The Vancouver Canucks prospects have officially taken to the ice in Penticton as they gear up for the 2024 Young Stars Classic.
With their first game scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m., fans were treated to a preview of potential line combinations that they might see come game time courtesy of The Athletics Thomas Drance.
Leading the top line is Abbotsford’s 2023-24 scoring leader, Arshdeep Bains, who is joined by centre Aatu Räty and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, the star prospect making his anticipated debut at a Canucks’ training camp event.
Fresh off a stellar 31-point rookie season in the SHL, Lekkerimäki will be one of the more intriguing players to watch this weekend and all through pre-season as he vies for a spot on the Canucks’ main roster in October.
Centering the top line, Räty will look to have a strong showing this weekend for the Canucks. Despite various stints on the wing during the 2023-24 season, the club likely envisions his future up the middle long-term. With new head coach and former face-off guru Manny Malhotra guiding the young prospect, Räty is in a prime position to refine his game and develop the consistency needed to solidify his role up the middle.
The second line features Danila Klimovich, a struggling prospect looking for a bounce-back role, lining up alongside Max Sasson and recent draft pick Riley Patterson. Klimovich, whose development took several steps back last season, will benefit from skating next to Sasson, a player known for his ability to drive play and elevate those around him. Still a far cry away from NHL deployment, Klimovich will be eager to show he can regain his form and contribute meaningfully after a tough season.
The bottom six is headlined by Anthony Romani, a potential sleeper pick from the sixth round after his explosive 111-point season with the North Bay Battalion. He’ll skate alongside fellow OHL talent Vilmer Alriksson and Ty Mueller, who recently signed his NHL entry-level contract out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha and is fighting for a spot in Abbotsford.
On defence, Elias Pettersson will shift to his off-hand to form an intriguing pairing with Kirill Kudryavtsev, both of whom are considered key pieces among the Canucks’ left-shot defensive depth chart. Kudryavtsev, like Pettersson, will aim to secure a roster spot in Abbotsford with a strong showing at the showcase and training camp.
The second pairing features newly signed free agents Joe Arntsen (21) and Christian Felton (24), who will be fighting to secure their first roles in the AHL. Rounding out the defence, Akito Hirose — who led the Young Stars tournament with five points last year — will skate alongside newly drafted Basile Sansonnens and Port Moody native Parker Alcos.
Stay tuned to CanucksArmy throughout the weekend for live updates and coverage from Penticton!
