2021 NHL Entry Draft

[N4ZZY]

4 minutes ago, R3aL said:

I did a mock draft with him sliding to 9 but it’s unlikely. Imo he is the best player in the draft. 

Yeah. I can’t see him slipping to 9 either. One of the teams above us is going to take Clarke before he falls to us. 

 

If he does, 1-2 teams above us would have to go off the board in terms of their selections. 

[N4ZZY]

6 minutes ago, R3aL said:

Think it was rick dahliwal at some point shared the Canucks are high on McTavish and Edvinsson.

 

I’m not high on Edvinsson either but if Gradin green lights picking him and he’s there at 9 we take him and run 100%.  

Guenther would be amazing too, no? 

[hammertime]

I have been having a difficult time breaking it down to player a is better than player b when the margins are so miniscule. I have put players into groups of 4 that I feel are interchangeable in order depending on preference.

 

The cream of this draft

Beniers C

Eklund LW

Wallstedt G

Clarke RHD

 

Moderate risk high reward

Hughes LD

Lysell RW

Edvinsson LD

Mctavish C

 

High floor 

Power LD

Sillinger C

Svechkov C

Raty C

 

Home run swings

Guenther RW

Johnson LW

Heimosalmi RD

Lucius RW/C

 

Second liners and mid pair D

Chibrikov RD

Tuomaala RW

Koivunen LW

Ceulemans RD

 

The guys I hope are there in the 2nd

Rosen W 

Robertson W

Lambos LD

Cossa G

 

Svozil LD

Samoskovich C

Olausson LW

Salminen C

 

Pastujov LW

Martin RD

Corronato W

Stankoven W

 

Morrow RD

Nause LD

Chayka LD

Bar RD

 

Schmidt RD 

Helenius C

Lautzin C/W

Dean C

 

Honorable mentions

Brent Johnson

Bolduc

Borgault

Otheman

 

 

 

 

 

 

[R3aL]

1 hour ago, N4ZZY said:

Trust Gradin that much eh. 

 

What about if McTavish and Edvinsson are available at 9? Who do you choose and why? 

I would put a lot of stock into it for sure. But they will have had their list already done and agree as a team where Edvinsson is on their board. No idea if it’ll be above or below mctavish. 

 

I personally am not high on Edvinsson I see Swedish Tyler Myers. Whereas McTavish I see a guy who can be a beast up the middle and be a key cog in a playoff series. 
 

So I’d go with McTavish. Highly doubt both are available though at 9 

 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, R3aL said:

I would put a lot of stock into it for sure. But they will have had their list already done and agree as a team where Edvinsson is on their board. No idea if it’ll be above or below mctavish. 

 

I personally am not high on Edvinsson I see Swedish Tyler Myers. Whereas McTavish I see a guy who can be a beast up the middle and be a key cog in a playoff series. 
 

So I’d go with McTavish. Highly doubt both are available though at 9 

 

If you get a Tyler Myers at 9, that’s a win.  Maybe me and you have differing values of Myers, as to me he was head and shoulders our best dman last year.  
 

We’ve seen in the years past Canucks go in with a top 50 list for players and then the rest get ordered by position. 

[R3aL]

1 hour ago, N4ZZY said:

Yeah. I can’t see him slipping to 9 either. One of the teams above us is going to take Clarke before he falls to us. 

 

If he does, 1-2 teams above us would have to go off the board in terms of their selections. 

Well if Detroit takes a goalie and a team is very high on Kent Johnson it opens up the door to one of Hughes or Clarke falling to 9. And I think Hughes is more likely. 
 

not to mention if a team takes mctavish high

 

power

beniers

guenther

eklund

edvinsson
wallstedt

johnson 

mctavish 

 

can all realistically get picked over Clarke and Hughes but less likely for Clarke.

 

think we have a serious chance at Hughes at 9.

[R3aL]

Just now, VancouverHabitant said:

If you get a Tyler Myers at 9, that’s a win.  Maybe me and you have differing values of Myers, as to me he was head and shoulders our best dman last year.  
 

We’ve seen in the years past Canucks go in with a top 50 list for players and then the rest get ordered by position. 

If we had Myers at 4/4.5 million sure. At 6 million it’s hard for me to be happy about him.

 

I really don’t think edvinsson makes it to 9.

 

Columbus or Detroit will take him I think.

[R3aL]

1 hour ago, N4ZZY said:

Guenther would be amazing too, no? 

Well of course he’s not sliding to 9 and if he does awesome. He’s a solid kid with a good head on his shoulders on top of it.
 

he also practices on Cossa one of the best goalies possible for him so it’s good guy for him to be shooting on.

 

he also has solid hockey iq from what I’ve seen which the whl guys who don’t make it seem to lack.

 

so I wouldn’t be worried about taking him and think he’d slot into our future top 6 beautifully.

