We are back with the summer edition of our CanucksArmy top 20 Canucks prospect rankings.

With our Honourable Mentions and the first listed player (Nikita Tolopilo) off the board, we bring you our 19th-ranked prospect. If you are curious about our ranking criteria, check them out in our HM installment.

Today, we shift our attention to a 23-year-old who has turned his career around and inserted himself back into the mix as a legitimate NHL hopeful.

We are, of course, referring to Jett Woo.

By now, you probably know the story. Drafted in the second round (37th overall) back in 2018, Woo struggled to stay relevant during the first few years of his AHL transition. In those initial two years, Woo suited up in 60 games and managed just 13 points while failing to find a comfortable home within the lineup. Heck, he was even placed as a fourth-line forward.

Today, his outlook sings a slightly different tune. Over the past two seasons, he’s not only found his identity within the Abbotsford lineup but once again offers promise as a third-pairing NHL hopeful. His sturdy play even awarded him his first pair of call-ups to the big club in 2023-24.

Points aren’t everything, especially for defenders, but he’s coming off a career year with 31 points while finishing with the 16th-highest points among all AHL defenders.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well both offensively and defensively, I’ve been defending strong, and having smart hits,” Woo told Canucks.com earlier in the year. “It’s never really my goal to score a bunch of points but I’ve been doing pretty well this season.”

Don’t get it twisted, though; his game is still propelled by his bone-crushing defensive acumen.

On top of the offensive boosts, Woo has proven himself as a true minute muncher on this team. Due to a string of injuries in Abby, he not only carried the weight of first-pair minutes but headlined the team’s top power play and penalty-killing units for a good portion of the season.

He credits that additional time spent on the ice for his recent success.

“I’m working on what I’m doing with the puck. A lot of times I was trying to space myself out and be smart away from the puck, but now I’m getting more touches, I’m on the puck a little bit more and learning to do more with it.”

Unfortunately, his career year came to an abrupt halt after suffering a season-ending leg injury suffered just weeks before the postseason.

Before the injury, however, Woo enjoyed his first pair of NHL call-ups to soak in his first taste of a mid-season NHL environment. His attention to detail and added responsibility were not going unnoticed by the powers that be.

“He’s been playing really well. It’s important to have minor-league guys come up and practice. Our organization is not scared to have eight defencemen on the roster. It really goes a long way,” Rick Tocchet told Postmedia following his initial promotion.

“Not as reckless D-zone coverage, kind of more calmer,” Tocchet said. “I thought he was running around a little bit, and that’s what young guys do. They run around, and I think he reads the system, or he reads the play a little bit better. I think that’s just from a lot of reps down in the minors.”

Playing through a one-year “show me” deal throughout the year, the hope was that his efforts were enough to garner an extension. Well, it wasn’t much, but with another strong season, he was awarded yet another one-year deal.

What a difference two years can make, right?

Ceiling: The issue, if you want to call it that, is that Woo will be 24 by training camp. While that’s not necessarily old, the clock is certainly ticking, and he’ll be on a shorter leash than most. If he can continue with this momentum, he shows capable third-pairing and penalty-killing upside.

Floor: The floor feels very similar to where he’s been playing in recent years. At worst, he’s a serviceable top-four defender in the AHL with the ability to play in all situations, particularly on the penalty kill and shutdown roles.

ETA: Woo appears ready to serve as a “tweener” as soon as this fall. While he’s nearly a certain Abby piece to start the season, he’ll provide the Canucks with a solid right-shot option, should injuries begin to pile up.

That’s our #19 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.

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