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2025 DRAFT Thread

Because of trades, this current Canuck front office has only made two selections in the first round of the last five drafts. But really looks like they 'hit' on Wilander and Lekkerimaki.

So I'm somewhat optimistic on who they'll select if they keep their 2025 first rounder. And this scouting group has also been able to find some useful players in later rounds--and for the first time in years, the Canucks have a pick in every round of the draft.

So at least one thing to be optimistic about--the Canucks beleaguered prospect pool will look a lot deeper after the draft next Friday.
 
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VanJack said:
Because of trades, this current Canuck front office has only made two selections in the first round of the last five drafts. But really looks like they 'hit' on Wilander and Lekkerimaki.

So I'm somewhat optimistic on who they'll select if they keep their 2025 first rounder. And this scouting group has also been able to find some useful players in later rounds--and for the first time in years, the Canucks have a pick in every round of the draft.

So at least one thing to be optimistic about--the Canucks beleaguered prospect pool will look a lot deeper after the draft next Friday.
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Brother Allvin was hired Jan 2022. That's 3 drafts. 2022 first rounder was Lek, 2023 was Willander and 2024 was moved for Lindholm. So this current management has made 2/3 first round picks. I like the optimism though hopefully they make a good pick in 2025 if they don't trade it away.
 
Mr. Canucklehead said:


Life as a Canucks fan if not swinging between extremes. :laugh:
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On one hand you have the pressure that comes with playing in a Canadian market but Vancouver still ranks as a top city for liveability + lifestyle. Makes it a lot easier when you're a professional hockey player making millions too.

But yes - there's the Hughes factor. I also figured maybe a Swedish player with the rich history of Swedes in the Canucks organization - Eklund maybe?
 
I hope they make a first round selection. If they do, I’d be happy with any of these forwards if available:

Lynden Lakovic
  • Top-line potential
  • Great at slowing the game down
  • Excellent vision and passing
  • Some concerns about effort
  • Big frame, but not physical (yet?)
Comparable: Tage Thompson

Carter Bear
  • High motor with a blend of skill and grit
  • Excellent two-way game
  • Projects as a middle-six forward
  • Coming off an injury
  • Average skater
Comparable: Brendan Gallagher

Cole Reschny
  • Elite hockey IQ
  • Excellent playmaker
  • Reliable in all situations with a strong two-way game
  • Lit it up as a player for the Victoria Royals (heart)
  • Slight at 5'10", though beef at 190
  • Average skating and shot
Comparable: Seth Jarvis

Justin Carbonneau
  • Pure offensive threat and goal scorer
  • Great combo of speed, size, and physical play
  • Inconsistent defensive awareness and decision-making
  • Too much hero hockey
Comparable: faster Brock Boeser

Cullen Potter
  • Possibly the best skater in the draft–fun to watch
  • High-effort, two-way player
  • Tons of raw skill
  • Undersized at 5'9", 170
  • Not very physical
Comparable: Logan Cooley
 
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Let's say the Canucks don't trade their 1st or 2nd round picks this year. I am a firm believer that Centre's and Defensemen should always be priority in the first rounds unless there is an unreal wing prospect available. It also helps the Canucks lack C depth organizationally. These are the 3 guys I'd look at for both pick 15 and 47.

Pick 15:

Option 1) Braeden Cootes C - Seattle Thunderbirds Games:60 G:26 A:37 T:63
Plenty of energy to burn and never takes a shift off. Would instantly become our best C prospect and has all the makings of a top 6 C. Great playmaking and isnt shy of the dirty areas when he makes his pass.
Option 2) Carter Bear C - Everett Silvertips Games: 56 G:40 A:42 T:82
If he doesn't get his injury we are probably talking about a kid going comfortably in the top 10. Relentless from the dots down, isnt the biggest guy but doesnt let that deter him.
Option 3) Roger McQueen C - Brandon WheatKings Games: 17 G:10 A:10 T:20
This is the "faller" scenario, McQueen is a top 5 talent but his back injury cost him and because of Lindstrom might deter teams. At 15th overall and with our prospect pool, you take this kid if he is there because if he hits its a homerun.

