Post-Game Talk: 2021 NHL Draft Lottery | Canucks will pick 9th Overall

[Aqualung]

First draft ever where I honestly don't care who they select, Since they are all basically around the same tier of prospects anyways.
If I absolutely had to choose, going with a Creative offensive player would be ideal.
Eklund is the only guy I heard that fits this that could be available, No?

I agree this is a better year than others to trade this pick for a roster player. But if we had to choose there are a handful of players that can be solid contributors with the possibility of them becoming elite. For me that’s Guenther, Eklund and Clarke.

 

[Grantham]

Kent Johnson is what Buttons mock draft has us taking. His favourite player is Elias Pettersson.

6’1” 167 lbs. Almost identical frame to EP as well.

The main knock on him is he needs to work on his first step and acceleration. Maybe highest IQ and vision in the draft. His defensive commitment is poor, but this can and will have to be fixed as he develops.

Does our experience with EP (hugely positive) make us more likely to draft Johnson?

 

[RebuildinVan]

Eklund, Johnson, Lysell would all qualify I think. McTavish and Guenther are more two-way guys from what I gather.

McTavish is the guy most on my radar at 9. Has the skills and bite to his game to be the guy Benning thought Sutter was.

 

[bertuzzi2bure]

I think they should explore HARD to package the pick for a signed Jones.

Hughes-Jones would be one of the best pairings in the league.

Or even

Hughes-Hamonic
Schmidt-Jones

would be juicy

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

McTavish is the guy most on my radar at 9. Has the skills and bite to his game to be the guy Benning thought Sutter was.

Agreed, McTavish has all those Benning hallmarks - competes hard, gets in on the forecheck, rips the puck, is big, etc. He also torched the U-18s and Benning was there and we all know. If he's there I'm sure we'll take him, and that's fine. Personally I have the prospects in 3 tiers:

1: Clarke/Beniers/Power
2: Hughes/Eklund/Johnson/McTavish/Lysell
3: Guenther/Edvinsson

I'll be annoyed if we grab someone from pot 3 if anyone from 1+2 are available, but it's not the end of the world.

Knowing Benning, I'll be really surprised if Johnson/Eklund/Lysell are on his radar, but you never know.

 

[Canucks LB]

Any decent RHD that we have a shot 2 select?

 

[VanJack]

I think they should explore HARD to package the pick for a signed Jones.

Hughes-Jones would be one of the best pairings in the league.

Or even

Hughes-Hamonic
Schmidt-Jones

would be juicy

The problem is that Seth Jones would arrive in town with only a year left on his contract before he becomes a UFA.

Unless Benning and the Canucks could negotiate an extension before the trade was completed, it wouldn't make any sense for them to give up the assets to make it happen. Besides they have no cap space as it is to fit in even Jones current contract.

But I agree.... in a perfect cap world, Seth Jones is the kind of UFA d-man the Canucks should be going after, instead of the likes of Myers, Benn, Del Zotto, etc...etc.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Kent Johnson is what Buttons mock draft has us taking. His favourite player is Elias Pettersson.

6’1” 167 lbs. Almost identical frame to EP as well.

The main knock on him is he needs to work on his first step and acceleration. Maybe highest IQ and vision in the draft. His defensive commitment is poor, but this can and will have to be fixed as he develops.

Does our experience with EP (hugely positive) make us more likely to draft Johnson?

I guess thats a possibility..I remember when EP was drafted, and it looked like a strong gust of wind was going to blow him right off the podium...He was rail thin.

I remember the knock against William Nylander was his lack of defensive awareness..That can be taught,..having elite IQ and vision is a gift.

I've long since disregarded the whole stature (weight/height) thing at the draft..Jake Virtanen and Nick Ritchie are other examples of players who were going to be a physical force.

 

[Canucks LB]

Actually, Can somebody link me some good videos/articles on this draft on players in the top 10.
You can post it here, or DM me.

Thanks guys!

 

[604]

I guess thats a possibility..I remember when EP was drafted, and it looked like a strong gust of wind was going to blow him right off the podium...He was rail thin.

I remember the knock against William Nylander was his lack of defensive awareness..That can be taught,..having elite IQ and vision is a gift.

