2021 NHL Draft Thread

[Petey O]

Let’s say we end up with the 1st or 2nd OA, who would you guys pick.

Brandt Clarke

 

[CpatainCanuck]

the weird thing on the Hughes ranking was that when he was playing he was ranked in the 7-10 range. He gets injured. Doesn't play for the longest time and he's all of a sudden a top 4 pick, like wtf is going on here boys.

Good point. It’s things like this that make me wonder if many of the “experts” are just talking out of their asses just like the fans do.

 

[lawrence]

Let’s say we end up with the 1st or 2nd OA, who would you guys pick.

Clarke all the way. If he's gone, wouldn't mind Guenther, Hughes.

With Rathbone playing quite well I wouldn't mind not picking Powers (if he's available) for someone else like Hughes or even a forward. Not a fan of his game for whatever reason.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Wonder if Luke Hughes injury drops him a couple spots.

You just know the Aquilli’s will do everything in their power to get the Hughes brothers together.

This is going to happen. Getting your hopes up yet again is foolish.
We're picking hughes if he's on the board, which is looking extremely likely..

 

[AppleHoneySauce]

With Rathbone looking like a sure top 4 dman

Hes played like one game at sheltered minutes...

 

[BerSTUzzi]

Hes played like one game at sheltered minutes...

True, but he did alright playing with Myers who is a hot mess of a Dman.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Jersey and Van will battle to who can get Hughes first.

Can bet the house Hughes will be a Canuck if available.

Would love Clarke.

Be inclined to take Beniers too as can never have enough centers.

 

[Blue and Green]

Jersey and Van will battle to who can get Hughes first.

Can bet the house Hughes will be a Canuck if available.

Because they have his brothers on their teams? I don't think that's going to be a factor.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

Let’s say we end up with the 1st or 2nd OA, who would you guys pick.

Really hard question to answer actually. As much as this team needs skilled, smooth skating defencemen, and especially on the right side, it's also becoming very clear that we could equally use a shot of talent in to the forward group.

I would be really tempted to take Matthew Beniers actually. You can never have too much centre depth, and I could see him potentially pan out as either a 2C or 3C, which would take so much pressure off Horvat and Pettersson.

I think we will be picking closer to #10 than 1 or 2 honestly, but if any of Power, Hughes, Guenther, Eklund, Beniers or Clarke are available I'd be pretty happy.

 

[bertuzzi2bure]

in the top 10 you need to go BPA. dont get fancy or cute. just pick the best player.

 

[StreetHawk]

Really hard question to answer actually. As much as this team needs skilled, smooth skating defencemen, and especially on the right side, it's also becoming very clear that we could equally use a shot of talent in to the forward group.

I would be really tempted to take Matthew Beniers actually. You can never have too much centre depth, and I could see him potentially pan out as either a 2C or 3C, which would take so much pressure off Horvat and Pettersson.

I think we will be picking closer to #10 than 1 or 2 honestly, but if any of Power, Hughes, Guenther, Eklund, Beniers or Clarke are available I'd be pretty happy.

If they opted with Beniers in the top 2, then the team would have the replacement for Bo Horvat at C to make the difficult decision to trade him if they don't believe that he would be productive throughout his next contract. He will be 28 in 2023 when he's a UFA. Looking at a 7/8 year extension takes him to 35/36. Canucks haven't have much luck with guys going into that age range in recent years. His style of game and skating would probably age like Toews. If they can't get their act together then they are wasting the good years that Miller/Horvat have and a Competent GM coming in, may look at the whole situation and say we can't maximize their prime years.

But, really, not going to think too much about a top 2 pick at this point.

Much more likely to sit where they are. I figure that among the top 5 will be Power, Beniers, Hughes, Clarke. Last guy could be Evindsson, Eklund. I'd see if there is a team looking to move up for the goalie Wallstedt and trade down and gain an extra 2nd round pick like PHI did in 2019 dropping 3 spots.

Guys I like after the inital few players are Lysell, the Swedish winger or Ceulmans, the RHD from the AJHL. Round 2, I would look at Scott Morrow a RHD from the USNDT or maybe Colton Dach of the WHL. I also like William Stromgren of Sweden in Round 3 if he's still there.

Getting 2 RHD, would add to Woo and give them some legit hope on D. I also would like to see some players with size/skill combination drafted who can play in the top 6.

 

[Szechwan]

Really hard question to answer actually. As much as this team needs skilled, smooth skating defencemen, and especially on the right side, it's also becoming very clear that we could equally use a shot of talent in to the forward group.

I would be really tempted to take Matthew Beniers actually. You can never have too much centre depth, and I could see him potentially pan out as either a 2C or 3C, which would take so much pressure off Horvat and Pettersson.

