LATEST | Major Development on Filip Johansson's future and it could help the Canucks big time

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Felip Gosselin
March 26, 2023 (2:18 PM)

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The Vancouver Canucks' have been doing a much better job of developing and grooming their draft picks into NHL players, they've also been doing an excellent job in their free-agents signings and it's starting to show.

The team's elite players were first and foremost, drafts selections. Thatcher Demko, Quinn Hughes, and Elias Pettersson. Brock Boeser can also be added to this list since he's a team draft pick and has been a prominent NHL scorer. Even better, the Canucks made some big acquisitions through free agency, notably Andrei Kuzmenko or Ilya Mikheyev but some of them have been making their way to Hockey's best level under the radar.

It's definitely Filip Johansson's case. The Canucks stole Johansson right under the Wild's nose after they chose to not keep his rights and now the latest reports revealed that he's about to make the jump to North-American hockey. The Wild had previously selected him with the 24th Selection of the 2018 Draft.

Even though the belief is that he'll be starting down in Abbotsford, some people within the organization truly believe he could cause a surprise in Vancouver and crack the opening night roster.

Johansson is currently playing in the SHL with Frolunda HC where he managed 21 points in 51 outings in the season and he's been even better during the playoffs with 3 points in his first 4 games.

A good-bodied (6'01'', 181 pounds), a right-handed shot that turned 23 days ago is ready to make an impact in North America. Here's what the scouting reports had to say about him:

''Defends his position very well, both because of an active stick and a fairly projectable frame. Owns a hard shot from the point. Can log big minutes along the blueline, including important ice time in all game situations.''

- Sports ForeCaster

The Canucks signed him during the 2022 summer and he may just be what they need to complete the defensive top6. If the Canucks can find a way to rid themselves of Tyler Myers and his hefty contract, he could very well be an extremely cost-efficient contract. The Canucks would then have an excellent puck-moving defensive core with Ethan Bear, Filip Hronek, and Filip Johansson on its right side.

Can he crack the Canucks' opening-night roster as soon as next season? If he does, the Canucks will surely have stolen a great prospect right under the Wild's nose.