2021 NHL Draft Thread

[VanJack]

If Luke Hughes was a RHD I can see the Canucks targeting him. Even still, I can see the Canucks targeting Luke whose father...err... brother is here.

Yes, there's a possibility Luke Hughes could be in their wheelhouse when it's time to pick.

And it's an interesting question....what impact on Quinn's game would there be having his brother on the ice with him? Of course it wouldn't happen for at least a year, because I think Luke is committed to the Michigan for next hockey season.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Clarke should go 1st overall. Given how this season went though it's tough to say who will go where, but if I had the top pick I'd be taking Clarke.

I'm very high on Ceulemans. He does remind me of Makar, though doesn't have the ceiling that Makar had. I do think he ends up becoming a top 4 defenseman, from the right side, with high offensive potential. If we pick in the bottom half of the top 10 then I would absolutely be happy if we took him. Luke Hughes is another I'm high on, a left shot defenseman, but someone who I think is clearly a top 3 pick.

Very hesitant to take a guy like Owen Power...with these tall players the first red flag to me is are they being overrated because of their size? If they had the exact same skillset would this player still be ranked where he is? I still likely have him in my top 10, but not in my top 5.

Agreed re Power. I have both Clarke/Hughes ahead of him atm.

Also, I'd be ok trading down to pick Ceulemans... if it means acquiring another early 2nd/late 1st.

 

[kcunac]

Luke Hughes is one of the youngest players in the draft. While there are still holes in his defensive game, he projects to be more of a 2-way defenseman than Quinn (which isn't saying much) and will also certainly be an offensive-minded defenseman. At his age, his season with the Wolverines, though short, was impressive, and before his injury he was first OV on many reputable scouting services' lists. Luke has more than enough going for him to not consider Nucks picking him to be nepotism, though he is likely 2 years away from the NHL.

 

[Catamarca Livin]

Luke Hughes is one of the youngest players in the draft. While there are still holes in his defensive game, he projects to be more of a 2-way defenseman than Quinn (which isn't saying much) and will also certainly be an offensive-minded defenseman. At his age, his season with the Wolverines, though short, was impressive, and before his injury he was first OV on many reputable scouting services' lists. Luke has more than enough going for him to not consider Nucks picking him to be nepotism, though he is likely 2 years away from the NHL.

I am starting to go against another offensive dman pick. I know BPA but if L. Hughes and B. Clark are not contributing to the pp are they making a big difference in 5 on 5 play. And if they are an in between player like Hanofin or Eric Johnson do you want to spend a high pick on him? Maybe Clarke is excellent 2 way dman? Otherwise I like the idea of Eklund. He looks like a quicker but less physical Hoglander. He makes good decisions with puck and hustles around the ice. I want Canucks to have this identity. If you have 2 puck retrieving wingers it is easy for a center to play in position.

 

[kcunac]

I am starting to go against another offensive dman pick. I know BPA but if L. Hughes and B. Clark are not contributing to the pp are they making a big difference in 5 on 5 play. And if they are an in between player like Hanofin or Eric Johnson do you want to spend a high pick on him? Maybe Clarke is excellent 2 way dman?

yeah i hear you. this team desperately needs defenseman that can actually defend. We need one for the Hughes pairing, and maybe even one on the Rathbone and Myers pairings. Hopefully Woo can play in the NHL in the next few years. At the same time, drafting 'defensive defenseman' is not a philosophy that turns out well often. I agree, would be happy with Beniers or Eklund in at anything over 4th OV. before then, i think we have to draft Clarke/Powers/Hughes and hope they will develop a better two way game. It is just way too hard to sign or trade for top pairing Dman nowadays.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

My top five are sorta interchangeable, I’m not overly passionate about anybody 1st overall ( I’m thinking Luke Hughes I dunno)
1-5
Hughes, Powers, Clarke, Eklund and Johnson

the next tier for me 6-8 are
Edvinson, Guenthier and Beniers

not a draft I wanna try and get a centre in and unless all of Hughes, Clarke, Powers, Edvinson are gone I hope we get Eklund

This feels like a draft where we actually blend BPA and positional need into our pick around 7-8

Clearly no consensus 1st overall and maybe the first time I am in favour of a trade down situation
Honestly worst decision but I am open to trading our 1st for the right player ( Seth Jones )

 

[Bankerguy]

i think the Canucks will end up 8th worst? assuming that's where we pick, i think i'll be underwhelmed with the selection

Here are the players i'd love for the Canucks to draft.

