With everyone healthy, are the Canucks legit contenders this year? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The OHL Trade Deadline is approaching and the Guelph Storm get ahead of the game by shipping out one of their top-six forwards in exchange for draft picks. On Monday morning, the Brampton Steelheads announced they have completed a trade with the Guelph Storm, acquiring winger and Vancouver Canucks prospect Vilmer Alriksson in exchange for a second and two third-round draft picks. The full details of the trade are below: Brampton Receives: LW, Vilmer Alriksson - 2024-25 statistics: 11G, 12A, 26GP Guelph Receives: 2026 2nd round pick (BFD) 2025 3rd round pick (OTT) 2027 3rd round pick (SAG) Alriksson, 19, was picked 34th overall by the Storm in the 2023 CHL Import Draft. In his first season in the league, he recorded 17 goals and 33 points in 67 games. The Enebyberg, Sweden native is best known for his hulking size on the ice. He stands at a lengthy 6-foot-6 and a bulky 234 pounds. He's a goal scorer who will help Brampton's lack of depth scoring. The Canucks prospect has been playing some solid hockey this season in Guelph, regularly appearing on the scoresheet for his team, recording at least a point in 15 of his 26 games, and averaging 3.5 shots per game. Vilmer signed his entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/vancouver-canucks-sign-vilmer-alriksson-to-a-three-year-entry-level-contract] in late September. He was drafted in the fourth round, 107th overall, in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Because Alriksson is an import player, the Steelheads were over the import player limit of two after completing this trade — Jakub Fibigr, Martin Vaculik, and Vilmer Alriksson. The Seattle Kraken prospect Fibigr has been an important piece to the Steelheads' defense corps and it was unlikely they would move on from him. Therefore, via Brampton's X account, the team has released their 2024 CHL Import Draft first-rounder Martin Vaculik. Adjusting to the OHL came with its struggles for the NHL draft-eligible forward who couldn't find a role in Brampton's lineup. He scored one goal and registered seven points in 20 games. Bookmark The Hockey News OHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/] site to never miss news, interviews, and any updates around the league.
