Report: Canucks Close to Inking Akito Hirose

Jim Rutherford’s promise of finding more College and European free agents might be coming true faster than Canuck Fans thought! With the recent additions of Aidan Mcdonough and Max Sasson from Western Michigan University,  Rutherford and Allvin have been busy with the free agents, and another report from Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali on CHEK that we could be seeing another signing soon.

The 23-year-old Left shot defenseman and Calgary Native Akito Hirose’s season just ended as Minnesota State was eliminated on the 23rd via a Loss in the NCAA Regional playoffs to St. Cloud State. With the season coming to an end, Immediately, teams were lining up to try to sign the four goals and 23 assists defenseman. 

Hirose is a work in progress. However, he has been known to be a very “Strong Skater,” according to The Athletic’s Corey Pronman. “He’s a strong skater, unusually strong for a college free-agent target, and has strong playmaking abilities to go with that. Hirose has a chance to make it on what he can do with the puck, but whether he can defend men will be a question. His skating will help him, but I wouldn’t call him the hardest to play against defenseman.” 

Hirose has been playing in a top 2 role on the team with Jake Livingstone, a Creston BC native and fellow highly touted NCAA Free Agent. Akito, if done with the Minnesota State, will have finished three seasons with 104 games Played and 68 points with a lovely +56

If the Canucks were to sign Hirose, he could be able to enter the lineup as soon as Friday’s game if he was signed today, as Rick Tochett likes to ensure new players have a practice or two before playing with the team! 

The Canucks play next on Friday, March 31st, against the struggling Flames, who are 3-2 in the last five games, with a total goals against of 15. It should be a fun game that Canuck fans will enjoy while we listen to the last eight games of John Garrett on Color Commentary!

Stanley Cup Aspirations – Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.

1. Stanley Cup Aspirations 44:49
2. The Final Countdown 36:54
3. Here Come the Playoffs 32:42
4. Home Stretch 38:16
5. Kevy Cooks 45:22