Owen Power is a 6'6 top pairing guy. Left shot D. He'll munch minutes, put up points and shut down opponents. He'd be ideal. Exactdly what we need (too bad he's a left shot).
Luke Hughes, he'd be great too for obvious reasons. Might help us score brother Jack one day too if he ever hits the UFA market.
Brandt Clarke. Offensive, smooth skating 6'2 RIGHT shot Dman. I'd be happy with him too since he plays the right side.
Edvinsson, is a 6'4 left shot D who plays a heavy game and has good mobility. He would be a good pickup as well since his game would compliment the under-sized skilled guys like Hughes / Rathbone.
Dylan Guenther - He's the only forward that I really want. Elite offensive skills, strong two-way game, he isn't under-sized... good metrics.. Looks like a possible top line forward.

That's 5 guys. If we don't get a top 5 pick i'll be a bit disappointed. fingers crossed.

 

[Szechwan]

i think the Canucks will end up 8th worst? assuming that's where we pick, i think i'll be underwhelmed with the selection

Here are the players i'd love for the Canucks to draft.

Owen Power is a 6'6 top pairing guy. Left shot D. He'll munch minutes, put up points and shut down opponents. He'd be ideal. Exactdly what we need (too bad he's a left shot).
Luke Hughes, he'd be great too for obvious reasons. Might help us score brother Jack one day too if he ever hits the UFA market.
Brandt Clarke. Offensive, smooth skating 6'2 RIGHT shot Dman. I'd be happy with him too since he plays the right side.
Edvinsson, is a 6'4 left shot D who plays a heavy game and has good mobility. He would be a good pickup as well since his game would compliment the under-sized skilled guys like Hughes / Rathbone.
Dylan Guenther - He's the only forward that I really want. Elite offensive skills, strong two-way game, he isn't under-sized... good metrics.. Looks like a possible top line forward.

That's 5 guys. If we don't get a top 5 pick i'll be a bit disappointed. fingers crossed.

I have some hope that there will be some real reaches in the top 10, given how strange the scouting has been this season. Even at 6 or 7 I think we might have a shot at one of these guys. Hell, we came one pick away from snagging Zegras at 10 in a normal year.

 

[Bankerguy]

I have some hope that there will be some real reaches in the top 10, given how strange the scouting has been this season. Even at 6 or 7 I think we might have a shot at one of these guys. Hell, we came one pick away from snagging Zegras at 10 in a normal year.

yes true. The fact that the rankings very A LOT depending on the publication, means that GM's likely have very different lists and one of those guys might fall to us.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

yes true. The fact that the rankings very A LOT depending on the publication, means that GM's likely have very different lists and one of those guys might fall to us.

I can see some of the teams ahead of us pulling the trigger on the goalie

 

[Gstank]

I can see some of the teams ahead of us pulling the trigger on the goalie

If anyone ahead of us is going to take a goalie its Buffalo. But I think Buffalo is going to get at least 3 more 1st round picks in the next 2 years from Eichel and Reinhart. And at least one of those picks will be much lower then their current pick. The Other teams that I could see taking a goalie is Ottawa and Calgary but they committed long term to Murray and Markstrom

 

[Fatass]

If we play like tonight the rest of the way we will definitely be top five. Should get us a really promising young D

 

[Breakers]

Should be fun to watch Power at the worlds

 

[canuckking1]

Should be fun to watch Power at the worlds

A good showing would all but cement his 1OA spot

 

[Gstank]

Just for Fun here are what I think every team ahead of us in point % needs

Buffalo The completely depends on if they trade Eichel and Reinhart before the draft but I would think they get young Fs in return so the need D
Prediction: Power

Anahiem Forwards with a high offensive Ceiling
Prediction: Eklund

NJD Defense
Prediction: Clarke

Detriot IDK where they will go but I would Lean D
Prediction Edvinsson

Columbus First Line C
Beniers

 

[Cupless44]

Haven’t heard anyone talk about North Vancouver’s Kent Johnson.

Any thoughts if we pick 6 to 11?

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

Just for Fun here are what I think every team ahead of us in point % needs

Buffalo The completely depends on if they trade Eichel and Reinhart before the draft but I would think they get young Fs in return so the need D
Prediction: Power

Anahiem Forwards with a high offensive Ceiling
Prediction: Eklund

NJD Defense
Prediction: Clarke

Detriot IDK where they will go but I would Lean D
Prediction Edvinsson

Columbus First Line C
Beniers

I’m not sure what I have heard but I think there isn’t a top line centre in this draft if I am not mistaken? Isn’t Beniers a guy who might need to convert to the wing in the NHL?

