The Vancouver Canucks signed a former fifth-round pick to an entry-level contract. Los Angeles Kings prospect Jordan Spence is on the move in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after a trade, and Edmonton Oilers prospect Carter Savoie is lighting up the NCAA in his freshman season.
Canucks Sign Carson Focht
The Canucks announced on Wednesday that they’ve agreed to a standard three-year, entry-level contract for center Carson Focht.
Drafted 133rd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Focht spent the 2019-20 season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) playing for the Calgary Hitmen. He registered 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points in 61 games played and finished fourth in team scoring and second in goals scored. He was originally a seventh-overall pick by the Tri-City Americans in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He was later traded to the Hitmen in January of 2018.
In a press release from the team, Focht had this to say about signing his first NHL contract and joining up with the Canucks.
Dream come true to sign my first NHL contract with the Canucks organization! Huge thank you to my family, friends, teammates, trainers, coaches and agents for helping me get to this point. Excited for the next chapter.
He would’ve been eligible to return to the Hitmen as an over-age forward for the 2020-21 season. However, with the WHL season delayed indefinitely due to COVID-19, it is likely he could join up with the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, for the upcoming season. Over his entire WHL career, Focht amassed 74 goals and 87 assists for 161 points in 262 games played.
Spence Traded To Val-d’Or
The reigning Emile Bouchard Trophy winner for QMJHL Defenseman of the Year has been traded from the Moncton Wildcats to the Val-d’Or Foreurs.
Kings’ prospect Jordan Spence became the sixth Wildcats defenseman in franchise history to score a hat trick earlier this year and had gotten off to a hot start before the QMJHL season was delayed. He registered five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 13 games played and was ranked fourth in scoring by defensemen. During the 2019-20 season he amassed nine goals and 43 assists for 52 points in 60 games played.
Spence was drafted 95th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Kings. He joins a Foreurs team that had the second best record in the QMJHL before the season was postponed, sitting at 10-1-4 and tied with the Charlottetown Islanders on points. Spence is returning from the 2021 World Junior Championship where he won a silver medal representing Canada. He played in two games and registered one goal.
Savoie Leading Denver in Scoring
Oilers prospect and Denver University forward Savoie was tagged as a premier goal scorer after putting up 53 goals in 54 games last season for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). However, there were concerns if his offense would translate to a more difficult league in the NCAA. Clearly it hasn’t been an issue for the St. Albert, Alberta, native.
He currently leads the entire team in scoring with eight goals and five assists for 13 points in 12 games played. He is ranked 12th in scoring across the entire NCAA and tied for first in goals scored.
After being selected by Edmonton during the draft, THW’s Peter Baracchini had this to say about Savoie’s fit with the team.
After selecting Dylan Holloway in the first round, the Oilers drafted another winger with a strong skill set and competitive edge that could play alongside their top two centres in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. While he needs to work on his defensive game and effort in his own zone, his speed and quick stick handling make him a great asset for the Oilers.
Drafted 100th overall by the Oilers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Savoie’s dominance in the 2019-20 AJHL season was almost unmatched. His 53 goals led the entire league and was 10 more than the next highest skater. He also finished second in league scoring with 99 points, trailing only teammate Arjun Atwal who had 107 points. It’s no secret the Oilers are desperate to find some goal-scoring wingers to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.