Klimovich Already Turning Heads in Abbotsford

How far one can come in a matter of just under a year…

At the beginning of 2021, Danila Klimovich was tearing up the Belarusian junior league with an iron fist, scoring on what seemed like every oppurtunity that arose. Ten months later, he’s on an NHL contract, playing pro in North America with the freshly instated Abbotsford Canucks, and scoring goals at an alarming rate, all at the bright young age of 18.

Two games into Klimovich’s professional career and he has already tallied himself two goals along with a plethera of scoring chances. To say he’s been blowing away expectations so far would be a vast understatement. Klimovich, who’s not only the youngest player on his team, but the youngest in the entire AHL, was never even a lock to crack the roster in the first place, given his age and his overall experience on North American ice.

It was expected Klimovich would see a few games early on at the AHL level with limited ice time before most likely being shipped out to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL (who own his CHL rights) where he can continue to develop his craft. Although, if he is already putting home pucks in such fashion like this already…

… I would play it safe and say he’s ready to make the jump and continue to play with the big boys in Abbotsford.

I would also believe it’s safe to admit that playing in the QMJHL would be detrimental to his growth as a player. He’s already proving he has what it takes to play at the fast level pace of AHL hockey, so why on Earth would you put him on a plane, banish him to Quebec to play with the Huskies (a team that’s currently on a five-game losing skid), so he can play a slower, more open style of hockey where he won’t have to fight hard to be a difference maker in the league.

The next step in Klimovich’s career is to remain in Abbotsford, adapt to the ice, establish and develop his offensive presense, and prove to everyone that he was indeed a legitimate candidate to be taken as a 2nd rounder in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

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