Pick 47:
The fall off after that top 16 is pretty steep, some will argue its about 18 guys who are surefire but after that it all comes down to team lists and preferences. We are gonna see guys ranked in the 40s-50s going in the 20s-30s and vice versa.

Option 1: Kurban Limatov LHD - Dynamo Moskva Games:46 G:8 A:15 T:23
My personal favourite in the 2nd round. You cant teach his skating ability at his size. Let him simmer in the KHL for a couple years and bring him over. Our defence is great now but that doesnt mean you simply stop stockpiling it.
Option 2: Jack Nesbitt C - Windsor Spitfires Games:65 G: 25 A:39 T:64
Nesbitt has been ranked anywhere from top 20 to mid-second round. Now because of Florida and recency bias, I see him being a big target in the 25-40 range but strange things happen. He is a big kid, and his skating stride is actually quite fluid, but he will need another gear.
Option 3: Cameron Schmidt RW - Vancouver Giants Games:61 G:40 A:38 T:78
When I said it had to be a winger that was simply leaps and bounds better than those around him this is what I meant. Schmidt is small but we have seen smaller guys excel, this is the Stankoven pick all over again. Best not to overthink this one like 3 years away from being 3 years away Klimovich
 

I have come around on him. If the Canucks don’t trade the pick he would be one of my top targets. I was listening to Canucks talk and Scott Wheeler mentioned Eklund and Reid as potential Canucks targets too.
 
Mr. Canucklehead said:


Life as a Canucks fan if not swinging between extremes. :laugh:
Click to expand...

My guess is the player who'd most like to be in Vancouver is Victor Eklund. For Swedes, Vancouver is their 'home away from home'.

And it's possible he drops in this draft to 15th. Eklund has a relentless motor and blinding speed, but he's only 5'11" and plays with a fearless physicality. And his size probably works against him on the smaller NA ice.

And as others have pointed out, some of the young d-men available in this draft probably aren't penciling in the Canucks as their premier destination. Too many young d-men in front of them.
 
Can't remember who it was, but Sat and Riccio were talking to someone last week who said they have Eklund in their Top 10 but he likely drops due to size and the run of Cs likely to happen.

At #15, he would be an excellent pick.

Issue is, Nucks really need to draft a C if they are keeping it.

Too bad they don't have an extra pick.
 
I think Logan Hensler is being slept on. Similar to McAvoy in 2016.

Jacob Rombach is underrated as well.

I would go for a dman at 15 unless a Eklund/McQueen/Bear falls. Top 4 dman >>> middle six guys like Cootes/Reschny

Hensler/Reid/Aitcheson/Boumidienne

Keep adding to the already stacked D pool.
 
Nomadhock3y said:
Let's say the Canucks don't trade their 1st or 2nd round picks this year. I am a firm believer that Centre's and Defensemen should always be priority in the first rounds unless there is an unreal wing prospect available. It also helps the Canucks lack C depth organizationally. These are the 3 guys I'd look at for both pick 15 and 47.

Pick 15:

Option 1) Braeden Cootes C - Seattle Thunderbirds Games:60 G:26 A:37 T:63
Plenty of energy to burn and never takes a shift off. Would instantly become our best C prospect and has all the makings of a top 6 C. Great playmaking and isnt shy of the dirty areas when he makes his pass.
Option 2) Carter Bear C - Everett Silvertips Games: 56 G:40 A:42 T:82
If he doesn't get his injury we are probably talking about a kid going comfortably in the top 10. Relentless from the dots down, isnt the biggest guy but doesnt let that deter him.
Option 3) Roger McQueen C - Brandon WheatKings Games: 17 G:10 A:10 T:20
This is the "faller" scenario, McQueen is a top 5 talent but his back injury cost him and because of Lindstrom might deter teams. At 15th overall and with our prospect pool, you take this kid if he is there because if he hits its a homerun.

