AHL: The Moose are Loose

Due to a recent rash of injuries in Vancouver, key prospects like Mason Raymond and Luc Bourdon have been called to NHL duty this season. As a result, other prospects such as Michael Grabner and Daniel Rahimi have benefited by receiving more icetime with the Moose. Along with Grabner and Rahimi, McKeen's has notes on several Manitoba Moose players eager to make an impact.

Michael Grabner (Van), RW, Manitoba Moose

Explosive, offensive weapon with great wheels is leading the Moose in goals and is second in points .. mesmerizing skater with quick and elegant feet that stimulate his powerful and long stride and his spellbinding top gear .. dangerous with open ice in front of him on the powerplay or in transition, as he possesses the speed to fly past the opposition before utilizing his dangerous shot and fast release to bare down and finish .. underrated playmaker that moves his feet to open lanes and can execute creative passes through the opposition's box while on the powerplay .. possesses the natural offensive instincts you cannot coach but he is guilty of making curious decisions with and without the puck in the defensive zone .. light as a feather on his feet and he can be shy to take a hit, a troubling habit that was displayed by him hesitating to win a footrace that he should have won to negate an icing call before pulling back so he would not have to pay the price in the corner .. should be in the NHL as soon as next season if he adds some muscle and proves he can stay in the game when it becomes physical.

Juraj Simek (Van), RW, Manitoba Moose

Slovakian winger with lots of unrefined upside that should fully blossom once his physical game fully matures .. an okay skater that can accelerate well once he gets past his first step .. strong on his feet with sturdy pivots that aide in creating space in the offensive zone .. at his best below the hash marks where his understated skill is displayed with his slick-escape moves that allow him to gain a step on the defender from the corner to the net before cashing in with his quick hands in tight .. strong around the net and along the wall thanks to his blossoming power game that is also showcased by his surprisingly heavy body checks .. his inconsistency shift-to-shift is the biggest draw back at this point, as he often follows a dominant shift with a long stretch of invisibility .. a poor man's Steve Bernier that could be in the NHL sooner than later if he solves his consistency issues and continues to add more brute strength.

Jannik Hansen (Van), LW, Manitoba Moose

Savvy and skilled two-way winger that should be back in the NHL once he regains confidence in his offensive game .. lacks vigorous acceleration but he more than gets around the ice adequately thanks to his proper knee bend, stride length, and the deceptive burst of speed when the situation calls for it .. smooth and deceptively skilled, Hansen can execute tape-to-tape saucer passes through heavy traffic while under duress .. shrewd winger that effectively creates space for himself in the offensive zone .. does not get enough credit for his character and toughness .. has a bounce-back spirit, as he will turn the puck over in the offensive zone only to sacrifice his body and block the shot .. sturdy on his feet and competes with a hard-nosed approach in one-on-one situations .. heady defensive player that is an effective penalty killer thanks to his mature defensive reads and endearing work ethic .. ready for the NHL once he begins to utilize his skills to prosper offensively once again.

Daniel Rahimi(Van), D, Manitoba Moose

Big and strong Swedish stay-at-home defenseman with a mature defensive game .. pivots well for a big man allowing him to maintain a tight gap before angling his man properly to the wall .. aggressive and physical defender that is tough down low along the wall and near his own crease .. smart defender that likes to stay back and effectively front the puck to block shots .. not a mean-spirited player but he gets full results out of his superior strength, as he is not easily bulled over by the opposition .. not a naturally gifted offensive defenseman, Rahimi keeps his decisions with the puck simple and makes a crisp first pass that is often on the mark .. does not fumble the puck and is not shy to skate himself out of trouble if need be .. if he continues to work on his mobility and puck skills, typical maturation will make Rahimi into an NHL-caliber defenseman down the road.

Mike Brown (Van), RW, Manitoba Moose

Tough and scrappy winger that played in 19 games with the Canucks this season in a checking-line role .. muscular and pugnacious winger that provides a physical spark and solid defense .. owns a non-stop motor and a fine top gear that is stimulated by his quick and strong startup strides .. has underrated hockey smarts, as he often puts himself in the right place at the right time but his hands of stone often leave him unable to finish his chances .. utilized on the penalty kill because he is usually on the defensive side of the puck and can create turnovers at his own blueline by pressuring the opposition's pointmen before simply outworking them to get the puck out of the zone .. throws his weight around and is willing to stick up for his teammates by dropping the gloves, often with a victorious result .. not a natural athlete and lacks top-line skill, Brown is a valued depth player for his hard work and consistent performance away from the puck.

Cory Schneider (Van), G, Manitoba Moose

Dealing with adversity on the ice for the first time in his life, Schneider has struggled to cope with not being his team's workhorse, as he is currently backing up AHL-All Star Drew MacIntyre in his first year as a pro after a decorated amateur career .. use to playing every game and receiving special treatment, Schneider is adapting slower to the pro game than hoped, as his questionable work habits have been exposed .. Vancouver also appears to be tweaking his technique, as his basic stance and overall approach to the game have been changed to a more conventional butterfly style .. big goalie that gives the shooter a gaping five-hole before taking it away quickly .. at his best when he has playing patient and reliant on proper positioning and angles more than pure athleticism to make saves .. next year will be a big rebound season for him and he will need to rededicate himself in the summer to become a pro physically and mentally.