22-Year-Old Netminder Aku Koskenvuo Turning Heads With Bold Push for the Canucks Starting Job
Photo credit: Daily Faceoff
Many of the future Vancouver Canucks stars were finally able to take the ice against the Seattle Kraken in order to try and impress the organizations management to show them that they have what it takes to potentially find a role in 2025-26.
The obvious names like Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Braeden Cootes and Elias Pettersson (D) all impressed in their first two prospect matchups, but one name stood out among the rest, and it has come to much of the surprise of Canucks fans.
Goalie prospect Aku Koskenvuo looking to find a way to take a spot on the Vancouver Canucks, but first he needs to earn in with Abbotsford
After the Canucks traded away Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, as it stands right now, with Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko both locked up, the two goalie slots at the NHL level are clearly set.
In the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks however, things are a little bit more up in the air.
There are now 5 netminders actively fighting for a spot in the Abbotsford Canucks' crease, including Koskenvuo, Ty Young, Nikita Tolopilo, AHL veteran Jiri Patera, and recent AHL signing Jonathan Lemieux.
Koskenvuo knows he'll have some tough competition, but welcomes it, recognizing that it can only make him a better goalie moving forward.
«All the goalies I've met in this organization have been great guys,» he said. «You want to be the guy in the net for sure; that's what every goalie wants. But you have to have the mindset that you want to get there with your own performance, not by pushing other guys down.»
«It's obviously a very good problem to have,» said Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra about the team's goaltending depth. «The sign of a healthy organization is when there are players battling for positions. For us, having that internal competition at the goaltending position is great. Those guys push one another on a daily basis.»
«It's obviously a very good problem to have,» said Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra about the team's goaltending depth. «The sign of a healthy organization is when there are players battling for positions. For us, having that internal competition at the goaltending position is great. Those guys push one another on a daily basis.»
Whether if it is Koskenvuo, Young, Tolopilo, Patera or Lemieux, a lot is riding on making the right choice as those names will fill in at the NHL level if either Demko or Lankinen go down with an injury.
In reality as a younger goalie, Koskenvuo will most likely start the year in the ECHL for his rookie season, as Ty Young did last year.
Regardless, it will only be a positive for his development, as it will mean more starts at a pro-level, which he would if he were the everyday backup in Abbotsford.
Source: Vancouver is Awesome
Aku Koskenvuo aims to stake his claim on Canucks' crease
Aku Koskenvuo aims to stake his claim on Canucks' crease
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 1085 ANSWERS 22-Year-Old Netminder Aku Koskenvuo Turning Heads With Bold Push for the Canucks Starting Job Do you think Aku Koskenvuo will be one of the two goalies to make the Abbotsford Canucks' starting spots in the AHL? | ||
| Yes | 779 | 71.8 % |
| No | 306 | 28.2 % |
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