The netminder climbs back into our Canucks Top-10 prospects power rankings, but Jonathan Lekkerimäk continues to top our list
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With Demko still sidelined to start this season, the hope was that Šilovs could carry the load with the big club until Demko returned. Šilovs was lacklustre instead, fashioning a 1-4-1 record to go with a 4.11 goals against average and an .847 save percentage.
Free agent pickup Kevin Lankinen became the Vancouver’s goalie of choice in Demko’s absence, and Demko’s return to duty this week led to Šilovs being the goalie moving off the roster.
Last year, it was a time share in the Abbotsford net, with Šilovs finishing the regular season with 34 appearances and Nikita Tolopilo recording 35. Šilovs was busier in the 2022-23 regular season with Abbotsford, seeing duty in 44 games compared to 30 appearances for three other goalies.
Abbotsford’s roster currently lists three other goalies: 24-year-old Tolopilo, as well as 25-year-old Jiří Patera and 20-year-old Ty Young.
Abbotsford (12-10-0-1) is third in the 10-team Pacific Division and head into the twin bill with the Moose having won six of their past eight.
With all that mind, here’s our latest Canucks Top-10 prospects power rankings. Last week’s ranking is in parenthesis. Stats are up to Tuesday morning. Players must be born in 2000 or later and anyone currently with the big club is not eligible.
1. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Abbotsford (1)
2. Tom Willander, D, Boston University Terriers (2)
3. Arshdeep Bains, LW, Abbotsford (4)
The 23-year-old Bains (8-2-5-7) put up one goal and three points in Saturday’s victory over Colorado. That gave the March 2022 free-agent addition 100 points (31-69-100) career points in the AHL. He’s played 133 regular season games.
4. Elias Pettersson, D, Abbotsford (5)
The 2022 third rounder recorded three assists in Sunday’s win. The 20-year-old Pettersson (22-1-9-10) remains second on the team in plus-minus (plus-5).
5. Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford (3)
Klimovich, 21, was held without a shot for the first time this season in Saturday’s win and didn’t dress Sunday. The club hasn’t given a reason why. Klimovich (20-9-4-13), who was a 2021 second rounder, remains second in team scoring.
6. Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford (6)
Kudryavtsev (20-2-10-12) recorded an assist Sunday and the 20-year-old, who was a 2022 seventh rounder, is the squad’s top scoring defenceman.
7. Artūrs Šilovs, G, Abbotsford (NR)
The 2019 sixth rounder made 17 stops in Sunday’s victory. He was 16-11-6, with a 2.74 goals against average and a .907 save percentage, in 34 appearances with Abbotsford last season.
8. Sawyer Mynio, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (NR)
9. Cole McWard, D, Abbotsford (9)
McWard (23-1-6-7) had an assist to go with four shots and a plus-three Saturday. The 23-year-old signed as a free agent in April 2023.
10. Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford (NR)
The 21-year-old, who was a 2023 fourth rounder, recorded two assists on Saturday and another three on Sunday. Mueller (23-4-9-13), who’s been playing between Lekkerimäki and Bains of late, has jumped into third in Abbotsford scoring.
Dropped off the list: Nils Åman, C, Abbotsford (7); Vilmer Alriksson, LW, Guelph Storm (8); Riley Patterson, C, Barrie Colts (10).