2017 Canucks draft overview: Collective effort results in Pettersson energy

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In what had develop into a sample on the time, the Canucks’ draft lottery luck in 2017 was as soon as once more a catastrophe.

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The Canucks completed second-last on the season, however regardless of their respectable odds of successful a spot within the high three picks of the draft, they nonetheless misplaced all three attracts. At the least that they had firm this time round, as all three groups who completed backside of the barrel missed out on a high three decide: this was the primary time in historical past three groups outdoors the underside three gained the attracts. 

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In fact, the result’s now notorious: regardless of their dangerous lottery luck, they nonetheless discovered a gem at fifth total in Elias Pettersson.

This was the primary draft the place director of beginner scouting Judd Brackett had management of the draft board, as president Trevor Linden had been left unimpressed by the shortage of course of in 2016. 

For this draft, Brackett and his workers used a standardized evaluation formulation to be able to create consistency of their assessments. The purpose was to keep away from over-emphasizing a participant’s efficiency at a selected match, slightly specializing in the general image of how they had been performing and how much participant they could become.

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5 gamers from this draft have performed within the NHL, however within the case of the 4 non-Pettersson picks, one might argue they had been failed by the Canucks’ improvement program.

Elias Pettersson (fifth total)

The story has been informed many occasions, however briefly: Pettersson was a participant many had their eyes on going into his draft 12 months. He was from the small city of Ange, however was already starring for Timra within the Swedish second division. The extra the Canucks’ scouts noticed of him — Brackett, Dan Palango, Ron Delorme and Inge Hammarstrom watched him loads — the extra his inventory rose. And when he was nonetheless on the desk at 5, the scouts’ consensus was clear: Pettersson was the man to choose.

They had been proper, and now he’s a star.

Who else might they’ve drafted? Cody Glass was the most important various within the eyes of Benning however the scouts’ had the ultimate say. Glass was picked sixth by Vegas and took some time to search out his approach within the NHL, however is now a good second-line participant for Nashville.

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Decide grade: A+. Together with Quinn Hughes the following 12 months, Pettersson was the perfect decide of Benning’s tenure. And clearly the one he had essentially the most assistance on.

Kole Lind (thirty third total)

“Why isn’t anybody taking Kole Lind?,” Benning quipped because the Canucks’ second-round decide approached. The scouting workers was delighted to see him out there at thirty third total. He’d racked up 87 factors that season within the WHL, an adept finisher who was famous for having a wise hockey sense. A positive skater, Canucks Military’s projection system noticed him as a having almost a 50 per cent probability of turning into a NHL common. However his improvement stalled in Utica.

After a tough rookie season within the AHL, he rebounded in his second season and in his third professional season performed seven NHL video games. However he was misplaced within the enlargement draft to Seattle, the place he’s performed 22 video games however largely been a star for his or her AHL-champion staff in Coachella Valley. He had 31 factors within the Calder Cup playoffs this 12 months.

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Who else might they’ve drafted? A wealthy draft: Vegas drafted D Nicolas Hague one decide after Lind — Hague was a key depth defenceman for Vegas of their run to the cup this season — and New Jersey took Jesper Boqvist thirty sixth total. Jason Roberston was picked by Dallas at 39 whereas Carolina picked Eetu Luostarinen at 42.

Decide grade: C+. Lind wasn’t the worst decide of the spherical however there are good variety of gamers picked after him who’re full-time NHLers.

Jonah Gadjovich (fifty fifth total, decide acquired from Columbus as compensation for the Blue Jackets hiring John Tortorella as head coach)

The son of a global rugby referee, Gadjovich had a monster offensive season in his draft 12 months for Owen Sound, potting 46 targets in 60 common season video games. He wasn’t a fantastic skater, however he was an enormous sturdy lad who did loads of issues nicely. Like Lind, his first season as a professional was a wrestle: he didn’t play a lot and when he did, he struggled to make an impression.

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However he improved his skating and have become a scoring pressure for Utica, then lastly dressed for an NHL recreation on the finish of 2020-21.

Misplaced on waivers earlier than the 2021-22 season to San Jose, he’s spent two seasons now because the Sharks’ thirteenth ahead. 

Who else might they’ve drafted? Within the picks proper after Gadjovich there are Ian Mitchell, Jake Leschyshyn and Fabian Zetterlund, however they’ve not stood out as NHLers. Morgan Geekie and MacKenzie Entwistle, who’ve each established themselves as NHLers, went within the third spherical

Decide grade: C+. His scoring expertise was apparent. Not many can repair their skating.

Michael DiPietro (sixty fourth total)

The Canucks noticed a novel character and goalie in DiPietro, who was one of many OHL’s finest goalies in 2016-17 and backstopped the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup. He referred to as his type of goaltending a mixture of Jonathan Fast and Martin Brodeur.