 

[Gstank]

I’m not sure what I have heard but I think there isn’t a top line centre in this draft if I am not mistaken? Isn’t Beniers a guy who might need to convert to the wing in the NHL?

I believe Benier is projected to be a 2nd line C at the NHL lvl. Just because they arent projected as #1 guys doesnt mean they might not become one. I would like to know what a scouts critera is when they project players. I think it mainly has to do with him not having the offensive output but you can be a 60 point guy and still be a 1C IE Ryan Orielly and to a lesser extend Bo.

 

[604]

I’m not sure what I have heard but I think there isn’t a top line centre in this draft if I am not mistaken? Isn’t Beniers a guy who might need to convert to the wing in the NHL?

Berniers is a legit centre but they say his game is more 2nd or 3rd line centre - heavy game. Think like Bo Horvat


Kent Johnson is a former centre who is playing wing, I think he could be a centre but kind of like Petey, he was playing college hockey at 165 lbs despite being over 6 feet tall. He played wing with Bernier as his centre but was a very good centre in the BCHL.

 

[lawrence]

Haven’t heard anyone talk about North Vancouver’s Kent Johnson.

Any thoughts if we pick 6 to 11?

I wouldn't mind him in the 6th and later range. His parents are real estate agents and he has a history of liking Canuck related posts on Twitter. Probably a Canuck fan.

 

[Fedz]

Am I the only one that thinks we HAVE to pick a Dman ? There are 4 maybe 5 guys that will all be higher end D.

End of the day any of Clarke, Powers, Hughes, Edvinsson is huge coup for the Canucks. All four should become top 4 Dmen in the NHL.

I also agree with @y2kcanucks on his Ceulemans suggestion. I actually thought he may have played more consistently than Clarke at the u18’s.

Carson Lambos is also another kid that will be a very good NHL defenseman. His lack of a season and mystery illness/injury will drop him well outside our scope though.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

Am I the only one that thinks we HAVE to pick a Dman ? There are 4 maybe 5 guys that will all be higher end D.

End of the day any of Clarke, Powers, Hughes, Edvinsson is huge coup for the Canucks. All four should become top 4 Dmen in the NHL.

I also agree with @y2kcanucks on his Ceulemans suggestion. I actually thought he may have played more consistently than Clarke at the u18’s.

Carson Lambos is also another kid that will be a very good NHL defenseman. His lack of a season and mystery illness/injury will drop him well outside our scope though.

Defenseman all day

if those 4 are taken and we are drafting 5th it’s Eklund or trade back up to 5 spots

also getting a vibe we go off the board

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Am I the only one that thinks we HAVE to pick a Dman ? There are 4 maybe 5 guys that will all be higher end D.

End of the day any of Clarke, Powers, Hughes, Edvinsson is huge coup for the Canucks. All four should become top 4 Dmen in the NHL.

I also agree with @y2kcanucks on his Ceulemans suggestion. I actually thought he may have played more consistently than Clarke at the u18’s.

Carson Lambos is also another kid that will be a very good NHL defenseman. His lack of a season and mystery illness/injury will drop him well outside our scope though.

BPA always, but it sure looks like the BPA for us this year is going to be a defensemen - so it really ticks all the boxes.

 

[Luck 6]

Brandt Clarke would be ideal as we really need a top pairing capable RHD. If we draft another LHD, it pretty much caps one of Juolevi or Rathbone.

Hughes, 2021 LHD, Juolevi, and Rathbone is our LHD without even factoring in Edler sticking around a few more years in a reduced role. On the right side we have Schmidt (LHD), Myers, and I suppose potentially Hamonic if we re-sign him for another year or two. We could really use a difference maker with a high projected upside on that side.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

Looking more and more like we will be picking in the 8-10 range. Not terribly excited about that, because we really need one of those top D prospects. Virtually no chance now that we get a crack at Clarke, Hughes or Power. I also don't trust Benning to deftly handle trading down in this draft, so I hope we just take Ceulemens wherever we end up. A good skating right side D with size is something we direly need. Woo is literally all we've got in the pipeline. If there was some crazy way we could add another first and land McTavish too that would definitely have me excited.