On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks released their roster for the annual Young Stars Classic prospect tournament that kicks off this weekend. The roster is highlighted by top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki, as well as 2024 draft picks Riley Patterson, Anthony Romani, Parker Alcos, and Basile Sansonnens.
Along with the 20 prospects already in the Canucks’ system, the roster includes five invitees — five undrafted and unsigned players who are looking to catch the eye of the Canucks’ brass and earn an NHL contract. Those five invitees are forwards Ty Halaburda, Deagan McMillan, and Cooper Walker, defenceman Joe Arntsen, and goaltender Jonathan Lemieux.
These invitees are always intriguing because they represent an opportunity to add to the Canucks’ prospect pool without using a draft pick or spending an asset in a trade. Admittedly, most invitees are unsigned and undrafted for a reason but every once in a while there’s a diamond in the rough, such as Troy Stecher.
Do any of the five invitees to this year’s Young Stars have what it takes to earn an NHL contract? Let’s take a closer look.
Joe Arntsen - Left Defence
6’3” - 212 lbs - May 22, 2003 (21)
Swift Current, SK, Canada
Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL (66-6-18-24)
While not a part of the Vancouver Canucks’ system, Joe Arntsen does have an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks.
The 21-year-old left-shot defenceman is coming off a solid career in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, where he served as captain for three seasons. He’s got size on his side at 6’3” and plays a tough and physical defensive game, though he chipped in some offence as well in his career with the Hurricanes.
Arntsen is a tough customer who readily blocks shots on the penalty kill and is willing to drop the gloves to defend his teammates but he’s got more tools in his belt than just toughness.
“There’s more to his game than just physicality and intimidation,” said Steve Kournianos from The Draft Analyst in Arntsen’s draft year. “He moves well for his size and will occasionally join the rush.”
Off the ice, Arntsen has been praised for his work in the community in Lethbridge and has been named the Hurricanes’ Community Relations Player of the Year the past two seasons. He’s also been praised for his leadership and character.
Arntsen seems like a player who could win over fans in Abbotsford with his physical game on the ice and gregarious nature off the ice but it remains to be seen if he has any NHL potential. There are question marks around his mobility and puckhandling, which could prove a problem as the pace quickens in professional hockey. Still, he’s worth keeping an eye on in Abbotsford.
Ty Halaburda - Centre
5’11” - 181 lbs - Apr 22, 2005 (19)
Victoria, BC, Canada
Vancouver Giants, WHL (68-21-45-66)
The Canucks have occasionally been guilty of ignoring players in their own backyard, so it’s nice to see a Vancouver Giants player from B.C. get an invitee to camp.
Ty Halaburda is constantly on the move. He has tremendous speed and a high motor to match it, making him a nightmare for opposing defencemen on the forecheck. His tenacity forces defencemen to make mistakes on the breakout and he’s adept at turning those turnovers into scoring opportunities.
“Halaburda never stops working, sprinting on every backcheck, throwing crushing hits, and securing body positioning by taking the extra stride to skate through the hands,” reads his draft year profile from Elite Prospects.
“He shows up every shift, empties the tank, and plays much larger than his 5-foot-11 frame,” said Elite Prospects’ J.D. Burke in one scouting report. “There appears to be some level of intelligence in terms of how he applies himself physically in board battles too, but mostly Halaburda wins pucks with a strong stick and a never-say-die attitude.”
That motor and tenacity make him a quality penalty killer, as he’s quick to take away passing and shooting lanes in the defensive zone, gets clears, and then harasses opponents through the neutral zone.
Offensively, Halaburda was a bit single-minded in his draft year, often failing to see open teammates, which is reflected by his 16 assists compared to 21 goals. This past season, in his draft+1 year, Halaburda diversified his offence and showed a little bit more creativity and vision. He still had 21 goals but he added 45 assists for 66 points in 68 games.
Halaburda is sometimes listed as a right wing and his speed-based, hard-forechecking game is likely a better fit on the wing in professional hockey. Whether that’s in the NHL or not will depend on Halaburda continuing to develop more aspects of his game, as his speed will be less of a separating factor at higher levels. Still, coaches always have time for speedy, high-motor players who play a responsible defensive game, so that could earn him a long look and potentially get him a bottom-six, forechecking pest role in the future.
