This is EXACTLY What the Canucks need...

We get huge updates on the Vancouver Canucks' top prospects, and this is exactly what fans want to hear, including their top prospect being closer to sign with this team than expected. We have a lot to break down in this episode, and you're not going to want to miss it. Before we get into that, I have an exciting announcement to bring to the channel. We're kicking off a March Madness bracket for the channel. We are a partner with the Hot Takes app and other digest channels for this event. It's completely free to sign up. Just download the Hot Takes app, Click the March Madness banner at the top, and under Groups, select the Digest Media Pool. This is really exciting, as there's over $25,000 in prizes to be won, and there's such a smaller pool of people participating, there's a real chance at winning big. Check out the link below or scan the QR code to download that. Make sure to use the promo code DIGEST in all caps to get exclusive perks when signing in. Main event competition will start on March 16th, And if you have any trouble, reach out to us in the email that will be down below in the description. Once again, I want to give a huge thank you to Hot Takes for partnering with us on this amazing competition. But with that, let's just hop straight into the episode today. And listen, we know the Vancouver Canucks have been struggling as of late to score goals. This is being recorded before the game tonight, so they could go out and score a 7. But as of recording this video, the Vancouver Canucks sit number 7 on goals for per game. The teams ahead of them are the Chicago Blackhawks, the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and the Philadelphia Flyers. The teams below them, the Islanders, the Bruins, the Predators, the Ducks, the Sharks, and the Flames. The biggest thing is, a lot of the teams below them are very low on the standings, and with the Canucks team inspired to win a Stanley Cup, they should be a lot higher when it comes to expected goals for, or just goals for, for that matter. Now, looking at the Canucks, we know there are a couple of UFAs. The Canucks did not target any big names in the trade deadline, but the Canucks do have a prospect that could fill the void, and it might happen sooner rather than later, and that is Jonathan Lackerby. Now, looking at Jonathan Lackerby, this is a name, if you're not new to the channel, that I talk about quite a bit. Jonathan Lackerby was a 15th overall draft pick in 2022, and since he's joined the North American ice, he has been dominating in 32 games with the Vancouver Canucks, 19 goals, 9 assists for 28 points in his first full season in North America. We've seen him play stints with the Canucks like he is playing tonight, and in 14 games, 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points. Jonathan Lackerby is a pure goal scorer, and I think he's going to be able to fix this Canucks goal scoring problem a lot sooner than expected. I mean, looking at the Vancouver Canucks in his first season he is among some of the top and actually tied for the most goals with the team looking at the team there is a couple players with more points than him, Matthew is having a dominant year in the AHL and hopefully will jump up to the NHL at some point as a full-time player but right now he is tied for the team lead in goals with 19, Jonathan Lackerby, he was still still very young on this Vancouver Canucks team only 20 years old has been dominating the professional leagues for quite some time we've seen him play with Örebro HK in the Swedish hockey league just last season dominating while playing against men in the World Juniors he was named the MVP winning the silver medal after losing to sadly Team USA in the gold medal game leading the entire tournament in goals as well this kid has star potential written all over him and we're going to see him really develop with this team and especially with him getting more ice time on this third pairing now a third line as i said this could change as the video goes on or as the game ends today but right now playing with Keitel and Dubrasz I think there's a lot of chemistry that can really grow with this group and that third line especially looking at Lackerby playing with a play driver like Keitel and the goals who are like Dubrasz I think it's going to open up a lot of ice for him to get into his group get more goals and be able to really demonstrate what he is as a player as you see with this Canucks team they do have a lot of players that are offensively gifted Pedersen Besser and I know a lot of people are going to laugh when I say Pedersen but he had a 102 point season Garland has been incredible this year Dabrowski this team does have a lot of scorers but I do think Läckremaggi can become that exact piece the Vancouver Canucks truly need and listen they do have some UFAs on the forward group that could end up walking in free agency or be signed or extended before this matter but looking at Brock Boeser leaving and someone like Pius Suter who isn't going to be as good as a goal scorer as Brock Besser you're still losing two key pieces two players playing in your top six right now if they both walk in free agency and