2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017

[Jiggs50]

36 minutes ago, Butters Stoch said:

Really hoping we try to draft the BPA instead of constantly drafting based on our current needs when we don't even know what our needs will be by the time our prospect is finished developing. I'd much rather have a prospect who is more likely to become a bonafide NHLer, even if they aren't the exact time of player we're looking for, than one with more potential to bust. Hate to look on the past but if we had drafted Nylander (yea yea I get it, you guys hate small skilled Euros), we'd have an extremely valuable trade piece to acquire what we're looking for. Nylander's trade value skyrocketed this season to the point where the media wouldn't stop speculating about what the Leafs could potentially get for him.

Same. We didn't go bpa with JV or OJ tbh. I still loved the Juolevi pick but I really hope we go bpa this year. 

[Scruffy05]

1 minute ago, Jiggs50 said:

Same. We didn't go bpa with JV or OJ tbh. I still loved the Juolevi pick but I really hope we go bpa this year. 

If I have two players who are essentially a toss up based on fuzzy future projections then I am taking the defenceman over the winger every time.

 

If only because defenceman are always so damn expensive on the open market and they have little middle ground between 'acceptable' and 'crap'.

[High and Inside]

Just now, Jiggs50 said:

Same. We didn't go bpa with JV or OJ tbh. I still loved the Juolevi pick but I really hope we go bpa this year. 

If we draft top 2 I think it leaves no doubt we have to draft Nolan or Nico but after that you could conceivably pick on need because really picks 3 through 8 or 9 are really a crapshoot. 

 

I like the Juolevi pick also and if we drafted a couple more dmen we wouldn't have pressure on one player to make our defence great. They could develop together even maybe down in Utica and then we can bring a core along that can help us. 

[Crabcakes]

4 minutes ago, Jiggs50 said:

Same. We didn't go bpa with JV or OJ tbh. I still loved the Juolevi pick but I really hope we go bpa this year. 

Benning did.  You're aware, he makes his own list and doesn't go by McKenzies ranking right?

[High and Inside]

2 minutes ago, Scruffy05 said:

If I have two players who are essentially a toss up based on fuzzy future projections then I am taking the defenceman over the winger every time.

 

If only because defenceman are always so damn expensive on the open market and they have little middle ground between 'acceptable' and 'crap'.

Also D take along time. You can pluck an 18 year old forward in the lineup but it's an entirely different story on defence. An 18 year old kid on the backend doesn't have the strength to handle the big power forwards in this league. 

[Jiggs50]

1 minute ago, Crabcakes said:

Benning did.  You're aware, he makes his own list and doesn't go by McKenzies ranking right?

Just stating the consensus. 

[messier's_elbow]

9 hours ago, J.R. said:

Yup.

 

Anybody 'convinced' that Vilardi or Mittel etc are top 4 without any doubt could be setting themselves up for disappointment/surprise. The next 8-10'ish guys after Patrick/Hischier could go in ANY order.

 

Even the top 25 aren't terribly clear. For instance, a lot of mocks have Suzuki in the 20's and I'd not be surprisded to see him picked anywhere beyond 8'ish either.

 

This year's draft is all over the map.

If we have a chance at Vilardi and JB passes, I will lose my $@%

[Scruffy05]

1 minute ago, High and Inside said:

Also D take along time. You can pluck an 18 year old forward in the lineup but it's an entirely different story on defence. An 18 year old kid on the backend doesn't have the strength to handle the big power forwards in this league. 

And if a forward fails to realize his potential in the NHL he can still be a productive bottom-6, AHLer, who are a dime-a-dozen and readily available.

 

If a defenceman does he's essentially just done. Defencemen should be drafted on bulk through all rounds.

 

Is there a stat about percentage of late round forwards that make it? There are so many spots for failed first and second rounders to cushion into.