It makes sense, than, that Halaburda, a longtime fan of the Canucks, grew up loving Alex Burrows.
“He was my idol as a kid,” said Halaburda to Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News. “When they slayed the dragon against Chicago, that's probably my go-to favourite. I was pretty young, but it's still vivid in my head.”
Jonathan Lemieux - Goaltender
6’1” - 194 lbs - Jun 8, 2001 (23)
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL (39-2.84-.911)
Jonathan Lemieux has an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks, which essentially puts him fifth on the Vancouver Canucks’ goaltending depth chart. If there’s an injury to any of the four goaltenders ahead of him — Thatcher Demko, Arturs Silovs, Nikita Tolopilo, and Jiri Patera — he’ll be up in Abbotsford, ready to play.
That’s what happened last season during the AHL playoffs. At the end of a strong rookie season in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, where he posted a .911 save percentage in 39 games, he got the call up to Abbotsford after Demko’s injury and backed up Zach Sawchenko.
That start to his professional career gives Lemieux some hope that the NHL is not out of reach.
“There are four other goalies ahead of me in the Canucks organization,” said Lemieux. “I'm still young and it's normal to play in the ECHL at that age. These are exceptional cases that end up in the American League right from the start."
Lemieux signed with Abbotsford after an outstanding season in Canadian university hockey with Concordia University, where he was named rookie of the year and goaltender of the year with a sparkling .933 save percentage.
The amount of time Lemieux plays in the AHL this season may depend on whether or not the Canucks sign another goaltender with Demko's status uncertain to start the season.
Deagan McMillan - Right Wing
6’1” - 201 lbs - Jan 21, 2005 (19)
Vernon, BC, Canada
Tri-City Americans, WHL (60-16-20-36)
Like Halaburda, Deagan McMillan is another 19-year-old B.C. boy, but the similarities end there.
McMillan had a solid draft year in 2022-23 with the Tri-City Americans, putting up 17 goals and 47 points in 65 games despite playing minimal minutes. His playmaking and smart off-puck positioning made up for his limited skating, which is the major weakness of his game.
“Without significant mechanical growth, McMillan likely won’t make the NHL, but his passing skill, vision, and defensive value make him worth a shot late in the draft,” reads his draft year profile from Elite Prospects.
“The skating’s so limiting,” said Elite Prospects’ Mitchell Brown in one scouting report. “McMillan struggles to generate any sort of functional speed, even for this level, which makes his impact that much more impressive.”
Instead of taking a step forward in his post-draft year like the speedy Halaburda, the slower McMillan took a step back, managing just 36 points in 60 games. While he was on NHL Central Scouting’s watch list to potentially get drafted in 2024 in his second year of eligibility, his struggles knocked him off that list by the end of the season.
Still, there’s potential in McMillan’s game. He’s got a decent defensive game, protects the puck well with his 6’1” frame, and plays a complementary game with good offensive players thanks to his passing and positioning.
The question is how much McMillan’s skating can progress — or already has progressed given he has another offseason of training under his belt. If his physical tools can catch up with his mental game, McMillan could be an intriguing prospect.
Cooper Walker - Centre
6’0” - 174 lbs - Jul 11, 2002 (22)
Cambridge, ON, Canada
Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL (36-3-10-13)
Like Arntsen and Lemieux, Cooper Walker already has a Canucks contract, albeit an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks. He spent most of last season in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, though he played 13 games with Abbotsford in the AHL, registering one goal and no assists.
Considering Walker is already 22 and couldn’t stick in the AHL last season, the chances of him reaching the NHL seem slim but there’s always the tale of Alex Burrows, who didn’t break through to the AHL until he was 23, to keep hopes alive.
Walker is the son of former Canuck Scott Walker and was signed by Abbotsford after he put up 21 goals and 51 points in 66 games as captain of the Guelph Storm in the OHL as a 20-year-old. He was praised for his detailed and tenacious two-way game.
“You know what you are getting every day when Cooper shows up to the rink,” said his head coach with the Storm, Chad Wiseman. “He plays the game the right way, has tremendous on and off ice habits, and leads by example daily for his peers.”
With his slight frame and limited offensive upside, however, Walker has a long way to go to realize his NHL dream. For now, he’ll simply be looking to land himself a permanent spot on the AHL roster in Abbotsford.