Pick 47:
The fall off after that top 16 is pretty steep, some will argue its about 18 guys who are surefire but after that it all comes down to team lists and preferences. We are gonna see guys ranked in the 40s-50s going in the 20s-30s and vice versa.

Option 1: Kurban Limatov LHD - Dynamo Moskva Games:46 G:8 A:15 T:23
My personal favourite in the 2nd round. You cant teach his skating ability at his size. Let him simmer in the KHL for a couple years and bring him over. Our defence is great now but that doesnt mean you simply stop stockpiling it.
Option 2: Jack Nesbitt C - Windsor Spitfires Games:65 G: 25 A:39 T:64
Nesbitt has been ranked anywhere from top 20 to mid-second round. Now because of Florida and recency bias, I see him being a big target in the 25-40 range but strange things happen. He is a big kid, and his skating stride is actually quite fluid, but he will need another gear.
Option 3: Cameron Schmidt RW - Vancouver Giants Games:61 G:40 A:38 T:78
When I said it had to be a winger that was simply leaps and bounds better than those around him this is what I meant. Schmidt is small but we have seen smaller guys excel, this is the Stankoven pick all over again. Best not to overthink this one like 3 years away from being 3 years away Klimovich
Click to expand...
Respectfully, why are you gung ho on Cootes? I just don't see him as a top 6 NHL centre--he doesn't have particularly strong shooting or passing ability. I see him as a good player off puck--a hard working leader with a standout 2-way game with a high floor.

McQueen would be my first choice at 15 as but I doubt he falls that far.
 
Knight53 said:
I think Logan Hensler is being slept on. Similar to McAvoy in 2016.

Jacob Rombach is underrated as well.

I would go for a dman at 15 unless a Eklund/McQueen/Bear falls. Top 4 dman >>> middle six guys like Cootes/Reschny

Hensler/Reid/Aitcheson/Boumidienne

Keep adding to the already stacked D pool.
Click to expand...
I do think there is still alot of underrating of Cootes' upside.

Sure the main attraction is he projects as a two way 3C with intangibles, giving him a high floor. His ability to create offence out of nothing while playing 20+ hard minutes a night with poor linemates was very impressive though, and he had a positive Corsi in those minutes too.

I think he's a much stronger top six candidate than many on this board believe, unfortunately I think he'll be gone before we pick.
 
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Knight53 said:
I think Logan Hensler is being slept on. Similar to McAvoy in 2016.

Jacob Rombach is underrated as well.

I would go for a dman at 15 unless a Eklund/McQueen/Bear falls. Top 4 dman >>> middle six guys like Cootes/Reschny

Hensler/Reid/Aitcheson/Boumidienne

Keep adding to the already stacked D pool.
Click to expand...
I think that’s a terrible idea. A contending team needs to be strong down the middle and we currently have an enigmatic EP40 as our top C and our second best is a guy who could take one hit in preseason and be LTIRetired. Suter is UFA and probably priced himself out of town, and Bluegar is a 4C who can play 3C in a pinch.
Coming up we have Raty who’s not exactly kicking down the door and Mueller and Sasson who are good AHLers that need to take a few more steps to become NHLers. After that it’s basically Riley Patterson who just had a very mid D+1 season. Our C depth is really weak right now and we badly need someone who could potentially develop into at least a 2C like Cootes or Reschny over another D when we already have so many D that we couldn’t find playing time for Willander or Mynio in the AHL.
 
Rick Rocket said:
Respectfully, why are you gung ho on Cootes? I just don't see him as a top 6 NHL centre--he doesn't have particularly strong shooting or passing ability. I see him as a good player off puck--a hard working leader with a standout 2-way game with a high floor.

McQueen would be my first choice at 15 as but I doubt he falls that far.
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Cootes lead the Thunderbirds in scoring chance creation from passes AND shots. He did all the work himself while playing 20+ minutes against the best of the WHL while posting positive possession metrics.

Absolutely ridiculous underlying numbers given his lack of support and usage, all while being a rare RH centre.
 
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