[messier's_elbow]

1 hour ago, Warhippy said:

Someone posted a 14 minute long video in the OJ thread about game 7 against Windsor

 

OJ's check for the duration of the 14 minutes was almost always Vilardi.  

 

It's actually really interesting to watch.  You can capably see the comparisons in regards to size/skating and style of play to Getzlaf, but also how he was shut down so capably by OJ

 

As a 17 year old he is really really intriguing because you know he's 2 years in the OHL away from the AHL, but possibly 1 more OHL season and 1 Euro league (?)season away from the AHL

 

A guy like Vilardi would seriously benefit from a full season learning to skate on the big ice surfaces

He is who we need to draft. 6'3 200 pound 17 year old with high iq and huge compete level. Shows you how good he is that London had Juolevi checking him. 

[aGENT]

39 minutes ago, Crabcakes said:

I don't know where people are getting the idea that Benning doesn't draft BPA?  Especially in the 1st round.

 

2014 - 6 OA Jake Virtanen.  McKenzie had him ranked 7, Nylander was 9 and Ehlers was 10

         - 24 OA Jared McCann.  McKenzie rank 16

 

2015 - 23 OA Brock Boeser.  McKenzie rank 26

 

2016 - 5 OA Oli Juolevi.  McKenzie rank 6

 

Now keep in mind that McKenzie's rankings are a consensus of a number of scouts.  I'm not sure how many but believe it is in the neighbourhood of 10.  There is generally more agreement higher up the rankings.  It is totally reasonable to conclude that Benning was drafting BPA based on his own criteria.

Yup.

 

17 minutes ago, messier's_elbow said:

If we have a chance at Vilardi and JB passes, I will lose my $@%

Lol OK. 

[Sugar baby watermelon]

The Canucks Way, a Canucks fan site, did a mock draft 3 days ago for all rounds for the upcoming draft,  has anyone seen it?  They have the Canucks dropping to 6th in the lottery, although this is before the Canucks and NJ switched place in the standings, so the Canucks should switch with NJ and pick Middlestadt, instead they had the Canucks pick Elias Pettersson!  

 

I am not sure Benning would go this route, although Pettersson does have familiarity with Dahlen as they are teammates.

Vancouver Canucks: Early Seven-Round Mock Draft

 

by Janik Beichler3 days agoFollow @JanikBeichler

OMMENT

With less than two weeks left in the Vancouver Canucks season, our focus turns to the draft. Time for a first look at possible 2017 selections.

Many teams are celebrating playoff-clinching wins. For us Vancouver Canucks fans, on the other hand, NCAA free-agent signings are as exciting as it gets. But don’t worry, the 2017 NHL Entry Draft will bring enough excitement to Vancouver.

 

As of today, the Canucks own a total of six picks in this draft: one in each of the first three rounds, two in the fourth and one in the seventh. In addition, they could get the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second-round selection. Columbus can send either this year’s or next year’s second-rounder to Vancouver as compensation for former Canucks head coach John Tortorella.

 

The Blue Jackets have until June 1 to make that decision, but for this mock draft’s sake, I decided to include Columbus’s second this year as pick No. 61.

The draft lottery was simulated using the Tankathon lottery simulator. Ranking fourth-last in the league standings, the Canucks had an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first-overall selection and a 26 percent chance of winning a top-three pick.

Here are the results, with each club’s pre-lottery position in parentheses:

1. Colorado Avalanche (1)
2. Detroit Red Wings (5)
3. Arizona Coyotes (2)
4. Vegas Golden Knights (3)
5. New Jersey Devils (3)
6. Vancouver Canucks (4)

Yes, the Canucks dropped down again. And with the Vegas Golden Knights making their NHL draft debut, they even dropped down to No. 6 instead of No. 5.

 

Want your voice heard? Join the The Canuck Way team!

This won’t be a full mock draft but only the Canucks’ decision. But, in order for you to see the options with pick No. 6, here is whom I would expect to be taken with the first five picks.

