Canucks: Why 'glue man' defenceman David Reinbacher ought to stick as draft choice

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There’s puck motion, after which there’s positional poise.

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It’s troublesome to search out each attributes in an NHL draft prospect defenceman.

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For each man who is sweet at pushing the tempo, it normally means giving up one thing on the again finish. And for blueliners who’re adept at calming the waters, they usually lack appreciable offence.

The Vancouver Canucks might have that uncommon mixture in that different Elias Pettersson. 

The blueliner with a robust stride and good measurement is coming off a robust season. The membership’s third-round choose in 2022 excelled in Sweden’s junior loop, was noticeable on the world junior event, and appeared comfy towards males within the Swedish Hockey League.

He earned a No. 4 putting within the The Province year-end score of the Canucks’ prime 10 prospects.

That’s all excellent news, however within the interim, the main focus is June 28 in Nashville.

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The Canucks might have a pair of defencemen of their crosshairs with the No.11 draft choice, however will they have the ability to pull the set off on Axel Sandin Pellikka or David Reinbacher? 

Sandin Pellikka has been ranked as excessive as fifth and likewise twelfth, 14th and fifteenth. Reinbacher has been slotted at No. 4, 8, 9 and 15, and as little as twenty fourth. The Detroit Purple Wings maintain the ninth choice and are excessive on Reinbacher, regardless that he suffered a knee damage on the World Hockey Championship. He returned per week later.

In a draft that’s top-heavy with forwards anticipated to be chosen within the first eight picks — except anyone reaches for a rearguard — the primary defensive domino to fall might see a rush to bolster again ends.

That’s the place it will get fascinating.

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What if intriguing Dmitri Simashev, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quick and bodily Russian blueliner, is chosen within the prime 10? And if he’s there at No. 11, that’s going to be one other dialog for the Canucks.

Nonetheless, a lot of the discuss is about how dynamic Sandin Pellikka of Sweden initiatives as a slick puck mover and power-play quarterback, who would match seamlessly with the maturing Canucks core. And it’s how the resilient Reinbacher would offer the membership with wanted stability and presence in its defensive construction.

Reinbacher, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound native of Hohenems, Austria, had 22 factors (3-19) in 46 video games this season as an 18-year-old with Kloten HC of the Swiss-A Nationwide League. It was the second-highest league complete by a defenceman.

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The precise-shot defender logged essentially the most staff minutes on the again finish and was a power down low. He used good bodily talent to disclaim the opposition and didn’t panic to pounce on free pucks and management the tempo. He doesn’t possess nice offensive talent, however can transition the puck and make performs.

“He’s a distinct fashion of participant — extra of a two-way man,” stated NHL prospects scout Shane Malloy, who seems on Hockey Prospects Radio on the Sirius SM NHL Radio Community. “You know the way you at all times discover a glue defenceman in your group? That’s what he can be after the primary pairing. 

“He’s the type of man you placed on the ice when issues are going badly and he can settle everyone down towards prime strains as a result of he has the emotional and psychological attributes. Very composed. Very resilient. 

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“It’s individuals who shortly get again to that center (efficiency) floor, and that’s what he good at. His poise is superb.”

The Canucks might additionally resolve to play a distinct draft hand. Buying and selling right down to accumulate picks and clear wage cap house in a rumoured multi-tier transaction with the Chicago Blackhawks is tempting. Giving up the No. 11 choose and selecting at No. 19 would nonetheless yield a defenceman.

Tom Willander of Sweden, Mikhail Gulyayev of Russia and Theo Lindstein of Sweden might nonetheless be on the board 

Willander performed most of this season with Rogle BK J20 within the Swedish junior ranks and managed 25 factors (4-21) in 39 video games. He additionally performed in two SHL video games with Rogle BK Angelholm and excelled on the Below-18 world championship with eight factors (3-5) in seven video games. Within the gold-medal recreation, Sweden misplaced 3-2 in additional time to the U.S.

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The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Stockholm native steadily improved by the season to make him a consideration within the latter half of the primary spherical.

Nonetheless, that No. 11 choose is difficult to half with due to alternatives it can current.

One other accolade for tremendous Silovs

Add one other honour for red-hot Canucks goaltending prospect Arturs Silovs. 

He’s certainly one of seven candidates for the Worldwide Hockey Federation’s male participant of the yr to be introduced June 19. Different nominees are prime draft prospect Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli of Canada, together with Moritz Seider and JJ Peterka of Germany, Dominik Kubalik of Czechia, and Andreas Ambuhl of Switzerland.

A season that began robust for Silovs with AHL affiliate Abbotsford — 26-12-5, 2.44 goal-against common and .909 saves share — continued with an NHL regular-season debut with the Canucks and rising consolation issue. He went 3-2-0 with a 2.75 GAA, and .908 share, however a crowning glory got here subsequent.

At age 22, he backstopped Latvia to its first World Hockey Championship medal with a bronze. He was named most useful participant, prime stopper and all-star. He went 7-2 with a 2.20 GAA and .921 saves share.

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