before going farside to win this game in overtime. No, it wasn't for the Memorial Cup, but there was significance to the tally.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/8W3R22wE341zWsoA3d/giphy.gif" />

After 22 games split between the AHL (14) and ECHL (8), that goal stands as his first career professional goal.

If you were wondering about the time stamp on the clock, overtime runs seven minutes in the ECHL...I don’t make the rules.
<h1>CHL</h1>
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After a slow start to the year, the Barrie Colts have ripped up the OHL power rankings, winning five of their last six to sit atop the (power rankings)leaderboard.

<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gaaw66bWMAAXwdG?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image" />

Photo courtesy of the Ontario Hockey League.

A big part of that success can be credited to the red-hot top line of Riley Patterson, Cole Beaudoin, and Tai York.

For Patterson, he notched three goals across two games over the weekend to put him up to six points in seven games. He’s enjoying in-and-around 20 minutes of ice time per game as the Colts’ top-line forward on the right side and is enjoying time in all situations for the team. Penalty kill, powerplay, even strength; you name it, he's playing it.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1848547989746487619

Vilmer Alriksson also picked up a couple of points this week with a goal and an assist. He's now up to four points (two goals, two assists) across seven games. Alriksson’s ice time has been all over the map this year, as was the case for much of last season. At one point during the week, he carried the Guelph Storms’ highest minutes among forwards (over 20) but then dropped to the middle of the pack the next evening with ~15 minutes.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/vilmer_alriksson_-_3rd_period_5_55_-_6_21-Trim.mp4"][/video]

The towering Swede is not being used in a penalty-killing role but is a mainstay to the team’s powerplay. While most would like to see him play 20 minutes per match, it’s encouraging to see his services utilized in various areas and carry the versatility to be a plug-and-play player based on what the team needs.

For the second consecutive week, Basile Sansonnens picked up a primary assist. This time, it’s courtesy of a beautiful backdoor play.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1846933670495768797

The 18-year-old Swiss defender averages 21:01 through eight games and is seeing a lot of time on the penalty kill. We've begun to watch some tape, and so far, he feels like a much more raw version of the D-Petey prototype—not that we are considering him in that regard. He skates relatively well for his frame, and he's able to utilize his body to be aggressive.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/jbBvI11pK0YA6am5aQ/giphy.gif" />

More to come on him soon.
<h1>NCAA</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-132776 size-full" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/NCAA-1.png" alt="" width="1802" height="367" />

Tom Willander maintained his point-per-game pace this week, delivering an absolute rocket of a snapshot one-timer.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1847511701819969763

Yes, he's still seeing the team's third-highest minutes on defence, hovering around the 20-minute mark. However, regardless of the lack of "go-to" minutes, he's making the most of his time and has looked strong in almost every facet of the game.

Offensively, he's up to a goal, two assists, and a plus-4 across three games. The big upgrade that we had hoped to see in his game was in the puckhandling and decision-making department, and both have looked good early on. We still see the occasional errant pass sent directly to the opposition, but his entries, puckhandling at the blue line and outlets have appeared to have improved. *Insert "it's only two games" quote here.*

Defensively, he has three blocked shots and delivers his typical aggressive shutdown game.

Here's a little Willander breaking an ankle over the weekend for your viewing pleasure.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Yb4LETEr4PU8oZPsRL/giphy.gif" />

BU also took part in an exhibition match against fellow Canucks prospect Aku Koskenvuo over the weekend. Despite Suffering a 3-2 shootout loss in the effort, the Finnish Netminder was lights out.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1848453350259593238

He stopped 29 of 31 Terrier Shots, several coming off high-danger opportunities. Harvard doesn't open its season until November 1st, but Aku is expected to see the lion's share of starts after battling for deployment for the last two seasons.

After five games with the St. Cloud State Huskies, Daimon Gardner was elevated to the team’s top-line (left wing). Guess what happened? He notched his first point of the season courtesy of an assist from the corner.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1847802045396635794
<h1>Sweden</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-132777 size-full" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Swe-1.png" alt="" width="1800" height="205" />

After a solid stint deployed on Orebro’s SHL third-line, Melvin Fernström was dropped back to the J20, where he’s gone back-to-back games with a goal, a plus-3 and a whopping 13 shots on net over his last three games.

https://twitter.com/swehockeygifs/status/1847596423354650953

While enjoying minutes at the SHL level is a nice bonus for an 18-year-old, his utilization more than doubles when skating with the junior team. In addition to heavy 5-on-5 and top powerplay, he’s also on the ice, killing penalties. For now, we love the maximized game action between the two circuits.

Lucas Forsell's jump up to Farjastad’s top-six for Champions League action and notching points is a tale as old as time, and this week saw that tale play out again. Collecting the puck from behind the net, Forsell picked up an assist en route to another CHL victory for his team.

https://twitter.com/davehall1289/status/1846283185979904127

With the victory, Farjastad completes the regular season portion of the Champions League tournament with 17 of a possible 18 points to claim the top spot in the bracket.

Somewhat forgotten this season was Hugo Gabrielson, who’s suddenly caught a little bit of fire in the Allsvenskan. After scoring his first goal of the season last week, he picked up another two assists over the week while jumping up to the team’s top pairing.

Here, he tees one up from the blueline, only to have the puck squirt out to the front of the net to pick up the primary assist.

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/gOxhPFbRxUPe5MhMMb/giphy.gif" />

For now, he remains a prospect to enjoy from afar and a strong longshot to play NHL minutes, but it’s always encouraging to see progress.

That's all for this week, folks. As always, thank you for following along with the Blackfish Prospect Report. Check back next week for more Vancouver Canucks' prospect updates.
<h2>PRESENTED BY GREAT CLIPS</h2>
<img class="size-full wp-image-161242 alignnone" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/54669-002-GC-Logo-727x404-CA3.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

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