1. Avalanche — C Nolan Patrick, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2. Red Wings — C Nico Hischier, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3. Coyotes — D Timothy Liljegren, Rögle (SHL)
4. Golden Knights — C Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
5. Devils — C Casey Mittelstadt, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

With the first five selections made, the Vancouver Canucks are on the clock.

A final note: Remember there are players one team would pick in the second round and another wouldn’t touch until at least the fifth. There are even players one team would draft in the first round that another wouldn’t draft at all. This mock draft is simply done by who I think might be available when the given pick rolls around. 

Round 1

6

ELIAS PETTERSSON

Centre, Timra, Allsvenskan

Don’t be fooled by the scoreless world juniors — Elias Pettersson is a highly exciting offensive player. Playing on a line with Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Pettersson finished the 2016-17 season with with 19 goals and 41 points in 43 games. The centre combines elite puck skills with skating, hockey sense and a strong two-way game, making him a very promising prospect. At the very least, Pettersson has top-six forward potential. He might not be in the same tier as the centres picked in the top five, though, so let’s hope the Canucks don’t actually fall to sixth overall.

Round 2

36

CONOR TIMMINS

Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL

Scouts have some very different opinions on this right-shot defenceman. Conor Timmins is ranked 19th by McKeen’s Hockey, but only 81st by Future Considerations. Timmins had a breakout year offensively, jumping to 61 points from 13 in 2015-16. He is an extremely smart player who distributes the puck well offensively and on the breakout, and disrupts plays defensively. What scouts don’t like is his lack of physicality and his skating, though the latter has improved a lot over the past year.

61

JONAH GADJOVICH

Left Wing, Owen Sound Attack, OHL

Jonah Gadjovich finished the season ranked third in OHL scoring with 46 goals in 60 games, but his game isn’t all goal-scoring. At 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, Gadjovich plays a power-forward game combined with strong two-way abilities. He is neither overly fast not flashy, but he gets the job done. A player who can slide up and down the lineup and fill a variety of roles. Could be gone by the time pick No. 61 rolls around, but here’s to hoping he won’t be.

Round 3

67

DAVID FARRANCE

Defence, USA U-18, NTDP

The Canucks are starting to believe that defensive depth is their biggest organisational strength. But, they are still far from having a top-level D-core in the NHL, and there’s nothing wrong with piling up D-prospects. David Farrance is an offensive force and an excellent skater. He knows how to get the puck out of pressure and start a breakout; he just doesn’t have prototypical NHL-size.

Round 4

98

LANE ZABLOCKI

Right Wing, Red Deer Rebels, WHL

A forward who split his draft season between the Regina Pats and the Red Deer Rebels in the WHL, Lane Zablocki can play at centre or on the wing. His 2016-17 numbers aren’t eye-popping, but 28 goals and 54 points in 64 games are more than respectable. Plus, Zablocki is currently raising his draft stock with some outstanding performances in the WHL playoffs.

115

JORDAN BELLERIVE

Centre, Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL

The Canucks like homegrown talent; so after skipping out on Michael Rasmussen in the first round, they select a North Vancouver native with pick 115. Jordan Bellerive is a smallish (5-foot-10) but highly skilled centre who knows how to create offence. In 70 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season, he has 27 goals and 56 points.

Round 7

191

BENJAMIN BECK

Goaltender, EC Salzburg U18, RBHRC U18

Thatcher Demko is the future of the Canucks franchise, but it’s always good to get a second talented goalie into the system. Benjamin Beck is a giant, listed at 6-foot-7 and 216 pounds. Committed to the University of Maine, Beck reminds his future coach of Maine alumnus Ben Bishop.

The chances of the draft actually shaking out this way are obviously extremely slim, thanks to the large number of players available, players picked, and the varying opinions of NHL scouts. But, if it did shake out this way, I would be very pleased.

