The Abbotsford Canucks have built a talented roster which should feature plenty of internal competition.
The Abbotsford Canucks have been busy of late, signing three experienced players for the 2024-25 season. Up front, Abbotsford brought in Carsen Twarynski as well as Dino Kambeitz while they also added some size on the blue line in Layton Ahac. The signings not only add depth to the roster but also healthy competition that should lead to players elevating their play.
Starting with the forwards, the Canucks have built a diverse group that should have no issues filling the net. The top six should once again feature high-end prospects in Aatu Räty, Arshdeep Bains, Max Sasson and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, while players like Phil Di Giuseppe, Linus Karlsson, Nathan Smith and Nils Åman may find themselves in Abbotsford during the season. There should also be some competition from prospects such as Josh Bloom, Ty Mueller, and Danila Klimovich, who will be fighting for ice time next season.
As for the bottom six, that is where the new signings, as well as some of the more experienced players, should find themselves. Captain Chase Wouters will once again be a staple, while players like Jermaine Loewen, John Stevens and Ty Glover should help round out the group. Add in Twarynski as well as Kambeitz, and it is clear head coach Manny Malhotra will have plenty of options when it comes to his 12 forward positions.
Moving over to defence, this is where a lot of rotation could come this season. Guillaume Brisebois, Jett Woo and Christian Wolanin will be looked to lead the blue line, while younger defenders in Cole McWard, Akito Hirose, Christian Felton, Joseph Arntsen, Elias Pettersson and Ahac will be pushing for minutes all year. There is also a chance that Mark Friedman or Noah Juulsen end up in Abbotsford, which would add more experience and competition to the defence core.
Lastly, how the Canucks manage their goaltending next season will be interesting to watch. At the moment, it looks like there will be a competition between Jiří Patera and Nikita Tolopilo for the starting job. At the same time, Jonathan Lemieux is projected to start the year as the third-stringer. There is also a chance that Ty Young could turn pro, which would create yet another battle for a roster position on the team.
Overall, GM Ryan Johnson has done a great job of building one of the deepest squads in the AHL. He has created competition in every position, which should help younger players develop at a faster rate. With a roster like this, Abbotsford should once again make the playoffs and will have a good shot of making it past the second round for the first time in franchise history.
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