Canucks: The odd lottery, the circus and the draft-day miss on Matthew Tkachuk

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Prematurely of the Nationwide Hockey League lottery Monday setting the selecting order for the draft on June 28-29 in Nashville, we’re taking a visit down reminiscence lane.

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Each workforce has draft skeletons within the closet, however some are nonetheless rattling.

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In live performance with the 2016 draft held in Buffalo, the Vancouver Canucks hosted a watch get together within the decrease bowl of Rogers Area. It was a technique to transfer the hype meter in late June to extend curiosity and season-ticket gross sales.

The drama truly began within the April 30 lottery — three attracts to pick out the top-three spots for Toronto, Winnipeg and Columbus — and the odd course of noticed the Canucks slip from third to fifth total and a certain shot at touchdown coveted centre Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The drama would then play out in memorable trend June 25 on the KeyBank Middle. 

When the Canucks have been about to announce their first-round choice, this reporter was satisfied that the choose was going to be Matthew Tkachuk.

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I tweeted it out from the media room and ventured out to the ground of Rogers Area to gauge what I believed can be a raucous response of touchdown a real energy ahead with a powerful household hockey lineage.

As an alternative of cheers, it was crickets.

The Canucks opted for Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi, who had a powerful 42-point (9-33) season with the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights. He had amassed seven assists in 4 video games for the Memorial Cup-winning Knights and added 9 assists in seven video games as Finland captured the world junior hockey championship. 

Nevertheless, a match is seldom a real take a look at {of professional} adaptability and longevity.

Possibly the Canucks thought that they had a budding energy ahead in 2014 first-round choose Jake Virtanen. Possibly they only couldn’t move on a participant they projected as a first-pairing defenceman.

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Everyone knows what has occurred within the interim.

Accidents to Juolevi’s physique and confidence have been so crippling he needed to be traded. By comparability, Tkachuk’s recreation didn’t should be tailor-made to adapt to The Present. His transition was so seamless that passing on the dominant winger has proved an important draft gaffe.

Tkachuk, who went sixth-overall to Calgary in 2016, has had monster 104-point and 109-point seasons with the Flames and Florida respectfully.

Juolevi was ranked fifth by the group and draft day began with the hope that Dubois would possibly slip to No. 5, beginning an eventual succession plan to interchange Henrik Sedin. And Tkachuk may do the identical for Daniel Sedin.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jackets took Dubois third, the Oilers snapped up hulking Finnish winger Jesse Puljujarvi fourth after which got here Juolevi. The Canucks have been so bought on Juolevi, they handed on defencemen Mikhail Sergachev (No. 9), Jake Bean (No. 13), Charlie McAvoy (No. 14) and Jakob Chychrun (No. 15).

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Former Canucks basic supervisor Jim Benning in contrast Juolevi to legendary Nicklas Lidstrom in his pre-draft evaluation.

“He’s a protected and regular participant,” Benning advised Postmedia. “He performs a bit bit like Lidstrom. He reads the sport so effectively. He has stick. He strikes the puck effectively. He simply performs a quiet, well-rounded recreation.”

On the Draft Mix, Benning was impressed by the way in how Tkachuk answered questions with conviction and poise. His recreation spoke for itself with 107 factors (30-77) in his closing OHL season.

“From the highest of the circle in, he has actual good offensive instincts,” Benning stated on the time.

So, what was the draft-day consensus? Postmedia was advised there was some debate, however an settlement on Juolevi, who addressed a larger positional want. 

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“I had a gathering with them (Canucks) on the mix and it by no means appeared like they have been that ,” Tkachuk advised this reporter earlier than a Dec. 23, 2016 recreation in Calgary. “I knew as soon as Dubois went third, that I used to be going to Calgary.

“If you happen to ask them (Canucks), they’re most likely fairly pleased with their choose. And, they need to be. I performed with him (Juolevi). You noticed what he did for our workforce in London and world juniors.”

Centre or defenceman in 2023 draft?

The Canucks have a 79.9 per cent likelihood of selecting at No. 11. Right here’s a have a look at choices:

Dalibor Dvorsky, C, left shot, 6-foot-1, 201 lbs., Svolen, Slovakia.

The stats: AIK (Sweden, Allsvenskan), GP: 38, G: 6, A: 8, Pts: 14; Skelleftea AIK (Sweden, Junior), GP: 10, G: 10, A: 11, Pts: 21

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The thin: On the 2023 World Underneath-18 championship, he amassed 13 factors (8-5) for Slovakia to assist solidify his draft inventory as a centre of consideration. Passing together with taking pictures and playmaking are elite, however his heavy and correct launch units him aside. Skating was a problem, however has improved his first few strides. An analogous state of affairs to what Bo Horvat endured as an 18-year-old prospect earlier than gaining power.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, proper shot, 5-foot-11, 181 lbs., Gallivare, Sweden.

The stats: Skelleftea AIK (Sweden-Junior), GP: 31, G: 16, A: 20, Pts: 36; Skelleftea AIK (SHL), GP: 22, G: 2, A: 3, Pts: 5.

The thin: A dynamic puck-moving defender, who bought a style of the professional recreation this season, and can return to the SHL. Tasks as a No. 3 blueliner, however his ability stage ensures that he’ll run one of many membership’s energy performs.

David Reinbacher, D, proper shot, 6-foot-2, 187 lbs., Hohenems, Austria.

The stats: Kloten HC (Swiss-A), GP: 46, G: 3, A: 19, Pts: 22

The thin: Reliable two-way defender thought-about “glue man” to insulate the again finish after the highest pairing. You place him on the market when issues are going badly. He can settle all people down.

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