 

NEXT: 5 Players to Watch for 2017 NHL Draft

The Canucks would get promising players on all three positions, including the playmaking centre and the offensive defenceman they want.

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft will take place in Chicago on June 23 and June 24.

 

No matter where the Canucks end up in the standings this season, the 2017 NHL Draft will be crucial for the club.

 

Edited April 6, 2017 by Sugar baby watermelon

[Camel Toe Drag]

29 minutes ago, Jiggs50 said:

Just stating the consensus. 

So your saying every GM should just draft according to the consensus? Cause that's what it sounds like your saying. 

[Camel Toe Drag]

1 hour ago, Butters Stoch said:

Really hoping we try to draft the BPA instead of constantly drafting based on our current needs when we don't even know what our needs will be by the time our prospect is finished developing. I'd much rather have a prospect who is more likely to become a bonafide NHLer, even if they aren't the exact time of player we're looking for, than one with more potential to bust. Hate to look on the past but if we had drafted Nylander (yea yea I get it, you guys hate small skilled Euros), we'd have an extremely valuable trade piece to acquire what we're looking for. Nylander's trade value skyrocketed this season to the point where the media wouldn't stop speculating about what the Leafs could potentially get for him.

I also hate to bring up the past but we drafted a highly skilled guy in Shinkaruk and got extremely good value when we turned him into Granlund. But also like Shinkaruk it is hard to tell with the smaller skilled players if they are certain to make the show or not. Benning clearly has more interest in aquiring skilled wingers that are 2 or more years into their draft year and development. Which is actually quite brilliant because it shows an increased chance that they are infancy capable of making the big leagues. 

[DeltaSwede]

I've got the Mittelstadt fever

[Kaner]

Just now, DeltaSwede said:

I've got the Mittelstadt fever

Yes please. 

[Crabcakes]

10 hours ago, J.R. said:

Yup.

 

Anybody 'convinced' that Vilardi or Mittel etc are top 4 without any doubt could be setting themselves up for disappointment/surprise. The next 8-10'ish guys after Patrick/Hischier could go in ANY order.

 

Even the top 25 aren't terribly clear. For instance, a lot of mocks have Suzuki in the 20's and I'd not be surprisded to see him picked anywhere beyond 8'ish either.

 

This year's draft is all over the map.

I have to think that if Benning is the Great Scout himself, that he will find the real gem(s) in this weaker draft year.  It's years like this where he will earn his salt.  Anybody can pick a good player in a good year.

[Camel Toe Drag]

3 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said:

I've got the Mittelstadt fever

Oh, that's what that is. Been in and out of the washroom all day. 

[JustABandwagoner]

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/addition-of-golden-knights-curbs-appeal-of-tanking-1.695461

 

Apparently NHL draft lottery is on April 29th 

[Jiggs50]

53 minutes ago, Camel Toe Drag said:

So your saying every GM should just draft according to the consensus? Cause that's what it sounds like your saying. 

Nope. Just said we didn't take bpa according to the consensus. Didn't say if we should of or shouldn't have. So relax. 

[nowhereman]

1 hour ago, Sugar baby watermelon said:

The Canucks Way, a Canucks fan site, did a mock draft 3 days ago for all rounds for the upcoming draft,  has anyone seen it?  They have the Canucks dropping to 6th in the lottery, although this is before the Canucks and NJ switched place in the standings, so the Canucks should switch with NJ and pick Middlestadt, instead they had the Canucks pick Elias Pettersson!  

 

I am not sure Benning would go this route, although Pettersson does have familiarity with Dahlen as they are teammates.

Stay away from Petterson and target the likes out Vilardi, Middlestat, Glass, etc. if we drop in the draft. He's certainly talented but I'd rather move away from a culture of creampuffs and draft someone who can make an impact in the playoffs. We are shaping up to be the easiest team in the NHL to play against and I'd like to see this draft change that. Praying for Patrick and Gadjovich.