Canucks' Corrado to participate in Young Stars tournament

At just 21-years-old, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Frank 'Frankie' Corrado has had a curious career trajectory. The former Sudbury Wolves captain, a fifth-round draft selection of the Canucks in 2011, has appeared in just 18 regular season NHL games so far, but he's entering the final year of his entry-level contract.

There could be ample opportunity for Corrado in Vancouver this upcoming season, an auspicious situation for a young player who is both entering a contract year and is still looking to secure an everyday NHL job for the first time in his professional career. 

Where Corrado starts the season is an open question – certainly it wouldn't be shocking were he to begin the season with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League – but we know now where his 2014-15 campaign will start. Though he's no longer a Calder-eligible rookie, Corrado will appear at the Canucks hosted Young Stars Tournament in Penticton from Sept. 12 to 15, according to News 1130 Sports.

Though it was the Canucks who asked Corrado if he'd like to participate, this couldn't be a sweater deal for the young defender. Corrado was dominant at the Young Stars tournament when he first participated, and that was three years ago. Against 18-year-old prospects, he'll surely look like a man amongst boys.

So he'll have an opportunity to impress Canucks brass ahead of training camp, then maybe even head into the club's main camp with a top-six job that is his to lose. For a young player, it doesn't get any better than that.