Prospect Ramblings: U18 Championships, CHL Playoffs and Canucks lose two to KHL (Apr 20)

News broke this morning out of the Canucks organization, Nikita Tryamkin and Philip Larsen have both signed contracts in the KHL for the next year or two. This opens the door for multiple Canucks defense prospects to battle for a spot in training camp this fall.

Defenseman Nikita Tryamkin returns to @IHCAvtomobilist after one full season with @Canucks in NHL. pic.twitter.com/3kJRLpvc0i

— KHL (@khl_eng) April 20, 2017

Nikita Tryamkin is #9 on our Vancouver Top Prospects, this is going to hurt not only the Canucks but also anybody who had him or was on the fringe of having him in their Prospect Pool. Our very own Peter Harling had him in the DobberProspects Fantasy Hockey League (#DPFHL) and is already…

This is a major blow to Vancouver…and my #DPFHL fantasy team https://t.co/ZA688BmPIr

— Peter Harling? (@pharling) April 20, 2017

I’m sure there’s many more who will be scavenging to fix their defense prospect depth with this news.

Philip Larsen has signed a two-year deal with Salavat Yulaev in the KHL. #Canucks

— Canucks Now (@CanucksNow) April 20, 2017

Philip Larsen signing a two-year deal in the KHL opens up a potential NHL roster spot. If the Canucks are going young, which we all presume to be the case, Olli Juolevi, Andrey Pedan, Jordan Subban and Guillaume Brisebois all move up the depth chart and a few have viable shots at the opening day roster in the fall.

 

DobberHockey and DobberProspects’ Cam Robinson weighed in on the situation:

Realistically, it should be Andrey Pedan who should get the longest look in filling Tryamkin's spot. Juolevi can steal w/ a big camp though.

— /Cam Robinson/ (@CrazyJoeDavola3) April 20, 2017

***

Under 18 World Quarterfinals were played today. Below is the tournament bracket and who won and lost their quarterfinal matches.

Finland defeated Czech Republic 6-5 in OT, Miro Heiskanen was the standout in the game, recording one goal and three assists to lead Finalnd to victory. Heiskanen’s name has been moving up everyone’s draft rankings, becoming a top-3 defensemen and a top-10 candidate in the draft. 2017 draft eligible goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a mediocre game and will hopefully get the chance to bounce back and prove he is a top-3 goaltender in the draft this coming June.

Sweden upse