What does it take to be a member of the Vancouver Canucks? Prospects learn very quickly when they are thrown onto the ice at development camp and then tasked with running up the grouse grind in classic Vancouver fashion, in the pouring rain.
The Canucks development camp this year was a success, despite not having 2019 first-round pick Vasily Podkolzin in attendance, as the young Russian flew back home shortly after the draft. Nonetheless, the level of skill and pure talent on display at UBC last week was simply amazing. As Canucks’ owner Francesco Aquilini was told by his “hockey ops people”, this may be the most skill, speed and commitment ever seen at a development camp.