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Jack Rathbone

Vancouver Canucks Reassign Vasily Podkolzin, Jack Rathbone

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The Vancouver Canucks assigned forward Vasily Podkolzin and defenseman Jack Rathbone to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks on Monday evening, according to a team tweet.

Podkolzin, 21, is enduring a bit of a classic sophomore slump. The 10th overall selection in 2019 has just three assists through 16 games, although he has been limited to playing just 12:34 per game. It’s his first demotion to the minors this season. It would be his first regular-season AHL contest if he suits up with Abbotsford. He had two points in two playoff games last season.

Similarly, it’s Rathbone’s first demotion of the season. He’s been a healthy scratch for most of the season, playing in six out of 22 games. He’s registered an assist and a -3 rating. The 23-year-old returns to Abbotsford, where he had a spectacular 40 points in 39 games last season.

For Vancouver, it could be a sign that Jack Studnicka is getting ready to come off injured reserve. He’s been out with a lower-body injury since November 15.

Canucks Re-Sign Three Players

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The Canucks have reached a contract agreement with three of their pending free agents as they announced deals for defenseman Jack Rathbone (one-way), blueliner Noah Juulsen (two-way), and winger Will Lockwood (two-way).  While the financial terms of the contracts weren’t disclosed, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Rathbone’s two-year deal will carry an $850K AAV while PuckPedia adds (Twitter link) that Lockwood’s is worth $750K in the NHL and $125K in the minors.  Meanwhile, CapFriendly reports that Juulsen’s pact is worth $750K in the NHL and $250K in the minors.

Rathbone, 23, was on an expiring contract but technically didn’t qualify for restricted free agency so he had 10.2(c) status which made him ineligible to receive an offer sheet.  He had an impressive season with AHL Abbotsford, picking up 10 goals and 30 assists in just 39 games.  However, his production didn’t translate to the NHL level as he was held off the scoresheet in nine games with Vancouver while averaging 13:30 per game of ice time.  He remains waiver-exempt for next season but he should have a chance to push for a full-time roster spot with the Canucks in training camp.

As for Juulsen, the 25-year-old was set to become a Group Six unrestricted free agent but will instead stick around.  Vancouver acquired the rearguard just before the beginning of the season from Florida along with forward Juho Lammikko in exchange for defenseman Olli Juolevi.  Juulsen got into eight games with the Canucks (giving him 56 NHL appearances for his career) but spent most of the year with Abbotsford, collecting 16 points in 50 contests.  He’ll likely return to the AHL level next season as long as he clears waivers in training camp.

Lockwood, meanwhile, had the most NHL playing time of the three in 2021-22 as the 24-year-old got into 13 contests with Vancouver but was held without a point.  He was more successful in the minors with Abbotsford, however, as he picked up nine goals and 16 helpers in 46 games.  Lockwood also has a year of waiver exemption remaining and will likely once again start next season in the minors with an eye on playing himself into being one of the first players recalled when injuries arise.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Filip Johansson

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The Vancouver Canucks have nabbed one of the more interesting European free agents on the market this offseason. The team today announced the signing of defenseman Filip Johansson, a first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild, to a two-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms are unavailable at this time.

Drafted 24th overall in 2018 by Minnesota, the now-22-year-old’s development in the SHL had stalled over the past few seasons, leading the Wild to the decision to not offer Johansson an entry-level contract as his exclusive signing rights expired on June 1. The 6′ 1″, 176 lb defenseman’s best hockey came in the 2022 postseason, notching five goals and two assists in just nine games with Frölunda HC.

Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin evidently disagrees with the Wild’s assessment of the player, saying in the team’s release that Johansson “plays a solid defensive game and has shown consistent improvement over the past three seasons.” Allvin also noted that the team will loan Johansson back to Frölunda for the 2022-23 season, meaning Canucks fans won’t get a chance to see their new prospect on North American ice just yet. However, Johansson will attend Canucks development camp next month.

Johansson joins a Canucks prospect pool on defense that lacks much to be truly excited about other than Jack Rathbone and Jett Woo, and he’ll become a giant wild card for the organization. If Johansson can regain his development and reach the defensive ceiling he had when the Wild drafted him, it’ll be a gamble worth taking for the Canucks. If not, Vancouver gave up no assets to obtain the player other than a contract slot. It’s a solid bet from Allvin and the Canucks organization to take a chance on the Swedish defenseman.

AHL Announces 2021-22 All-Rookie Team

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With the AHL season coming to a close and the Calder Cup playoffs right around the corner, awards and accolades are starting to be handed out. Today, the league announced the 2021-22 All-Rookie Team, which is voted on by coaches, players, and media. Though not a guarantee of future NHL success, the AHL rookie team has a long history of star players including captains, Stanley Cup champions, and future Hall of Fame members.

