Prospect Info: The 2024-2025 Prospect Thread: Part 1: Skate or Die!

[VanJack]

Beginning in 2020 with the Miller acquisition from Tampa, I've almost lost count of the number of draft picks the Canucks have dealt.

In first rounders alone, they had no picks in 2020, 2021 and 2024. And as far as second and third rounders dealt--mostly to dump some poor contracts they inherited from the Benning regime--you'd need a slide-rule to chart it. In second rounders alone, they had zero picks in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2020.

So basically between 2020 and 2024, with the exception of 2022 and 2023, and Danila Klimovich in 2021; the Canucks first pick in the draft was in the 100-plus range.

To me, it borders on something of a minor miracle that the Canucks prospect pool is even as good as it is. You simply can't trade than many high picks, and expect late rounders to keep working out,.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Beginning in 2020 with the Miller acquisition from Tampa, I've almost lost count of the number of draft picks the Canucks have dealt.

In first rounders alone, they had no picks in 2020, 2021 and 2024. And as far as second and third rounders dealt--mostly to dump some poor contracts they inherited from the Benning regime--you'd need a slide-rule to chart it. In second rounders alone, they had zero picks in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2020.

So basically between 2020 and 2024, with the exception of 2022 and 2023, and Danila Klimovich in 2021; the Canucks first pick in the draft was in the 100-plus range.

To me, it borders on something of a minor miracle that the Canucks prospect pool is even as good as it is. You simply can't trade than many high picks, and expect late rounders to keep working out,.

Not all trades of first round picks are equal.
I think you need to separate out the trading of first rounders into good and bad. Trading a first rounder for Miller and for Hronek are both great trades. Trading a first rounder for OEL and his cap hit is obviously brutal even with Garland in the package. And I’d argue that trading a first for Lindholm was also a poor trade given his short stay here.

 

[VanJack]

Not all trades of first round picks are equal.
I think you need to separate out the trading of first rounders into good and bad. Trading a first rounder for Miller and for Hronek are both great trades. Trading a first rounder for OEL and his cap hit is obviously brutal even with Garland in the package. And I’d argue that trading a first for Lindholm was also a poor trade given his short stay here.

I'm not saying that every trade of a first rounder by the Canucks was a 'bad deal'. Obviously the Canucks acquired J.T. Miller from Tampa for a pick which turned out to be 20th overall.

But the sad fact is that between 2020 and 2024--a total of five entry drafts--the Canucks had just two first round draft picks and one second rounder. So there's just no way your prospect pool isn't going to take a major 'hit'.

And throwing out the COVID year, they only made the playoffs once in six seasons. Normally, a 'lottery team' trading that many draft picks is inevitably going to be in a 'world of hurt'.