The Young Stars Classic wraps up on Monday with one final game between the Vancouver Canucks' prospects and the Calgary Flames' prospects in Penticton.
That means the Canucks' main training camp, which will also be in Penticton, is right around the corner. Then, shortly after that, the preseason and then the regular season. Real Canucks hockey is so close you can taste it.
Before that, however, there's still the last amuse-bouche of prospect hockey.
The Canucks' prospects have won both of their games thus far at Young Stars, handily defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-0 on Friday, then coming from behind against the Winnipeg Jets for a 4-2 win on Sunday. The Flames, however, could be their toughest test yet.
The Flames' Young Stars roster has some serious talent, including three first-round picks: ninth-overall pick in 2024 Zayne Parekh, 28th-overall pick in 2024 Matvei Gridin, and16th-overall pick in 2023 Samuel Honzek. They also boast a couple of former Canucks prospects that they picked up in the Elias Lindholm trade, defencemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, who could come into the game feeling they have something to prove to their former team.
Can the Canucks leave the Young Stars Classic with three wins? We'll find out this afternoon. The game starts at 2:30 pm PDT and will be streamed on the Canucks website.
Vancouver Canucks projected lines
With no gameday skate on Monday morning, these projected lines are a bit of an educated guess. It seems likely that Basile Sansonnens, who did not play in the first two games, will draw into the lineup. He skated alongside the older Akito Hirose at practice this weekend, so it's possible that pairing draws in for Joe Arntsen and Parker Alcos.
Likewise, camp invitees Ty Halaburda and Deagan McMillan have yet to play in a game at the Young Stars but previously skated on a line with fellow invitee Cooper Walker in practice, so that's a potential line.
Finally, after Ty Young got the start on Sunday against the Jets, Nikita Tolopilo could step back into the net against the Flames.
Sure enough, Sansonnens drew into the lineup, but will be on a pairing with Kirill Kudryavtsev playing on his off-side. Likewise, Elias Pettersson will get a turn on his off-side, playing with Hirose.
Some of the forward lines were changed, with Jonathan Lekkerimäki matched with Vilmer Alriksson and Max Sasson. That's a great opportunity for Alriksson to show his quality after a strong game against the Jets.
Meanwhile, Danila Klimovich gets a chance on the top line with Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Räty. After a tough season, Klimovich has a new head coach in Manny Malhotra and a big opportunity to prove he deserves to play in a top-six role.
Calgary Flames projected lines
The Flames split their first two games of the Young Stars Classic, losing to the Jets in overtime on Friday, and then beating the Oilers 3-1 on Saturday. They'll be looking to end the prospect tournament on a positive note against the Canucks.
The Flames chose to sit Sam Morton and William Stromgren, two of their top players in the first two games, against the Canucks. Hunter Brzustewicz will also be a scratch, so no revenge for him, but Joni Jurmo did draw into the lineup.
Here are the Flames lines for Monday's final game of the Young Stars Classic:
Lucas Ciona - Luke Misa - Andrew Basha
Samuel Honzek - Luke McNamara - Matvei Gridin
Jacob Battaglia - Jaden Lipinski - Hunter Laing
Parker Bell - David Silye - Trevor Janicke
Eric Jamieson - Zayne Parekh
Axel Hurtig - Henry Mews
Etienne Morin - Joni Jurmo
Waltteri Ignatjew
Connor Murphy
