2018 Canucks draft assessment: Quinn Hughes steals the present

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With 2017 within the rear-view mirror and preliminary assessments indicating it was a profitable draft, the main target in 2018 was to proceed to shore up the Canucks’ prospect pool.

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The collective course of that scouting director Judd Brackett started constructing within the 2016-17 continued … however 5 years later, the 2018 draft stays underwhelming, regardless of the massive fish the Canucks caught off the highest.

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In contrast to 2017, when the Canucks had another choose past the usual seven, this draft noticed the Canucks solely make six picks. Draft picks are lottery tickets: Your odds of successful are higher when you have extra tickets.

For the primary time since 2002, the Canucks used three of their first 4 picks on defencemen. The organizational focus was clear.

A draft class is taken into account satisfactory if it sees two picks change into NHL gamers. Proper now, Hughes is the one participant drafted in 2018 to have performed NHL video games, not to mention 200 video games, which is taken into account the usual for a profitable choose.

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So this draft solely has a shot at being considered greater than mediocre if Jett Woo lastly hits and performs NHL video games.

Quinn Hughes, seventh general

Benning and his scouts had been past elated to see the artful College of Michigan defenceman fall into their laps. Many observers thought Hughes would go as excessive as third general to Montreal, however the Canadiens drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi as an alternative. Ottawa picked Brady Tkachuk fourth, a choose many understood, however then everybody was stunned to see each Arizona (Barrett Hayton) and Detroit (Filip Zadina) move on Hughes as effectively.

Hughes is already one of the best defenceman in Canucks historical past. And everybody on the draft desk, from the GM on down, knew he was the man to choose.

Who else may they’ve drafted? There are some good gamers who went within the picks following Hughes, however there are not any comparables.

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Decide grade: A+. Like Petersson a 12 months earlier than, this was a franchise-defining choose.

Jett Woo, thirty seventh general

Hughes was a high-octane sports activities automobile. Woo was seen as extra of utility automobile. Constructed like a boulder, his defensive instincts had been apparent however he additionally was a wise puck mover. He had some damage troubles in his draft 12 months, however the Canucks appreciated his upside.

He had an impressive post-draft season, scoring at a point-per-game clip. However he missed out on making the world junior group and his closing season in junior, after being traded from Moose Jaw to Calgary, was mediocre.

Woo stumbled in his first two seasons as a professional, by no means successful the boldness of the teaching employees and even spending time at proper wing in his sophomore season. However underneath new AHL coach Jeremy Colliton, he appears to have discovered his approach and the Canucks’ new administration group may be very excessive on his possibilities to lastly play NHL video games in 2023-24.

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Who else may they’ve drafted? 4 gamers within the picks following Woo have established themselves as NHLers, most notably Alex Romanov, who was chosen by Montreal proper after Woo. Ryan McLeod, Martin Fehervary and Sean Durzi additionally all would look good in Canucks inexperienced and blue.

Decide grade: C-. Three of the 4 listed above are defencemen. Woo was a effective a junior and will but be an NHL defenceman, however this looks like a miss.

Tyler Madden, 68th general

Because the son of former NHLer John Madden, Tyler clearly had the bloodlines. And the Canucks appreciated the arc he was beginning on, heading to Northeastern College, a program they knew effectively. And at Northeastern, Madden appeared effectively on the right track, scoring proper from his freshman season.

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However Benning had doubts that the diminutive Madden would make the NHL as a centre and determined to commerce him whereas there was nonetheless buzz, flipping him to Los Angeles for Tyler Toffoli. Madden has been an all proper AHLer, however doesn’t appear to be he’s going to be an NHL common. Benning will get credit score on this one for turning him into an elite scoring winger. That Benning wasn’t allowed to re-sign Toffoli is one other story, after all.

Who else may they’ve drafted? Montreal picked Madden’s future Northeastern teammate Jordan Harris at 71. Harris, a defenceman, grew to become an NHL common for the Habs this season. Connor Dewar, picked 92nd general by Minnesota, grew to become a fourth liner for the Wild this season and is the one different third-round choose from 2018 to have to this point change into an NHL common.

