LATEST | Analyst highlights the team's top five prospects and it's promising for the future

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Cooper Godin
April 4, 2023 (11:08)

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The season is winding down and the Canucks are set to miss the playoffs again, but just because there hasn't been much to cheer about this season, doesn't mean that we can't look towards the future and the team's prospect pool is loaded with talent.

Harman Dayal, a reporter for 'The Athletic', shared his top-five prospects in the Vancouver Canucks organization, so let's take a look at who he has listed!

5) Arturs Silovs (G) - Abbotsford (AHL).

Silovs was drafted by the Canucks back in 2019 and his development is going extremely well. The Riga (Latvia) native has appeared in five games for the big club this season, making his NHL debut on February 15th against the New York Rangers. In 41 AHL games this season, Silovs has a record of 24-11-5 with a 2.47 GAA, .907 save percentage and three shutouts.

4) Danila Klimovich (RW) - Abbotsford (AHL).

The 20-year-old Belarusian is currently in his second season with Vancouver's AHL affiliate and has already surpassed his goal, assist and point totals that he set last year, in the same amount of games played (62). His slick hands and smooth skating would be a welcome addition to Vancouver's lineup, potentially as early as next season.

3) Elias Pettersson (D) - Orebro HK (SHL)

The other Elias Pettersson, selected 80th overall in 2022, had a fairly disappointing year in the Swedish Hockey League with Orebro HK, tallying seven points (one goal, six assists) in 43 games, but played well for their U20 team, recording 15 points in 14 games. It's likely he'll spent one more year in the SHL before making the trip across the Atlantic and joining the Canucks. Pettersson will also play a big role for Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors, on home ice.

2) Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW) - Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan).

Lekkerimaki, 18, was Vancouver's first-round pick in 2022 and the team is very high on him, but will take their time in developing him before he joins the NHL roster. He put up nine points in 29 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan this season and followed that up with two goals in three games during the playoffs, so far.

1) Aatu Raty (C) - Abbotsford (AHL).

At number one, Dayal has Aatu Raty, the key piece the Canucks received from the New York Islanders in the Bo Horvat trade back in February. The Oulu (Finland) native was projected to be a top pick in 2021, but after a difficult draft year, he fell to the second round (52nd overall). In his first full season here in North America, Raty has 25 points in 47 AHL games and has shown glimpses of his full potential, at times. There's no doubt that he could still become a productive top-six forward at the NHL level.