Welcome to the 2015 edition of Top Shelf Prospects. As the summer progresses, I will be featuring each NHL team’s top prospects, following the order of the first round of the 2015 NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks) —you can find all the articles here.

Because we already published an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in 2015, as my reports on them will not have changed — I will, however, link you to those articles. Instead I will focus on prospects that were acquired in past drafts, examining their progress and their chances of making the 2015-16 roster of their respective NHL team. I will also choose one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the fourth round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a darkhorse to make the NHL.

For those wondering, the determining factors for defining who is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not set in stone, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.

After missing the playoffs in 2013-14, and following a summer of change, the Canucks showed marked improvement in 2014-15. The Sedins seemed rejuvenated under coach Willie Desjardins, new acquisition Radim Vrbata scored 31 goals, and Eddie Lack and Ryan Miller provided reliable goaltending. However things fell apart in the playoffs as the Canucks were eliminated in the first round by the rival Calgary Flames.

This led to another strange off-season in Vancouver, one that included Kevin Bieksa being dealt to Anaheim; Eddie Lack heading to Carolina; Zach Kassian going to Montreal for Brandon Prust; and moving Nick Bonino and prospects and picks to Pittsburgh for Brandon Sutter. Shawn Matthias was also allowed to leave as a free agent. The Canucks did make some free agent additions in Matt Bartkowski and Blair Jones, but overall Jim Benning’s moves this summer seem confusing at best.

2015 Players Drafted: Brock Boeser, Guillaume Brisebois, Dmitry Zhukenov, Carl Neill, Adam Gaudette, Lukas Jasek, Tate Olson,

Graduations: Bo Horvat, Linden Vey,

Vancouver Canucks Prospects

Top Prospect: Jake Virtanen, Right Wing

Born Aug 17 1996 — Abbotsford, BC

Height 6.01 — Weight 207 [185 cm/94 kg] – Shoots Right

Drafted by Vancouver Canucks in round 1, #6 overall 2014 NHL Entry Draft

Jake Virtanen had a solid, if unspectacular season with the Calgary Hitmen, putting up 21 goals and 52 points in 50 WHL games. He added 13 points in 14 playoff games. Along the way he also played a bottom six role for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, helping the team to a gold medal. Virtanen got his first taste of pro hockey, playing in 10 AHL playoff games, but picking up just one lone assist.

Virtanen is a power forward prospect who never hesitates to get involved physically. He loves to hit, and be involved in battles along the boards. Virtanen takes the puck to the net at every opportunity. He has the creative stickhandling and good agility to beat a defender with slick moves, but is also willing to go right through them if necessary to get to the net. Virtanen is a pure goal scorer who can score in tight with soft hands, and also has an excellent shot with big time power, great accuracy and a tremendously quick release that fools goaltenders. Virtanen has shown flashes of true dominance in the WHL, but does not do it consistently enough yet. He also has good hockey sense and the ability to get open and elude defenders. Virtanen is more of a goal scorer than a playmaker, but he does have decent passing skills and vision as well. It’d be nice to see Virtanen get more production out of these skills though, for an 18-year-old in his 3rd WHL season, being around a point per game player is merely “ok” production for such a top prospect.

An outstanding skater, with impressive speed on the wing, Virtanen has the ability to take a defender wide before cutting back to the net. In his draft year, he was the fastest skater at the CHL top prospects game skills competition in both forwards and backwards skating. He has great acceleration, and his long and powerful stride gives him good balance and allows him to fight through hooks, holds, and other checks.

Virtanen has decent defensive skills, he back checks hard, and is willing to be physical in all three zones. He is also willing to block shots and generally do whatever is necessary to help his team win games. He could stand to improve on his discipline though, as he can sometimes get out of position as he is looking for the big hit. Virtanen is not afraid to drop the gloves and is a good fighter. He is willing to defend teammates, or himself, against all comers.

Virtanen has a well-rounded game and there are many who believe he will be up with the Canucks this season. However, I believe that the Canucks should take a more patient approach with their top prospect, and put him back in junior and allow him to develop his offensive game to the point he can consistently dominate at that level.

Prospect #2: Jared McCann, Centre

Born May 31 1996 — London, ONT

Height 6.00 — Weight 185 [183 cm/84 kg] — Shoots Left

Drafted by Vancouver Canucks in round 1, #24 overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft

Jared McCann’s season got off to a less than auspicious start when he was diagnosed with mono last summer. He missed the Canucks rookie tournamaent and training camp, as well as the start of the OHL season. When he did get going, you could see that he took some time getting up to full speed, and he wasn’t really considered for Team Canada’s world junior team due to that slow start. Once he got going, there was no looking back, and McCann finished the year with 81 points in 56 games. He added six goals and 16 points in 14 playoff games, but the Greyhounds would fall to the Erie Otters in the OHL Western Conference final.

McCann is an outstanding skater. He has great acceleration and superb top end speed. He is amongst the quickest players in the OHL. His ability to change speeds can be used to fool defenders. McCann loves to turn up the speed at the last second and cut to the middle of the ice, leaving an often flat-footed defender in his wake. McCann combines this with good agility and edgework, along with top notch stick-handling which makes him incredibly dangerous off the rush. He also has very good balance, and is strong on his skates, making him very difficult to knock off the puck, helping him in board battles, and allowing McCann to fight through checks to get to the front of the net.

