The Vancouver Canucks have struggled to draft and develop gamers for a big a part of the previous 9 years. Sure, they’ve discovered some key gamers like Thatcher Demko and Nils Höglander within the second spherical or later, however that’s just about it. Whereas there have been misses within the first spherical, comparable to Olli Juolevi and Jake Virtanen, plenty of Vancouver’s present issues may be attributed to their drafting past their first-rounders.
In the meantime, groups round them have constantly discovered expertise past the primary spherical, which have change into vital components of their organizations. Whether or not it’s buying and selling away picks or reaching on gamers, this group has failed tremendously of their analysis of draft prospects over the previous eight years. With all this in thoughts, here’s a take a look at picks made within the second spherical or later from 2015 till now and who the Canucks may have had as a substitute.
2015 – 144th General – Carl Neill Over Troy Terry
Within the fifth spherical, the Canucks determined to draft Carl Neill out of the Quebec Main Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was a decently-sized defender who put up 40 factors in his draft 12 months but was by no means ranked on the NHL Central Scouting last rankings. Regardless, Vancouver determined to take a swing and bought a participant who wouldn’t solely by no means play a sport for the group however by no means truly signal a contract with the Canucks.
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Simply 4 picks later, the Anaheim Geese went on to pick ahead Troy Terry, who was taking part in for the U.S. Nationwide Group Growth Program (USNTDP). He had a robust season with the USNTDP, which included successful World U18 gold and capturing a bronze on the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Match. Extra importantly, he was truly ranked by NHL Central Scouting, coming in at 107th amongst North American forwards. Since his draft season, he’s over a half level per sport on the NHL stage with 142 factors in 234 video games and is off to a robust begin in 2022-23 with 27 factors in his first 30 video games of the 12 months.
2016 – sixty fourth General – William Lockwood Over Adam Fox
Again in 2016, the Canucks wanted plenty of assist, however the place they wanted it essentially the most was on the fitting facet of the defence. As an alternative, Vancouver went with ahead William Lockwood, who was taking part in for the USNTDP on the time. He had a good 12 months with the USNTDP, which led to then-general supervisor Jim Benning choosing him within the third spherical. Since his draft, he has performed in 54 NHL video games and is not a part of the group, as he was dealt to the New York Rangers for Vitaly Kravstov in February 2023.
Two picks later, the Calgary Flames would choose future Norris winner, defenceman Adam Fox who performed on the identical group as Lockwood. Regardless of being a right-shot defenceman, which the Canucks desperately wanted, he outproduced the Canucks’ choose with 59 factors in 64 video games. Though he refused to signal with the Flames, Calgary was ready to make use of him as a part of a commerce bundle for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin. No matter whether or not or not the younger defenceman would have signed in Vancouver, at the very least they may have used his rights to herald extra property that may very well be making a distinction to this group in the present day.
2017 – thirty third General – Kole Lind Over Jason Robertson
Through the 2017 Draft, the Canucks have been past ecstatic to draft Kole Lind thirty third general. Enjoying for the Kelowna Rockets within the Western Hockey League (WHL), he had put up 87 factors in 70 video games and had led the Rockets on an extended playoff run. Ranked twenty third amongst North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, the Canucks thought that they had gotten a winger who can be with the group for a very long time. Sadly, that was not the case; after a sluggish begin to his profession, he was misplaced to the Seattle Kraken within the growth draft and solely performed a complete of seven video games with the Canucks.
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Sixth choices later, the Dallas Stars chosen Jason Robertson, who has emerged as one of many league’s prime younger skills. Earlier than the draft, he was ranked 14th amongst North American skaters and on the time, it was perplexing how he ended up dropping to thirty ninth general. The steal of the draft, he’s over a degree a sport for his profession and has two 40-goal seasons underneath his belt, together with a career-high 46 targets and 109 factors in 2022-23.
