Canucks preferred Tom Willander a lot, they rejected provide to commerce again at draft

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The Vancouver Canucks’ draft overview video has turn into a summer time custom, first as a easy merchandise for good, enjoyable summertime viewing — but additionally as a doc for observers of the NHL staff to mine.

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The annual sequence has introduced us gems like Jim Benning’s “why is nobody taking Kole Lind” question from 2017.

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The 2023 version has a second of its personal. On prime of unveiling issues about Tom Willander’s draft mix interview with the Canucks — Willander defined why he believes being a former ahead provides him a bonus in defending the push, now that he’s a blueliner — it additionally confirmed one thing that had been beforehand reported, together with by this newspaper: the Canucks turned down the possibility to commerce again within the first spherical.

In a sequence that takes place a choose earlier than the Canucks’ flip to choose eleventh total ultimately month’s draft in Nashville — you possibly can hear commissioner Gary Bettman saying that the St. Louis Blues are on the clock at tenth total — GM Patrik Allvin appears to be like throughout the desk at scouting director Todd Harvey and assistant common supervisor Derek Clancey, asking them if they need to commerce again.

Throughout the draft, Allvin had been noticed speaking round this time to Buffalo Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams. Sources urged on the time they have been speaking a couple of doable commerce.

The Sabres held the thirteenth total choose.

Within the video, Clancey expresses doubt about Willander nonetheless being obtainable two picks again.

“Go two extra again and hope he’s there? I don’t assume he’s there,” Clancey says.

The Arizona Coyotes had the twelfth choose and drafted Russian winger Daniil However, whereas the Sabres used their choose on extremely expert winger Zach Benson, who hails from Chilliwack.

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Elite Prospects has reported that the Nashville Predators additionally enquired a couple of commerce with the Canucks, however they have been clearly additionally rejected.

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