McCann has excellent vision and passing skills, and the ability to make his linemates better. He cycles extremely well waiting for teammates to find an opening, and then hitting them with the pass. If given an opening he is willing to take the puck through the high traffic areas and to the front of the net. McCann also has a quick shot, and can get it off very quickly due to a quick release. He is willing to battle in front of the net and in the corners, and plays a gritty game.

McCann has already developed a strong-two way game and has become a strong penalty killer for the Greyhounds, as well as the centre who plays against the other team’s best line every night. He brings his non-stop work ethic in all three zones, and is extremely gritty. He shows a dogged determination to take the puck off of his opponents, and battles every step of the way. McCann is a very well-rounded player already, and shows rare defensive maturity for an 18-year-old.

McCann will likely spend another year with the Greyhounds, but could push for a spot on the Canucks in 2016 Training Camp. He was invited to Team Canada’s summer development/showcase camp, but after taking a headshot in a game against Russia, suffered a concussion and was held out for the rest of camp. The injury occured in early August, and its hoped that it won’t lead to him missing time in Canucks camp this year, or the start of the OHL campaign.

Prospect #3: Thatcher Demko, Goaltender

Born Dec 8 1995 — San Diego, CA

Height 6.04 — Weight 195 [193 cm/88 kg]

Drafted by Vancouver Canucks in round 2, #36 overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft

Thatcher Demko had an outstanding sophomore season with Boston College. He was the rock that the team leaned on in every big situation. In 35 games he put up a 2.19 goals against average, and .925 save percentage. He also played for Team USA in the World Juniors, putting up a 1.74 goals against average and .934 save percentage.

Demko is already 6’4″ and he has ideal size that NHL teams are looking for in goalie prospects. This size, combined with his ability to cut down angles gives shooters very little to look at. Demko skates well, meaning he recovers quickly and stays with shooters if they try to deke. He also has a strong push giving him very good lateral movement and his puck tracking ability is very solid. He understands where the play is going, anticipates well, and gets across the crease quickly for cross-ice passes and one-timers.

Demko plays a butterfly style and is extremely hard to beat down low due to his long and quick legs. He is so big that even when he does go down he can still take up a lot of the upper portion of the net. He does need some work on his rebound control, as many young goalies do. He is very good at staying square to the puck, even when does given up rebounds, and this usually puts him in good position to stop those second chance opportunities. He also has a quick glove hand.

Demko handles the puck well, another aspect that many teams like in a modern goaltender. He helps his defencemen by being able to retrieve dump-ins and make smart outlets. On the powerplay he can catch the other team on a line change with a long pass to a forward.

Expect Demko to spend another year with Boston College. He could sign with the Canucks in the spring though, foregoing his senior year and getting started in the AHL. Demko is young and will need time, but he has the potential to be a high end goaltender.

Super Sleeper: Frankie Corrado, Defence

Born Mar 26 1993 — Toronto, ONT

Height 6.01 — Weight 192 — Shoots Right

Drafted by Vancouver Canucks in round 5 #150 overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

The sleeper pick for the Canucks was pretty easy, as 2011 fifth round pick Frank Corrado is looking like an absolute steal from that year. Since being drafted, he has grown by leaps and bounds. In call-ups including 7 games in 2013 (3 Regular, 4 Playoff), 15 games in 2013-14, and 10 games last year he has shown that while he wasn’t quite ready for full-time NHL action, he wasn’t far off either.

Corrado is an excellent skater. He has good top end speed and solid acceleration going both forwards and backwards, as he is powered by a smooth and efficient stride. He shows good edge work and pivots and this allows him to show mobility in transitioning from offence to defence and vice-versa, as well as to walk the line on the powerplay and open up shooting and passing lanes. The ability to quickly change directions also makes him extremely good at defending against the rush, and at closing down space for opposing forwards so that he can throw a hit.

Defensively, Corrado is an extremely intelligent defender. He is almost always in position, and he shows great anticipation to break up plays and start the transition game. He’s also the type of player who does whatever it takes to win, and does not shy away from physical battles or from blocking shots.

Offensively he plays a smart game controlling the puck at the blue-line, showing excellent poise, and making smart reads and passes. His slap shot isn’t overpowering but it is accurate and he keeps it low and on net. He also is willing to utilize his wrist shot and good release when necessary. He’s an intelligent defender who seems to find holes in defences, and makes smart, effective pinches from the blue line.

Corrado will go to camp looking to get a spot on the Canucks blue line. He has an excellent chance to earn the spot with a solid camp. A good summer adding some strength would really help him be ready to make the jump.

The Canucks have done a good job of improving their prospect system over the last several years. There is now some real depth there, and at all positions. Brock Boeser was a nice addition at wing, a position where the Canucks already have Virtanen, Hunter Shinkaruk, Nicklas Jensen, Ronalds Kenins and the recently acquired Sven Baertschi (who is young, but has played too many NHL games to be considered a prospect in this series). At centre they have Cole Cassels and Brendan Gaunce, combining with Bo Horvat and Jared McCann to give them a good group of two way players. On defence they lack a blue chip player, but Jordan Subban, Andrey Petan, and newly drafted Guillaume Brisebois are good projects. The Canucks have done a lot to add depth, and have a number of good prospects, however the big question is if they have a true first line superstar in their pool or on the team. While Virtanen, McCann and Horvat all project as very good players, there is some question if they can ever be true game changers. The Sedins aren’t getting any younger, and will need to be replaced as the Canucks go-to guys at some point in the next several years.