I think we will be picking closer to #10 than 1 or 2 honestly, but if any of Power, Hughes, Guenther, Eklund, Beniers or Clarke are available I'd be pretty happy.

Maybe it's a function of draft quality, but I feel like we should be aiming higher than 2C or 3C with a top 5 pick.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

Maybe it's a function of draft quality, but I feel like we should be aiming higher than 2C or 3C with a top 5 pick.

There is no sure fire #1 C in this draft class. Gotta work with what you've got. And any first rounder that becomes an impact centre in the NHL is a win.

 

[supercanuck]

Because they have his brothers on their teams? I don't think that's going to be a factor.

The marketing angle would be a huge draw for both teams. The fact that Luke is generally regarded as a top 5/10 caliber talent makes it easier for them to justify selecting him over Power/Clarke/etc. Should always be BPA but I can't see Aquilini saying no to drafting Luke if he is available.

 

[arttk]

I would prefer a D if we have the 1st or 2nd or pick. Can’t decide between Powers, Hughes or Clarke. Hughes would basically guarantee us signing Jack when he becomes a UFA.

 

[sting101]

BPA all the way but it does seem like the tiers are hard to distinguish still amongst the scouts. I'm sure some of these guys will become 1st liners but it does seem more of a large group of 2nd line quality.

I have no interest in anyone with skating issues. This team needs to be able to skate with the top teams and we are slow by comparison

McTavish C and Ceulemans RD have to be moving into or close to the top10.

Berniers C Guenther W Power LD Hughes LD and Clarke RD are also top 10 talents i like.

Eklund i could be convinced but seems like a poor fit.

I wouldn't underestimate having another good C in the system either. Depth down the middle is huge

Berniers and McTavish look solid

 

[Blue and Green]

The marketing angle would be a huge draw for both teams. The fact that Luke is generally regarded as a top 5/10 caliber talent makes it easier for them to justify selecting him over Power/Clarke/etc. Should always be BPA but I can't see Aquilini saying no to drafting Luke if he is available.

I don't think the brother thing is much of a marketing angle. And hockey ops guys wouldn't be pleased if draft decisions were made based on that element. But I guess with the current owner, you just never know what the Canucks might do.

 

[canuckking1]

Looking at some of the early 2017 draft lists makes me hella nervous for this draft

-Makar wasn't in the first round
-Heiskanen was in the 20's
-Pettersson was 18th

 

[Szechwan]

Looking at some of the early 2017 draft lists makes me hella nervous for this draft

-Makar wasn't in the first round
-Heiskanen was in the 20's
-Pettersson was 18th

It's a good year to go for quantity over quality w/regards to picks. There are going to be some great players that go much lower than they should have.

 

[iceburg]

BPA all the way but it does seem like the tiers are hard to distinguish still amongst the scouts. I'm sure some of these guys will become 1st liners but it does seem more of a large group of 2nd line quality.

I have no interest in anyone with skating issues. This team needs to be able to skate with the top teams and we are slow by comparison

McTavish C and Ceulemans RD have to be moving into or close to the top10.

Berniers C Guenther W Power LD Hughes LD and Clarke RD are also top 10 talents i like.

Eklund i could be convinced but seems like a poor fit.

I wouldn't underestimate having another good C in the system either. Depth down the middle is huge

Berniers and McTavish look solid

This.....exactly.

 

[Gstank]

Svechkov and Chibrikov should be top 15 picks this year. I've been really impressed with this whole Russian team. its been a while since I've seen a Russian team actually commit to playing good team defense

 

[arttk]

I don't think the brother thing is much of a marketing angle. And hockey ops guys wouldn't be pleased if draft decisions were made based on that element. But I guess with the current owner, you just never know what the Canucks might do.

I mean, jack is a damn good player, that itself is a good enough reason to try to get him. The brother angle is like whatever but if you have two then the third will come and all of them will probably take discount to stick together and try to win together.

 

[lawrence]

Hes played like one game at sheltered minutes...

rookies are often sheltered. You can't expect the coach to feed him to the wolves like cmon man, wtf is this.

 

[lawrence]

Eklund i could be convinced but seems like a poor fit.

the kids like a Henrik Zetterberg I wouldn't mind picking him up in fact I think he's one of the top 3 forwards off the board.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

rookies are often sheltered. You can't expect the coach to feed him to the wolves like cmon man, wtf is this.

He looks promising for sure and will likely be an NHL regular, but let's be real, this fanbase has a notorious history of pencilling in prospects as reaching their full potential like Schroeder, Rodin, Shinkaruk, etc.