[Proposal] Therodigy's annual draft approach 2022

[therodigy]

Greetings,

 

It's NHL Draft time. Here's how I would approach the Canuck's NHL draft.

 

Before beginning the exercise, I am approaching this draft under the following presumptions:

 

- The consolidated top 10 are all no longer available for selection

 

- A pending Miller trade does not include 2022 draft picks.

 

- The Canucks drafting priority include centres and defenseman, preferably right-handed.

 

The first round after the top 10 is pretty all over the place, and I foresee a lot of similarity between picks 12-40. I would therefore attempt to trade the 15th pick down to secure two picks between 20-40, either with Montreal (26 and 33) or Arizona (27 and 34, plus the 131st because I'm greedy). Let's presume the following trade:

 

Van 15th for Arizona 27 and 34.

 

With the 27th pick, my targets would include Ostland, Snuggerud, Firkus, Hughes, and Bichsel. Seeing that the top 6 Centre depth on the main club is pretty much solidified, I would select Bichsel as my OEL replacement when he is inevitably bought-out, traded, or goes through a massive decline within the next 2 or 3 years.

 

With the 36th pick, I would now look to solidify the team's centre depth, someone who can slot in as 3C by 2024-2025, with top 6 potential if necessary. Targets include Beck, Bystedt, Gaucher, and Goyette. Obviously, If any of the 1st round Centre targets slide to this draft position, I would select them. Beck is tempting as a right handed Centre, however, I will select the strong and towering swede, Filip Bystedt.

 

By the 3rd round, things become more of a crap shoot. Although ranked in the late 90s, I would attempt to snag the Physical and defensive-minded Noah Warren. 6'5" and 215 lbs, he could potentially pair with Hughes down the line, or develop chemistry with Bischel in the minors to form a brutal match-up pair. For someone more offensive-minded, there's also Kent Anderson, but will likely be gone at the top of the 3rd. For trolling purposes, I would also consider Elias Pettersson should he slide into the 3rd.

 

At 112, I would look at finding a playmaking centre centre at this position. I will hope for Markus Vidicek, but other centre targets can include Patrovski, Finley, and Vilmanis. If he slides as far as 112, Cruz Lucius would be a no brainer, though it's possible he goes in the late 2nd should someone be willing to take the chance. Besides, he is a winger and I'm prioritizing Centres at this point. 

 

At 144, there's a slim chance that Christian Kyrou, Jordan's little brother, is available. He would be my main target as a right-handed offensive-minded D-Man. Other targets would include Otto Salin (highly unlikely) Jace Weir (pretty likely though redundant with a Warren selection), and Hudson Thorton (too many left side ODs with Hughes and Rathbone).

 

In my opinion, by the time the Canucks select in the 6th round, draft targets are all over the place. I would look to trade down and draft projects with high reward-potential. I would trade with Tampa Bay (175 for 192 and 224) and look at targeting the following players: at RW, Oskar Pettersson, Carl O'Neill, and Dylan Hryckowian; at LW, Colin Kessler and Colton Smith; at C, James Fisher and Connor Kurth; at D, David Spacek and Jack Sparkes. For the purposes of this exercise, I will select LW Colton Smith, RD David Spacek, and RW Dylan Hryckowian with 192, 208, and 224 

 

In summary, here are my draft selections:

 

27 - Lian Bischel (LD) - Top 2 potential to stabilize left side with Quinn Hughes

 

36 - Filip Bystedt (C) - Big and Strong two-way Centre who can drive the 3rd line behind Petersson and Horvat

 

80 - Noah Warren (RD) - 3rd pair Floor Defensive defenseman with top 4 potential. Can hopefully slot in on the right side by 2024-2025.

 

112 - Markus Vidicek (C) - Solid depth forward option, like what we hoped Nic Petan could've been.

 

144 - Christian Kyrou (RD) - A PP specialist who can make Rathbone replaceable if he meets his potential.

 

192 -  Colton Smith (LW) - A possible 4th line winger option who can provide size and grit. Depending on his progression, could possibly be Jordan Greenway light.

 

208 - David Spacek (RD) - A diamond in the rough, if he can improve on the defensive side of the puck, could be a  Parayko type player, 

 

224 - Dylan Hrykowian (RW) - a very long-term project, he will likely be more of a Ty Ronning or Jordan Schroeder type with the very slim chance of being a Johnny Gaudreau light. 

 

That's my take. Who would you select with the above picks? How would you approach the draft? Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

Edited July 6, 2022 by therodigy

[King Heffy]

I like your picks a lot.  I'm high enough on Bicshel that I'd consider him at 15, so I'd be pretty happy about that trade.