Power Ranking: Vancouver Canucks have a new #1 prospect
The Vancouver Canucks are in a rare position among NHL contenders: while a healthy roster has a legitimate shot at competing for the Stanley Cup, they also boast a very strong prospect pool.
As AHL Abbotsford prepares for their home opener, the prospect hierarchy in the Vancouver system is shuffling around, as The Province has ranked Aatu Räty as the team's top prospect, usurping sniper Jonathan Lekkerimäki.
Räty earns the honour thanks to a very strong camp that saw him stick with the NHL lineup to start the season.
He was sent to the AHL a week ago, and as such has claimed the #1 spot among the Canucks prospect power rankings, after being ineligible a week ago due to being on the big club.
Steve Ewen, who published this week's power rankings for The Province, says he wouldn't be surprised to see both Räty and Lekkerimäki make stops in Vancouver throughout the season, and both players will likely jostle for the #1 spot on the list.
Räty has yet to record a point with Abbotsford since his demotion, but he had an assist with the big club in three games early this season.
Lekkerimäki meanwhile has yet to debut this season after dealing with an illness, but he's back practicing and expected to play in the home opener.
Three defencemen in Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson, and Kirill Kudryavtsev round out the team's top 5.
Räty and Lekkerimäki will be expected to lead Abbotsford offensively this season, and either one could find themselves up with the NHL Canucks full time before the season ends.
Source - The Province: Canucks prospects: Aatu Räty dethrones Jonathan Lekkerimäki in our top-10 power ranking
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