2017 – sixty fourth General – Michael DiPietro Over Morgan Geekie
Within the third spherical of the 2017 Draft, the Canucks determined so as to add to their goaltending pool by choosing Michael DiPietro out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Regardless of already having Jacob Markström and Thatcher Demko of their group, Vancouver determined they wished so as to add one other promising keeper who had simply helped the Windsor Spitfire to a Memorial Cup Championship. Quick ahead to the current, and he’s not with the group after not being given an opportunity resulting from Vancouver’s robust goaltending depth.
Three choices later, the Carolina Hurricanes chosen Morgan Geekie, who was tearing it up simply hours away from Vancouver with the Tri-Metropolis Individuals of the WHL. Throughout his draft season, he led the Individuals with 35 targets and 90 factors and was ranked forty first amongst North American skaters. Since his draft, he has developed into an on a regular basis NHL middle and has put up 102 factors in 256 video games.
2018 – thirty seventh General – Jett Woo Over Ryan McLeod
In 2018, the Canucks jumped on the alternative to draft defenceman Jett Woo with the thirty seventh general choose. A secure defender who performed for Moose Jaw within the WHL, he was ranked twenty eighth amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Identical to a lot of the different prospects on this listing, he has but to make his NHL debut and simply hit the 200-game mark within the AHL final season.
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Three choices later, the Edmonton Oilers picked ahead Ryan McLeod, who was ranked sixteenth amongst North American skaters that 12 months. After a profitable OHL profession, he made his technique to the AHL and has now change into a full-time NHLer. Whereas he solely has 75 factors in 219 video games, he has developed right into a helpful bottom-six ahead throughout his quick NHL profession.
2021 – forty first General – Danila Klimovich Over Logan Stankoven/Matthew Knies
2021 was the final time the Canucks had a second-round choose, and so they used it to pick 2021 U18 World Championship standout Danila Klimovich. He shined for Group Belarus on the annual showcase, scoring six targets in 5 video games, and subsequently jumped up the draft boards to be chosen forty first general. Projected to go within the late second or early third spherical, it was thought of a little bit of a attain by pundits. Now, after a mediocre 153 video games within the AHL the place he solely has 27 targets and 51 factors, together with a really underwhelming two targets and 4 factors in 24 video games final season, it seems they have been proper. Whereas the 2021 Draft remains to be comparatively latest, it’s powerful to not look again with remorse given the event of two prospects chosen a couple of picks after him.
First, Kamloops Blazers standout Logan Stankoven was drafted forty seventh general by the Dallas Stars and has since dominated the WHL and AHL with 79 targets and 201 factors in 107 video games and 24 targets and 57 factors in 47 video games respectively. He additionally seamlessly made his NHL debut final season and impressed within the playoffs with three targets and eight factors in 15 video games. The 5-foot-8 ahead was handed over by many groups due to his dimension, however up to now, that hasn’t deterred him as he appears to be like like a bonified NHLer able to scoring 30 targets in his prime, together with being a pest to play towards.
The opposite missed choose was Matthew Knies, who was chosen 57th general by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a standout freshman 12 months with the College of Minnesota the place he had 21 targets and 42 factors in 40 video games, he wowed Leafs Nation within the playoffs with a objective and 4 factors, serving to them to the second spherical. He then had a powerful rookie season, scoring 15 targets and 35 factors in 80 video games and one other two targets within the playoffs. With an influence ahead body and a willingness to go to the online, to not point out a silky set of palms, he ought to flip right into a perennial 25-30 objective scorer in his prime.
Canucks Can’t Discover Depth within the Draft
It’s no secret the Canucks have had an issue drafting, however the truth they solely have two gamers on the roster they chose within the second spherical or later is unacceptable. These are simply 5 examples of Vancouver pondering they know higher than the remainder of the hockey world and reaching for gamers or ignoring positions they desperately want to repair. Whereas hindsight is an element, this reveals how worthwhile non-first-round picks may be and is a motive the Canucks have solely made the playoffs twice because the 2015 Draft.
