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Canucks prospects score 14 goals at Young Stars (HIGHLIGHTS)

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
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Sep 11 2018, 12:10 am
Canucks prospects score 14 goals at Young Stars (HIGHLIGHTS)

Billed as the most talented team the Canucks had ever sent to the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, Vancouver’s prospects didn’t disappoint.

Too bad they didn’t get to play more games.

With the Flames and Oilers opting out of this year’s event, the baby Canucks played just twice at the South Okanagan Events Centre – both times against the only other NHL team in attendance, the Winnipeg Jets.

On paper, the Canucks were the better team. On the ice, they cemented that fact. Winning 8-2 on Friday, they followed that up with a 6-4 victory on Sunday.

Friday’s game was a laugher, with the Canucks jumping out to a 7-0 lead midway through the second period. Sunday’s game looked like it would follow the same path, with the Canucks leading 3-0 heading into the first intermission. Perhaps they got complacent, because the Jets took over in the second and third period, although Vancouver held on for the win.

The best part of the weekend for Canucks fans was that Vancouver’s best prospects looked impressive.

Playing on a line with 2017 second-round pick Kole Lind, Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen had three goals each this weekend. Adam Gaudette, Jonah Gadjovich, and Petrus Palmu scored twice each.

It wasn’t a high level of competition, but it was a fun glimpse into the future.

Elias Pettersson

All eyes will be on Pettersson this preseason, if they aren’t on him already.

He’s still rail-thin, but that might not matter given his skill level. At minimum, he should make an impact right away on the power play, given his lethal shot.

He showed off his wicked wrist shot, as well as a lethal one-timer in two of his three goals:

Jonathan Dahlen

Dahlen is a wild card coming into training camp this year. Pencilled in for the AHL, he has an outside shot at earning an NHL spot if he shines in the preseason.

Either way, you’re likely to see him in Vancouver at some point this season.

The man Jim Benning stole from the Ottawa Senators in the Alex Burrows trade has a lot of promise, impressing fans with his dangles over the weekend.

Adam Gaudette

We’ve already seen Gaudette play at the NHL level, following five games with the Canucks at the tail-end of last season. He didn’t look out of place then, but he didn’t register a point.

At Young Stars, he showed off his offensive game, tipping in a shot on Friday, and scoring on a one-timer on the power play on Sunday.

Jonah Gadjovich

Upon being selected by the Canucks in the second round of the 2017 draft, Gadjovich proclaimed: “I make a living in front of the net.” He wasn’t kidding.

In the above video on Gaudette’s goal, it was Gadjovich wreaking havoc in front. His first goal on Friday was another textbook example of what he does best:

He didn’t score on Sunday, though he did land a pretty good first punch in a fight:

Petrus Palmu

Petrus Palmu plays much bigger than his 5′ 7″ stature might suggest.

The Rookie of the Year in the top pro league in Finland last year, it’ll be interesting to see what the high-skilled forward can do in NHL preseason.

He’s off to a good start:

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