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Decide grade: C+. When you get into the third spherical, most picks change into a crap shoot. Madden did what scouts anticipated him to do as a collegian.

99th general choose traded to Pittsburgh with Andrey Pedan for Derrick Pouliot on the eve of the 2017-18 season

Pittsburgh later traded this choose to Vegas, who chosen Slava Demin. Demin hasn’t made the NHL and solely three different gamers of any word had been drafted after him, most notably checking centre Philipp Kurashev by Chicago. Paul Cotter caught on with Vegas this previous season, whereas Jasper Weatherby skated in 50 video games for San Jose in 2021-22, however was completely within the AHL this previous season.

Toni Utunen, one hundred and thirtieth general

There was tons to love about Utunen: he had a really competent defensive recreation, moved the puck effectively, appeared to learn the sport effectively. had already performed a full season of professional hockey. He additionally had robust management instincts — he captained Finland’s U18 group.

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Utunen impressed on the 2019 and 2020 world juniors, captaining Finland within the latter.

However in his skilled course, he stagnated enjoying for Tappara in his two post-draft seasons. He was often the group’s sixth or seventh defenceman.

He moved to the Lahti Pelicans in 2020, however his offensive recreation by no means progressed and the Canucks let him change into a free agent final summer time.

Who else may they’ve drafted? There’s only one participant from the 2018 fourth spherical who’s change into an NHL common: New Jersey’s Yegor Sharangovich, who has developed into a top quality middle-six ahead.

Decide grade: C+. Gamers with hockey smarts, who can transfer the puck, are price a swing within the fourth spherical.

161st general traded to Washington for 186th general and Washington’s sixth-round choose in 2019

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The Capitals actually appreciated Alex Kannok-Leipert and traded as much as draft him. Paradoxically, Kannok-Leipert is now a Canucks minor leaguer.

Artem Manukyan, 186th general

A 20-year-old, Manukyan had led the Russian junior league in scoring when he was 19. He additionally carried out effectively on the 2018 World Juniors, although in a depth position.

The scouts clearly thought a participant along with his offensive upside was price a shot, however for no matter purpose the group had little contact with him within the years that adopted and he’s by no means appeared at a Canucks improvement camp.

He struggled to make an impression within the KHL and has largely performed within the VHL, the Russian second division, over the previous 5 years.

Who else may they’ve drafted? Manukyan was the final choose of the sixth spherical and solely three gamers within the seventh spherical have performed NHL video games, together with Tyler Tucker, Trey Repair-Wolansky and Jaccob Slavin’s little brother Josiah, however none have caught as NHL regulars.

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Decide grade: C-. If you happen to’re going to take a swing within the later rounds, it must be on guys who’ve one thing that stands out about them and Manukyan’s massive scoring season is an inexpensive factor to level to. Nonetheless, the very fact he disappeared into the ether for the Canucks suggests organizational misalignment and that’s not signal.

Matthew Thiessen, 192nd general

A goalie within the Manitoba junior league, he was recruited by the College of Maine’s Alfie Michaud. Michaud, a former Canucks goalie prospect, had advisable Thiessen to the Canucks as effectively.

He had a reliable post-draft season with Dubuque of the USHL, then went to Maine, the place he struggled for taking part in time over three seasons. He was transferred to Minnesota-Duluth this previous season and performed effectively in a starter tandem.

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If the Canucks don’t signal him by Aug. 15, he’ll be a free agent, however given his gradual progress within the NCAA, it’s uncertain the Canucks will carry him into the fold.

Who else may they’ve drafted? Slavin went with the choose proper after Thiessen.

Decide grade: C-. Some fairly good goalies have come by means of Maine and if the goalie coach there thinks a man has potential, it appears affordable to pay attention.

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Learn extra of our Canucks draft critiques:

• 2017 Canucks draft assessment: Collective effort results in Pettersson energy
• 2016 Canucks draft assessment: Olli Juolevi or bust
• 2015 Canucks draft assessment: Brock Boeser however not a lot else

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