| Observer-Dispatch
Zack MacEwen has carved a interesting path early into his pro hockey career.
MacEwen, who has had a notable rise among the prospects ranks in the Vancouver Canucks organization, got a piece of advice from Utica Comets head coach Trent Cull he said has stuck with him during his three pro seasons.
“Trent Cull told me ‘you need to know what kind of player you’re going to be. You have to realize where you’re going to fall in (the lineup),’” MacEwen said during a Zoom call Wednesday afternoon with Utica media. “Once I did realize that and learned what my role would be and where I would fit on the NHL level, I could use that to develop my game and play that style. That was the biggest part.”
The 24-year-old big, physical wing reiterated Wednesday that he stayed patient and had belief in himself as early as his rookie season with Comets in 2017-18 as he figured out his game. He said became aware then that he could take the next step despite going undrafted in both major junior and in the NHL.
“Utica taught me how to be a pro, how to apply myself and how I wanted grow my game and what kind of playerplayer I wanted to be,” MacEwen said. “I think Utica and the coaching staff gave me the tools to see what I can do and where I could go if I wanted to and how to get there. I learned a lot there, that’s for sure.”
He made quick progress in his first two seasons – he cited his skating ability as the area he’s improved the most – eventually splitting time with the Comets and Canucks during the 2019-20 season and making his Stanley Cup playoff debut during the summer. He said he felt that experience was a further “vote of confidence” from the NHL team.
Another reward came when the Canucks announced Tuesday that MacEwen signed two-year extension that will pay him an average of $825,000 each season whether he plays in the NHL or AHL.
“To be back here in Vancouver for another two years with what the future of this team is looking like is really exciting for me,” he said,
He was the first player this offseason re-signed by the Canucks, who are trying to navigate a limited salary-cap situation while trying to re-sign some key players – goaltender Jacob Markstrom is one – as free agency opens Friday.
The extension comes after Canucks General Manager Jim Benning said in February he believes MacEwen is “ready to be an everyday player in the NHL.”
“I’m super excited to continue to develop (with Vancouver) and continue to build my career and we’ll see what happens,” said MacEwen, who stayed in Vancouver after the NHL season ended. “I just want to keep building my game. I want to be valuable to the team. You want to stay in the league as long as possible and be valuable. I’m just going to keep that mindset.”
Contact reporter Ben Birnell at 315-792-5032 or follow him on Twitter (@OD_Birnell).