I think this is where a big factor in Jonathan Läckremaggi's development will help the Canucks next season now listen what's your guys thoughts on this I know he's a former 15th overall pick I know he's getting his first taste of NHL action this season but with the way he's been dominating with the Abbotsford Canucks with the way he's dominated in every single league he's been in I would not be shocked if he scores a minimum of 20 goals next year as a full-time player in their top six and if Brock Boeser leaves maybe he becomes their leading goal scorer I know that's a little far-fetched for a full season in the NHL but this kid I'm super high on but what you guys thoughts on Jonathan Läckremaggi's development what do you think his career high will be in goals next season as I said I think he's going to be a 20 goal scorer once he gets his groove going two goals in 14 games in his first stint it's only going to get a lot better what are you guys thoughts on Jonathan Läckremaggi go down and let me know down below now listen that's not only the prospect news that I had to bring up today the other one is a little bigger where we do know that Tom Willender is getting close to finishing and concluding his season in college hockey. Now we know that his agent has said they weren't going to discuss or decide anything until the Boston University season has concluded. But we'll see how they do in the Hockey East tournament and hopefully the NCAAs afterwards. The Hockey East single elimination playoffs start on March 12th, which is tomorrow as I'm recording this. The finals take place on the 21st, followed by the NCAA regionals and March 27th to 30th. the frozen four from april 10th to 12th bu is ranked number 10 so depending on how far bu boston university goes in this tournament we might see tom williner sign a contract and join this canucks team a lot sooner than some people expected we've seen brock besser hughes both join the canucks after second season in college concluded so maybe we see will in there finish this and with the dates right there we're getting a rough estimate when we expect him to join this team now Tom Willner once again if you're not new to the channel you know Tom Willner Tom Williner in my opinion is the best Canucks prospect a mobile huge defenseman six foot 180 pounds he has grown since this card but looking at him in Boston University 21 points in 33 games this year two goals 19 assists we've seen him play in the world juniors this year where he's dominant his slap shot has got better he's become a mobile shutdown defenseman that has an incredible two-way game this kid is going to be a top four defenseman and honestly might be able to develop into a top three or top two defenseman right hand shot which adds so much more value i mean we've seen Patrick O'Brian said they don't want to move on from any of their top prospects and Tom Willner was definitely on this list now looking at the back of Boston University he does sit about seventh on the scoring for this team. Tom Willner joining this team will add a big boost to the Canucks, not maybe this season, but for the seasons to come. This is going to be a key piece on the back end where we do see most of the guys locked up for next season. Derek Forbert is a UFA going into next year. Noah Julson, most likely, maybe not, will be resigned. But looking at the group on the right side, you're getting a lot of young pieces to add. Listen, Philip Peroni is still only 27 years old. Tyler Myers is getting up in age. Viktor Mancini, who they acquired in the JT Miller trade, is another piece that looks great. I mean, we see Junior Petey playing well on the back end, and Marcus Pedersen looks outstanding. And Quinn Hughes is a Norris winner and the best defenseman in the NHL. Adding Tom Willner to this group only makes the Canucks team better. And listen, Canucks fans, it's getting close. As I said, you can pause, you can read through the dates again March 21st we might see Tom Willner sign a contract and at the very worst after the Frozen Four on April 10th to 12th we will see and I'm calling it right now we will see Tom Willner sign with this team make his debut for the Canucks he probably will spend the playoffs in Abbotsford but there's a strong chance that Tom Willner jumps straight onto this team going into next season and if he doesn't listen he's going to develop he's a shutdown defenseman that has a great two-way game that's going to be able to grow with this team for the future but what you guys thoughts on this what's your thoughts on the Vancouver Canucks future going forward do you think Jonathan Lekimaki is going to be the next goal scorer that can step up and grow with this team and maybe score 20 plus goals next year what's your thoughts on Tom Willner are you excited and who's your top five Canucks prospects Listen, these guys are number 1a and 1b for sure, but that'd be it for this episode if you enjoyed this episode make sure to go down hit the like subscribe share this with your friends once again shout out the hot takes for just partnering with us with an awesome experience but once again if you enjoyed it like but that'd be it for this episode i've been your host Mark Pye and take care