My take on the Canucks draft this year...... Long....Deal with it kids.
Round #1:
Patrick White
1st Round
This draft was very unpredictable, this kid was rated at around #22 on some draft lists, and up to 40 or so on others. So unlike others are saying, he IS NOT a "complete off the wall pick". I really like this pick alot. Like I said in the other thread. IMO he will fly under the "Casual" Canuck prospect fan radar, (like Mason Raymond) and will be spending atleast 2 years at the University of Minnesota. The kid seems to have some offensive minded skills. He is a younger player in this years draft, born in 89, not 88. Hopefully he will be given an opportunity to get alot of minutes next year.
The only bad news is we won't see him in a Canuck training camp for atleast two of three years.
2nd Round- 33rd Pick
Taylor Ellington D
O RLY?
hummm, he was rated 28th at his mid-term ranking, so again so this shouldn't come as a OMGZ11111 whozzz TAylor ELLiNGtonzzzzzz
To be honest, I was alittle surprised in this pick though. I hope that Nonis picked this player because that his scouting staff felt that he was the best player/best for their organization. Not just because he was a BC born player.... and so on. I do laugh at the fact that people assume the Canucks are "stacked" in Defence prospects. Personally, I would have liked the Canucks to get an much more offensive D-man if they we're to take a D prospect with the 2nd round pick..... but whatever. The kid has solid size at 6" 200 pounds....... born on Halloween night
5th Round - 145th Pick
Charles-Antoine Messier
Nice to see the Nucks finally take another player from the QMJHL, I was beginning to wonder if they ever had any scouts at games in the QMJHL

A small kid at 5'11" 178 lbs
Apperently is a quick skater with good offensive skills, A good player for the new Canuck brand with Grabby,Raymond, Hansen, and Friends. He is gifted with very good hands, but needs to bulid at strength and work on D-zone coverage. Not bad for the 145th overall pick, moving on.
Ilja Kablukov LW
146th Pick
I looked on the ISS Euro player list and couldn't find is name anywhere. Perhaps another late round steal like a Hansen? Good size for a Euro at 6"2 and only 19 years old. I have no infomation on this (Anyone else have info???)
But in Thomas Gradin we trust.
Taylor Matson
6th Round - 176th Pick
Another Centre, I am having a hell of a time finding ANY info on this kid.... Ayone have ANYTHING?. Another kid from the USHL....does anyone know where he will play next season.....
Dan Gendur
7th Round- 206th Pick
Hometown: Victoria, BC
Another BC kid, joy.
I question Nonis in Co for thinking they had to pick these kids becuase they were from BC. Put up pretty solid numbers on the Everett Silvertips who played a tight, low scoring style of games, No?. Also put up a solid +19 on the year.
It's obvious that the Canucks staff did lean towards kids born in BC. Although, their is nothing wrong with that if they are what's best for the organization. Although we won't know for atleast another 4 years for a general idea on how the scouting staff did on this years draft. The only pick I can question at this time is Taylor Ellington, a defensive defenseman with the early 2nd round pick. If he was a offensive defenseman I would be ok with this pick, because I truly believe the Canucks lack in this area. Sure Bourdon and Edler should be able to put up some numbers, but I'm not sold on the idea that we need another defensive defenseman.
In Conclusion, I would have liked Gradin to find another off the wall pick, (again does anyone have any infomation on Ilja Kablukov if he was in fact rated at all throughout the year). Or is he another Edler/Rahimi out of nowhere pick. I would have liked to have another Euro as well, and perhaps an purely Offensive D-man. We definitely picked are share of Centre's with 3 so I'm happy with that. I really like are 1st round pick, although I do wish he did have better foot speed. I'm am happy for the most part.
Overall, pardon the sarcasm but I wonder if Nonis and friends all got together and said "Hey boys, we need two kids from Everett Silvertips, two from the USHL, something from the Q, and Gradin do you're magic again..... just alittle bizarre.