[Fred65]

Guenther -

 

Steve Kournianos  

Profile

Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height / Weight: 6’1, 181 lbs
Born: April 10, 2003 | Edmonton, AB
Nation: Canada

Season Review

A top-line right wing who poses a scoring threat in any situation, Guenther wasted little time establishing himself as the WHL’s most dangerous forward this season, scoring 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in only 12 games before he was summoned for Team Canada’s under-18 camp. Although he (like most CHL’ers) waited patiently for his league to resume play, Guenther gave the Alberta Junior Hockey League a chance by suiting up with the Sherwood Park Crusaders for only a handful of games before prepping for a return to his Edmonton Oil Kings, where he has combined with linemates Jake Neighbours and Kade Oliver to form one of the league’s most prolific trios. This also was the case in 2019-20, when Guenther — the first overall pick int he 2018 WHL Bantam Draft — finished second to Michal Teply in WHL rookie scoring (26 goals, 33 assists in 58 games).

Skating and Stickhandling

Guenther doesn’t seem like an explosive skater at first or second glance, but he can drop a lightning-quick first step in any direction, and his rapid peel-backs consistently catch opponents off guard. One thing of note is that he has added nearly 20 pounds from last season without a decrease in agility or acceleration, and he remains difficult to contain in the neutral zone. Whether Guenther’s frequent positioning in unchecked danger areas is a tribute to either his anticipation or speed (or both), the fact remains that the kid always seems one, two, or even three steps ahead of his closest opponent. He’s in open ice a ton and displays smoothness and fluidity no matter the game speed he’s operating at.

Blessed with soft hands and sharp hand-eye coordination, Guenther can make short work of defenders in one-on-one scenarios. Filling out has helped make his puck-protection skills even more impressive, as his constant shifting of body positioning with slight delays (while his head is up) can ankle-break an opponent to a good three or four feet off of him. Guenther makes a lot of money stickhadling in tight spaces and knows how to use both the boards and switching/weaving teammates to his advantage, and it’s quite common to see him turn your basic two-on-two into a coverage mix-up that results in an open lane to the net.

Shooting, Passing and Playmaking

Guenther is your classic dual-threat who can differentiate between when it’s time to play sniper and when to go the pass-first route. If there was a “best option available” category for scoring chances created, you’d probably find Guenther at or near the top of that list. In other words, he rarely settles for low-percentage plays and will reload a possession if necessary by staying in motion and alternating sides. But Guenther has a plus-plus shot-release combo and he sure loves to use it, and you can say his “office” for a right wing is anywhere inside the left circle, especially on the power play. His shots per game in 2020-21 (4.25) took a massive jump in comparison to last season (2.87), albeit in a smaller sample size, but there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t have hit at least 50 or 60 goals and 250 shots had the WHL played a full season. As nasty as his wrister and one-timer are, however, Guenther probably is the best among his peers at depositing net-mouth chances or cross-crease feeds.

Having elite goal-scoring prowess affords Guenther the time and space to showcase his vision and passing ability. He’s often the primary possessor during advances up the ice and will make smart timing plays to allow his entire unit to not only enter the zone but also have enough time to position themselves properly. Guenther on the power play is used as the “F4” who starts out high but eventually slips into the left or right circle, where he will deliver crisp, accurate passes across the seam from either forehand or backhand.

Defense and Physicality

Guenther’s two-way game is a significant part of his overall skill set, but he has taken it to another level now that he has a thicker frame and is a year wiser. He is hyper-aggressive off the puck and will apply in-your-face pressure using an active stick, hard shoves, and rapid directional changes that allow him to harass either a mobile or static puck carrier. Guenther also is one of the more active penalty killers you’ll find within the 2003 age group, as he constantly pressures the points and finishes his checks along the half wall. His desire to make life difficult for an opponent is quite strong and it’s blatantly obvious why coaches at multiple levels of competition have used him for the penalty kill or during late/close situations. Another testament to his maturity is how he can show a nasty or gritty side while staying within the rule book — Guenther’s totaled only 24 penalty minutes in nearly 80 WHL games. Although Guenther’s zeal off the puck can lead to occasional overcommitments or lapses in coverage, any coach would gladly welcome his efforts and the mostly positive results that go along with them.

Hockey Sense

It goes without saying that a top-flight winger who possesses the aforementioned qualities in versatility and playmaking must think the game at a higher level, which is exactly what Guenther does on the regular. Whether opponents know his intentions or not is practically irrelevant because Guenther still manages to outfox them and beat them to a desired spot far more times than not. He makes so many smart plays in the neutral zone that result in immediate counterattacks, and what he does with the puck from that point forward is usually calculated and strategized. Some might call him opportunistic or taking advantage of what’s given to him, but a deeper analysis of Guenther’s game shows highly-intelligent play in all three zones. He is an effective player and contributor whether he’s scoring or not.

NHL Projection

Premier scoring winger with star potential.

[theo5789]

2 hours ago, N4ZZY said:

If Clarke falls to us at 9th, that would be a &^@#ing steal. 

