Canucks sign Vilmer Alriksson, a towering prospect who packs a punch
Towering prospect winger Vilmer Alriksson, who signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday before being returned to Guelph Storm of the OHL, had already moved the applause meter. He went one better Tuesday at Rogers Arena in a memorable 3-1 preseason victory over the Seattle Kraken.
At 6-foot-6, the left winger should be an imposing presence in the often tepid NHL pre-season pace, even at age 19. It’s why Rick Tocchet challenged the big Swede to not be a bystander and get involved. And Alriksson did something that resonated with the Canucks head coach.
After laying out Logan Morrison with a heavy first-period check, and wisely avoiding a challenge from the hulking Jamie Oleksiak, he accepted one from the 29-year-old Josh Hayden and held his own against the seasoned scrapper.
opening envelope
“I want to use my body and play physical and if somebody challenges me, I’ll accept it,” said Alriksson. “I had a better reach than him (Hayden) with longer arms. It was a good fight. I always want to finish my hits and play my best.”
Tocchet liked what he saw.
“I want him to play like he did in rookie camp,” Tocchet said after the Tuesday game-day skate. “He’s with NHL players and he’s kind of waiting around and being respectful. I want him to be disrespectful, get the puck and want the puck and do what you did in rookie camp.
“It’s one of the guys we had to talk to. He’s a great prospect for us.”
And when Alriksson responded against the Kraken, Tocchet was impressed.
“His game is just going to grow,” said Tocchet. “He’s a big kid. Great hands and all that stuff is going to come and he’s going to catch up. Hell of an effort to stick up for his team.”
After Alriksson’s first and only one-sided fight with the Storm last season, nobody wanted to take on the big Swede. Might be the same one day in the NHL.