The 2021-22 selections:

G Dustin Wolf, Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

D Jack Rathbone, Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver Canucks)

D Jordan Spence, Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

F Jakob Pelletier, Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

F J.J. Peterka, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

F Jack Quinn, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

While each of the winners is a player to keep an eye on, it’s once again Wolf that seems to stand out among the crowd. While the forwards are all high draft picks, and the defensemen fourth-round selections, Wolf has continued to impress since being the 214th overall pick in 2019. Selected with the fourth-last pick in the draft, the undersized netminder simply stops the puck better than almost all of his competitors.

This season, his first in the AHL, Wolf went 33-8-4 with a .924 save percentage, leading the entire league in wins. Given the fact that Calgary is also a true contender for the Stanley Cup, it’s incredibly impressive to have two players on the All-Rookie team this season.

In Buffalo, things are getting very exciting as a new wave of talent emerges to try and drag the organization back to the playoffs. Peterka and Quinn were both outstanding in their rookie years, with the latter actually scoring at a better rate than almost anyone else. Quinn’s 59 points in 44 games is a better per-game rate than any qualified player other than T.J. Tynan and Andrew Poturalski, the league’s best two forwards. With the other young talent already in Buffalo, things are looking up for the Sabres.

AHL Shuffle: 04/07/22

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While the majority of attention in the hockey world is on the four schools taking part in tonight’s 2022 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, there’s still a lot of NHL action on this Thursday. And, while transactions between teams and their minor league affiliates generally calm down as roster limits go away after the Trade Deadline, teams are still looking to tinker with their rosters and give young players a chance during the home stretch. Keep up with today’s list of AHL transactions:

Atlantic Division

  • Per the team, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned forward Kyle Criscuolo to the Grand Rapids Griffins today. Criscuolo has played two NHL games this month with Detroit, his first two since a pair of games in mid-December. The 29-year-old AHL veteran has two assists in his four games with the big club this year, but he returns to Grand Rapids now, where the alternate captain is sixth on the team with 32 points in 49 games.
  • Forward Cole Reinhardt will make his NHL debut for the Ottawa Senators tonight against the Nashville Predators, as the team recalled him today upon learning Tim Stützle would be unavailable with a lower-body injury. Reinhardt, a sixth-round pick in 2020 (two years after he was eligible), is in his second professional season. With the Belleville Senators this season, he has 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, and 56 penalty minutes in 60 games.

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

  • The Winnipeg Jets have swapped defenseman, calling up Dylan Samberg on an emergency basis while returning Ville Heinola to the Manitoba Moose, as the team tweeted today. Samberg has the chance to get into his first NHL game since January, where a weeks-long call-up saw him get his first two NHL assists in six games. Heinola is somewhat mysteriously sent down after registering three points in his last four games.

Pacific Division

  • The Vancouver Canucks announced that they have recalled forward Sheldon Dries from Abbotsford of the AHL under emergency conditions ahead of tonight’s game at the Arizona Coyotes. In a related move, the Canucks have reassigned defenseman Jack Rathbone to Abbotsford. This season, Dries has played in just two games for the Canucks, but has had a stellar season for Abbotsford, recording 35 goals and 27 assists in 54 games. Rathbone has played in nine NHL games this season for Vancouver, but has not played since November 11th.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Jack Rathbone Discharged From Hospital, Will Travel With Abbotsford

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It was a scary scene in the AHL last night when Abbotsford Canucks defenseman Jack Rathbone was hit into the end boards in a game against the Bakersfield Condors. Rathbone was eventually stretchered off the ice after a long delay and taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Thankfully, it’s good news. Rathbone was not only discharged last night but is also expected to travel with Abbotsford to Colorado today. The Canucks play the Colorado Eagles over the weekend.

Recently the AHL player of the week, the 22-year-old defenseman was also ranked as the Canucks’ top prospect by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic last month. Selected 95th overall in 2017 he exploded onto the college scene at Harvard during 2018-19 and is having an outstanding year–when healthy–for Abbotsford. With 21 points he sits fifth on the team in scoring despite playing only 19 AHL games, as he’s had to deal with a COVID diagnosis, shoulder injury and time bouncing back and forth from the NHL squad.

If in this case, he has avoided major injury, Canucks fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Hopefully, he can jump back into the lineup soon, or even make another appearance at the NHL level. His last game with Vancouver came in November when he logged 16 minutes against the Colorado Avalanche.

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