From the looks of things, the Canucks are going to pick somewhere between #20 and #30 (I wish). As an organization they have a serious lack of depth at centre. Behind Henrick Sedin and Brendon Morrion they have Ryan Kessler and Rick Rypien (Smolinsky is a rental). Josh Green and Trevor Linden are nominally centres, but both are more effective on the wing.
On the NHL club they are weak at RW, but they have Grabner, Hansen, Simek Schultz and Brown in the system. There is a chance they could go for another RW - Oscar Moeller of the Chilliwack Bruins is the only one in that range I would pick. But they will probably be looking for a centre in the 2007 draft.
Unless something strange occurs, Turris, Couture, Gagner, Esposito, Gilles and probably O'Brian and Hamill will be off the board in the top 20. Looking at who is left I see Brandon Sutter, Kevin Veilleux, Akim Aliu and Joakim Andersson. Of these I like Sutter and Andersson if they are available. I would avoid Aliu unless a long and in depth interview reveals some strength of character and coachability that has so far not materialized.
Sutter might not get past Calgary where his uncle will pick him, but if he dropped to the Canucks it would make games with the Flamers even more interesting. I could certainly live with Andersson.
The Canucks also have LA's pick in the 2nd round - which will almost as good as a late 1st rounder. In the last few years, the Canucks best picks have come from Thomas Gradin - their European scout, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go off the board with one of their 2nd round picks for some obscure Swede playing north of the arctic circle. They have also pick a number of local boys (Matt Butcher, Evan Fuller - too bad Kyle Turris will be gone) so they might go with Michael Repik, a Czech who plays with the WHL Giants.
Is it just me, or has Ron Delorme had a decent scouting find since Gino Odjick?
On the NHL club they are weak at RW, but they have Grabner, Hansen, Simek Schultz and Brown in the system. There is a chance they could go for another RW - Oscar Moeller of the Chilliwack Bruins is the only one in that range I would pick. But they will probably be looking for a centre in the 2007 draft.
Unless something strange occurs, Turris, Couture, Gagner, Esposito, Gilles and probably O'Brian and Hamill will be off the board in the top 20. Looking at who is left I see Brandon Sutter, Kevin Veilleux, Akim Aliu and Joakim Andersson. Of these I like Sutter and Andersson if they are available. I would avoid Aliu unless a long and in depth interview reveals some strength of character and coachability that has so far not materialized.
Sutter might not get past Calgary where his uncle will pick him, but if he dropped to the Canucks it would make games with the Flamers even more interesting. I could certainly live with Andersson.
The Canucks also have LA's pick in the 2nd round - which will almost as good as a late 1st rounder. In the last few years, the Canucks best picks have come from Thomas Gradin - their European scout, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go off the board with one of their 2nd round picks for some obscure Swede playing north of the arctic circle. They have also pick a number of local boys (Matt Butcher, Evan Fuller - too bad Kyle Turris will be gone) so they might go with Michael Repik, a Czech who plays with the WHL Giants.
Is it just me, or has Ron Delorme had a decent scouting find since Gino Odjick?