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Comparatively quick in stature for a contemporary goalie, the Canucks favored his athleticism and thought he might become the following one behind Thatcher Demko.

After a stable first AHL season, his profession fell into severe neglect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He barely performed in 2020-21 after which fell behind Arturs Silovs on the depth chart in 2021-22. He was traded final fall to Boston.

Who else might they’ve drafted? Like Gadjovich, there’s Geekie and Entwistle. There’s additionally Jonathan Kovacevic, who has established himself as a daily in Montreal. And goalie Stuart Skinner was picked 14 picks after DiPietro by Edmonton.

Decide grade: B. He was a fantastic goalie in junior and his excessive character steered he had the work ethic to make it.

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Jack Rathbone (ninety fifth total)

The Brackett-Rathbone connection is nicely documented: the Canucks’ high scout had recognized Rathbone since he was younger. However that wasn’t the one purpose he was drafted, this was a participant who numerous scouts favored. Very brilliant, and really proficient, he’s been a high quality puck-moving offensive defenceman his complete profession.

Making the ultimate step into the NHL has been a problem, as he’s struggled with confidence and decision-making.

Who else might they’ve drafted? Two under-sized defencemen who’ve established themselves as NHLers had been picked shortly after Rathbone: Mikey Anderson (Los Angeles, 103rd total) and Jacob Bryson (Buffalo, 99th total). Goalie Jeremy Swagman and wingers Emil Bemstrom and Drake Batherson additionally went later within the spherical.

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Decide grade: C+ Was Brackett’s projection on Rathbone a bit too rosy? He’s near an NHLer, that’s clear — so the expertise was undoubtedly there — however will he clear up the failings in his recreation sufficient to be come a daily NHLer?

126th total traded to Edmonton (then traded to Arizona) within the 2016 Phillip Larsen commerce.

Determined to search out new expertise for the blue line, Benning flipped a 2017 conditional decide to Edmonton for Larsen, who was taking part in within the KHL.

He proved to be predictably underwhelming in 2016-17, barely performed and went again to the KHL after one season with Vancouver. 

The Oilers flipped the decide to Arizona to maneuver up within the third spherical and draft Skinner. The Coyotes picked Boston Faculty D Michael Karow, who spent the final two seasons with the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate.

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Kristoffer Gunnarsson (one hundred and thirty fifth total) Decide added in a commerce with Chicago: the Canucks despatched the 112th decide, acquired within the Jannik Hansen commerce to San Jose for Nikolay Goldobin, for this decide — initially Carolina’s — and Chicago’s 181st total decide 

Benning pushed laborious for this decide. He’s the kind of participant that Brackett has tended to not draft and the type of bodily participant that Benning has lengthy praised. Gunnarsson was already 20 and had little offensive expertise. However Benning favored him on the World Juniors the earlier winter.

Who else might they’ve drafted? Philadelphia drafted Noah Cates, a useful middle-six winger, two picks after Gunnarsson whereas the New York Islanders picked Sebastian Aho, the defenceman, with decide 139. Both can be a useful Canuck.

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Decide grade: F. Don’t burn picks on 20 12 months olds who don’t contribute offensively.

157th total, traded in 2016 to the New York Rangers together with Nicklas Jensen for Emerson Etem.

The Rangers picked Czech winger Dominik Lakatos with this decide, however he’s remained in Czechia for many of his profession. Jensen hasn’t been within the NHL since 2017. Etem was re-signed by the Canucks, then misplaced on waivers to Anaheim on the eve of the 2017-18 season.

Solely two gamers drafted within the sixth spherical in 2017 have discovered NHL roles: D Nick Perbix with Tampa Bay and C Morgan Barron, who was with Winnipeg this previous season.

Petrus Palmu (181st total) Decide acquired from Chicago (see above)

He was already 20 on the draft, coming off a monster offensive 12 months for Owen Sound. Scouts had been very excessive on his two-way recreation. Went again to TPS Turku in his post-draft 12 months and performed nicely. He went to Utica in 2018-19, however bolted residence after simply 12 video games and a sequence of well being scratches. Again in Finland he instantly began producing and later informed Vancouver radio that there had been little or no communication from Utica’s teaching workers, and he didn’t perceive why he was a scratch so typically. The Canucks for his or her half mentioned he wanted to enhance his skating and implied he wasn’t receptive to teaching.

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Who else might they’ve drafted? There isn’t a single participant drafted after Palmu who has made any impression within the NHL.

Decide grade: C+. 20 12 months olds are often low-upside picks, since they’re nearer to the completed product than an 18 12 months outdated is. Palmu had ripped up the OHL, as you’d hope a participant his age would.

Matt Brassard (188th total)

A talented, right-shot blue liner with dimension. However his skating by no means improved.

Who else might they’ve drafted? There are no apparent alternate options.

Decide grade: C+. Take a swing for the fences within the seventh spherical. This was one. Not often are they homers.

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