Vancouver Canucks Prospect Update: December 2024

It’s time for a prospect update! From Abbotsford to Seattle, here’s how some of the Vancouver Canucks’ prospects are performing so far this season.

Danila Klimovich

Forward

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

Round 2, #41 overall in 2021

Klimovich was Vancouver’s first selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, as the team traded their first round pick from that year for Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Since being drafted, Klimovich has played with the Abbotsford Canucks, racking up a total of 172 AHL games. Last season was rough for the 21-year-old forward, as he only played in 24 of the team’s 72 games due to a mix of injuries and scratches. However, he’s gotten off to an impressive start this season, starting the first 19 games with nine goals and four assists.

The biggest asset in Klimovich’s skill set has been his shot. This season, it appears the forward is trying to prove how powerful it is. He currently leads Abbotsford in shots taken with 60 throughout all 19 games. Back in the 2022–23 regular season, Klimovich scored 17 goals in 67 games — right now, it looks as though he’ll smash that record.

Aku Koskenvuo

Goaltender

Harvard University

Round 5, #137 overall in 2021

Despite Harvard’s less-than-stellar record so far this season, Aku Koskenvuo has taken strides in his third year at the university. He’s building off a sophomore season that saw him post a 2.95 GAA and .910 SV% complete with two shutouts. In the same span of time, he was named the ECAC Goalie of the Week.

Now, in 10 games less, the 21-year-old is already half of the way to the same amount of shutouts. This 3–0 victory came in a game against Quinnipiac, in which Koskenvuo made 25 saves. He also has a sparkling 2.98 GAA in seven games played. His season-high of shots stopped in one game is 35, faced in a 5–3 loss to the University of Massachusetts. So far, throughout the entire season, he has only let in 19 goals on 162 shots faced.

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Sawyer Mynio

Defence

Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

Round 3, #89 overall in 2023

Sawyer Mynio has had himself quite the career with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He first joined Seattle in the 2021–22 season after being drafted by them in the third round of the 2020 WHL Draft. In his third season with Seattle, he was picked as one of the team’s alternate captains, and proceeded to post 16 goals and 37 assists in 63 games. At the start of this year, Mynio was named captain of the Thunderbirds.

While Mynio is currently out day-to-day with a lower body injury, he has shown that his impressive play from last year hasn’t slowed down a bit. In his first 15 games of this season, Mynio has put up four goals and 13 assists, an effort that puts him fourth in team scoring. Earlier this week, it was announced that Mynio had been extended an invite to Canada’s World Juniors Selection Camp. Though there are 10 defencemen who will be competing for a spot on team Canada for this year’s World Juniors Championship, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mynio claim one after an already remarkable junior career.

Tom Willander

Defence

Boston University, NCAA

Round 1, #11 overall in 2023

In his second year as a member of the Boston University Terriers, Tom Willander is proving why he was Vancouver’s first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Before being drafted and joining the NCAA, Willander played for Rögle BK of the SHL, the same team that current Canuck Nils Höglander played for. He played for Team Sweden in the 2024 World Juniors Championship alongside fellow Vancouver prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki. On Wednesday, he was named to the Swedish National Junior Team roster.

Willander has played in 14 games this NCAA season, posting two goals and seven assists. He also started his season with a five-game point streak, earning him the title of Hockey East Defender of the Week. As one of Vancouver’s top prospects, it’s only a matter of time before Willander gets a crack at the NHL.

Jett Woo

Defence

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

Round 2, #37 overall in 2018

The 24-year-old has played with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, whether with Abbotsford or the old Utica Comets, since 2020. He was drafted after putting up some impressive seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, who he spent a grand total of three full seasons with. Woo’s time in Abbotsford has fluctuated, with the back half of his AHL career bringing promise and potential back to his career. This past offseason, he was signed to a one-year, two-way deal that could become the most important one of his career. It’s clear that, with one more season to prove himself, a lot of eyes will be on Woo and what he does down in Abbotsford.

So far, Woo has scored a goal and five assists in 19 games with the AHL Canucks. He was named one of the team’s alternate captains this season alongside forward John Stevens. Continuing his style of playing with an added level of physicality, Woo tallied his 50th career AHL assist in November. While it’s uncertain whether Woo has the capabilities to become a full-time NHL player, his time in Abbotsford has shown that he can step up and take on additional responsibilities if needed.