 

But what would have to happen for him to fall to 9th? 

[hammertime]

So say the draft goes Power, Beniers, Eklund, Clarke, Johnson, Guenther, Luke, McTavish in whatever order.

 

The Canucks are up.....Wallstedt Edvinsson Lysell are on the table.

 

I think I'm going goalie. It's a really hard choice though. I think this is a very likely scenario JB could find himself in. 

Edited June 13, 2021 by hammertime

[hammertime]

Same scenario in the 2nd round. Cossa Rosen Robertson Lambos are there unlikely but maybe 2 of em are. Again I think I take the goalie.

 

Edited June 13, 2021 by hammertime

[Honky Cat]

7 minutes ago, hammertime said:

So say the draft goes Power, Beniers, Eklund, Clarke, Johnson, Guenther, Luke, McTavish in whatever order.

 

The Canucks are up.....Wallstedt Edvinsson Lysell are on the table.

 

I think I'm going goalie. It's a really hard choice though. I think this is a very likely scenario JB could find himself in. 

I'd go Edvinsson, Wallstedt, and Lysell, in that order.

[theo5789]

8 minutes ago, hammertime said:

So say the draft goes Power, Beniers, Eklund, Clarke, Johnson, Guenther, Luke, McTavish in whatever order.

 

The Canucks are up.....Wallstedt Edvinsson Lysell are on the table.

 

I think I'm going goalie. It's a really hard choice though. I think this is a very likely scenario JB could find himself in. 

Wallstedt has the highest potential in changing a franchise. Can't say I've followed Edvinsson enough, but from what I hear, it doesn't sound like there's a clear picture of what he may be. Lysell looks decent, but he's certainly my third option of these three. Still would do Svechkov over Edvinsson and Lysell, but probably not ahead of Wallstedt, so given that scenario, I'd take Wallstedt.

[theo5789]

12 minutes ago, hammertime said:

Same scenario in the 2nd round. Cossa Rosen Robertson Lambos are there unlikely but maybe 2 of em are. Again I think I take the goalie.

 

If we didn't take Wallstedt in the first round, then probably Cossa. Although it depends on who else may be available. Rosen would be high on my list for our 2nd if available.

[GB5]

21 minutes ago, hammertime said:

So say the draft goes Power, Beniers, Eklund, Clarke, Johnson, Guenther, Luke, McTavish in whatever order.

 

The Canucks are up.....Wallstedt Edvinsson Lysell are on the table.

 

I think I'm going goalie. It's a really hard choice though. I think this is a very likely scenario JB could find himself in. 

No way do I take a goalie with that pick. 

 

The Canucks are set at that position for over a decade and drafting goalies is like breakfast ceareal. That is, they can often be a bunch of flakes

 

The Canucks would be wise to look at Edvinsson or perhaps Sillinger, Lysell if this is what is set before them. Or trade down.

Edited June 13, 2021 by GarthButcher5

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

19 minutes ago, theo5789 said:

Wallstedt has the highest potential in changing a franchise. Can't say I've followed Edvinsson enough, but from what I hear, it doesn't sound like there's a clear picture of what he may be. Lysell looks decent, but he's certainly my third option of these three. Still would do Svechkov over Edvinsson and Lysell, but probably not ahead of Wallstedt, so given that scenario, I'd take Wallstedt.

I don't think Wallstedt will be available at our pick.

[hammertime]

12 minutes ago, GarthButcher5 said:

No way do I take a goalie with that pick. 

 

The Canucks are set at that position for over a decade and drafting goalies is like breakfast ceareal. That is, they can often be a bunch of flakes

 

The Canucks would be wise to look at Edvinsson or perhaps Sillinger, Lysell if this is what is set before them. Or trade down.

I dunno man.

Price, Flower, Brodeur, Luongo, Fuhr, Barasso, Rask, Dubnyk, Vasilevski, Spencer Knight looks like a beaut. All 1st round picks.

 

Rick Dipetro is more the exception than the rule.

 

I do like Sillinger as well though I shaved him and Svechkov off the list for simplicity as they are a bit more reaching than Lysell, Edvinsson.

[Kenny Blankenship]

3 minutes ago, hammertime said:

I dunno man.

Price, Flower, Brodeur, Luongo, Fuhr, Barasso, Rask, Dubnyk, Vasilevski, Spencer Knight looks like a beaut. All 1st round picks.

 

Rick Dipetro is more the exception than the rule.

 

I do like Sillinger as well though I shaved him and Svechkov off the list for simplicity as they are a bit more reaching than Lysell, Edvinsson.

If we had stuck with marky instead of demmer than I would say sure, draft a goalie. I just don’t see us taking a goalie that early when we have way more pressing needs. Demko is just starting to reach stardom, I don’t see why we would want to try to find his replacement at this stage. 

[theo5789]

14 minutes ago, Herberts Vasiljevs said:

I don't think Wallstedt will be available at our pick.

Just replying to a scenario presented by another poster