Nucker 67

Yes, they might have their eyes set on a certain player in the Top, hoping he's there at #15 (Yurov? Lekkerimaki? Gauthier?), but this is also JR and Alvin, so who knows how they'll draft here. I'm almost expecting a "Kotkaniemi at #3" reaction from Canucks fans.

I agree, Korchinski looks good, great skater, smart. I'd be happy if VAN got him, and in 3-4 years, Canucks could have Hughes, Korchinski and Rathbone on the left side. I believe Korchinski's stock has risen though, and he's now in Top 10 conversation. Canucks might not have a chance to get him. Considering the lack of prospects, should the Canucks trade down to acquire another Top 30-40 pick? Two prospects are better than one. The rankings are also all over the place so VAN could still pick up two very good players. They need to build up that prospect pool quick. I'd be happy if they traded for another 1st rounder, or at least a 2nd. More prospects!

Mike Smith looks like he lives in a shopping cart McDavid is on a mission, someone's gotta frustrate him, or else he'll win it all himself. Maybe Perron or Kadri is that guy in the next round. Happy to see CGY's dreams vanishing before their eyes, F-ers taking all our Canucks.

Bottom 6C - Paul RD - Zadorov RD - Lyubushkin Trade Myers

Article in the Province on some of the pending UFAs available F. Forsberg M. Domi D. Perron N. Kadri E. Kane (I think he stays in EDM) N. Paul Any chance VAN can get one of these guys? Or too expensive?

This now makes me a bit nervous about who they might be picking on Draft Day. "For the 15th pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks are proud to select from the Gatineau Olympiques....(RD) Tristan Luneau"

I guess JR better be right about this analytics thing. Seems ARI has been another team using analytics for years. Look where that got them. Barrett Hayton at #5?

I think the Canucks will try to re-sign Bo and JT (to less than they want). If they don't accept, I can see one of the two being traded. Canucks really need help at D, and I'd be okay if one of them was traded to help with that. Maybe Garland is traded as well. If the Canucks had a great D core and Demko, I would feel pretty comfortable going in with these forwards: Miller Pettersson Boeser Podkolzin Hoglander Highmore Lockwood Klimovich* Karlsson* (add another Top 6 winger and fill out the bottom 6)

If you were Kuzmenko, would you choose the Canucks over all of the other interested teams? I'm not sure Kuzmenko is going to want to join a rebuilding team with aspirations of playoffs, but maybe more likely wanting to join a playoff team with a chance to win. He's 26 years old, and not some kid who has years to develop and grow with his team mates. This is also the off-season, where every team makes changes, moving pieces out, creating cap space etc. If another (playoff) team wants him and makes room for him, why wouldn't he go there? My expectations are tempered with Kuz coming to VAN. Would love it if he picked us, but whoever does?

If tough means the ability to take a beating and continue playing, sure, they're tough. You could say Pettersson's tough too then. I think the Canucks are going after a different kind of tough this time, at least I hope so.

Do you think there's a chance JR goes after (RD) DeAngelo, who is an RFA? He's a RD, 26 or younger, and has a ton of sandpaper. Maybe too much sandpaper.

MyNHLDraft has been updated and some interesting developments. Korchinski is now in the Top 10, Yurov falls to #15

I want other teams to dread playing the Canucks, especially at home. Petey, Quinn, Nils, Garland, etc - don't scare anybody. The Canucks need a lot more gritty sandpaper, that can produce. Not just bringing in goons, but players that can play, and play physical. Canucks are too easy to play against, need to get tougher before any playoff talk.

Looking at Craig Button's rankings: Cooley Gauthier Snuggerud Howard Nazar McGroarty I guess Button thinks McGroarty is the passenger?

Watch Jimmy Snuggerud become a very good NHL player. Deep hockey roots, pedigree Looking back at previous drafts, there always seem to be players in the mid-1st round or later than somehow beat the odds and become better players than the experts thought. I can see Jimmy Snuggerud being one of those players.

Team needs more swagger, Miller can't be the only one providing that.

What are the Canucks' greatest needs? Top 5: 1. Jiricek - RD 2. Wright - r-shot C 3. Nemec - RD 4. Nazar - r-shot C 5. Savoie - r-shot C

I think the Canucks need more than a couple of minor tweaks to become a contender. The D needs help. Ekman-Larsson, Hughes, Dermott and Schenn are the only good D IMO Pettersson isn't a dominant player (yet). He's still too easy to play against, and needs to put on muscle. Garland and Hoglander could struggle in the postseason as well. Schenn is the only fighter/tough guy on the team. They need more of these guys who can play. More Podkolzins please.

Garland or Myers and the #15 to CBJ for their #6? Would be one way to clear some cap, maybe grab one of them RDs CBJ would still have the #12 and #15

JR said something like - they need to gauge whether the first 3 years of his contract would outweigh the last 3 years of his contract, so my guess is Miller gets 6 years max. They might only be offering him $7.5 though, but I think he accepts it. Miller seems like a blue-collar kind of guy who wants stability and a good working environment with good guys. Sounds like they also plan on qualifying Boeser (short term), so somethings got to give? Thinking Garland and Pearson are gone. That's $8+ right there.

I have him staying put in WPG (#14). I think the Canucks take (LD) Kevin Korchinski, and I would be okay with that. He's got size, very good skater, fast and smooth, makes smart plays. Defends well, but he'll also jump up in the play and try to score. If he gets caught, he's quick enough that he can usually get back to defend. Seems really steady, runs the PP.

A-holes win Cups. (Dustin Brown, Brad Marchand, Duncan Keith, David Bolland, etc.) Good chance Matt Tkachuk wins one at some point.

I really only think there's 6 prospects Canucks fans could be excited about: 1. Rathbone* 2. Lockwood 3. Klimovich 4. Karlsson 5. McDonough 6. Bains The other 4 were a stretch. * the only Dman Maybe adding Mintyukov, Korchinski or Pickering would be a good idea?

Savoie - My first impression is he reminds me of Point or Gaudreau, with Caufield's shot. Not as good on the wall as Garland, doesn't have the same elite skating and hands. What else stood out in the videos I've seen, there was absolutely no hitting. ?? Savoie looks free to find space, plenty of time to take whatever shot he wants. The NHL doesn't work that way. The D is a lot bigger, better and nastier. Point was a 3rd rounder, Gaudreau was a 4th rounder, Garland was a 5th rounder. Sometimes you find the gems late. I would be hesitant to take Savoie in the Top 10. But if he fell to #15, then I think they'd need to consider him. I'd still be nervous for him in the big leagues, hoping the Canucks take a player with some size with the #15. Conor Geekie?.

Fair enough, I still need to watch a lot more video and read more scouting assessments. Savoie in particular, he might be very skilled, but at 5'9", I'm not sure that does well in NHL payoff hockey. Saying that though, I guess Gaudreau has done okay for himself during these playoffs for a 5'9" player (13 pts in 10 games)