I've long since disregarded the whole stature (weight/height) thing at the draft..Jake Virtanen and Nick Ritchie are other examples of players who were going to be a physical force.

The other big issue with Johnson is he really isn't a play driver 5 on 5. Very few primary points (like alarmingly low).

For a guy who has so much skill, he really doesn't create enough.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

The other big issue with Johnson is he really isn't a play driver 5 on 5. Very few primary points (like alarmingly low).

For a guy who has so much skill, he really doesn't create enough.

Maybe like a poor mans Sean Monahan..?

 

[Aqualung]

I guess thats a possibility..I remember when EP was drafted, and it looked like a strong gust of wind was going to blow him right off the podium...He was rail thin.

I remember the knock against William Nylander was his lack of defensive awareness..That can be taught,..having elite IQ and vision is a gift.

I've long since disregarded the whole stature (weight/height) thing at the draft..Jake Virtanen and Nick Ritchie are other examples of players who were going to be a physical force.

The difference I think between EP and Nylander were they were more play drivers and had a greater percentage of their offense as primary points. A greater portion of Johnson’s production is secondary assists (he was on a talented team) and he can more often be a nonfactor in the play or on a shift-by-shift basis and he gets rubbed out to the perimeter 5on5 and loses physical battles consistently. He’s much more of a powerplay specialist as he is now.

edit: just saw 604’s post, completely agree. I think he’s a bust candidate to be honest. I’m much more interested in Guenther, Eklund or McTavish. Maybe even Lysell or Lucius.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

Any decent RHD that we have a shot 2 select?

Clarke won't drop to us. But Corson Ceulemans will be available in the mid-first round. Also Scott Morrow in the later 1st/early 2nd possibly. We honestly really need one of them.

 

[VanillaCoke]

This rundown might be changing my mind too

 

[GetFocht]

I think they should explore HARD to package the pick for a signed Jones.

Hughes-Jones would be one of the best pairings in the league.

Or even

Hughes-Hamonic
Schmidt-Jones

would be juicy

Seth Jones would likely cost Schmidt, 2 firsts, Virtanen

 

[krutovsdonut]

Seth Jones would likely cost Schmidt, 2 firsts, Virtanen

that's a deal for me if the second 1st is conditional on a re-sign, and is otherwise a second.

 

[Szechwan]

The Athletic had an interesting article today about potential targets, and talked to a few scouts about each of them.
NHL scouts poll: Who should the Canucks hope is available with the 9th pick?


Personally, as long as we stick to that "consensus top 9" I'm going to be pretty content. Edvinsson is the guy I have reservations about, in the same way I had them about the big toolsy Broberg in 2019.

I just hope we make the pick. I know everyone wants Seth Jones, but unless he's coming with contract, I stay away.
There is tremendous value in having an impact ELC stepping into the lineup in 2022-23, that's where contenders are made. A McTavish slotting in at 3C for the next few years would give us great depth and really balance the lineup. A Johnson/Eklund/Guenther slotting into our top 6 or top 9 to provide some depth scoring would be huge.

Chaz Lucius though... Can I really get on board with drafting a guy named Chaz? I'll have to think about that.

 

[DonnyNucker]

Seth Jones would likely cost Schmidt, 2 firsts, Virtanen

Virtanen? What?

 

[Ita]

Jones for a 9th overall isn’t too steep of a price and I actually am happy with our 1st pick and who should be available, I worry more about the salary cap in this situation. The ultimate move here is moving back in the draft - getting a lower 1st and a 2nd round pick and then trading our 1st for Jones. That’s the kind of forward thinking that will land me a GM Job

That's actually really steep for a year of Jones. This team isn't going anywhere, and if Jones doesn't resign this would be waste another pick.

The trading the 1st gets you Jones, with an extension, then it's worth it.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Reality: Just finished dead last in the worst division in the NHL and still have major cap issues..


Some Canucks fans: Tanev suxx let him walk and now Lets trade 9th OV + for Seth Jones!!!

 

[DonnyNucker]

Reality: Just finished dead last in the worst division in the NHL and still have major cap issues..


Some Canucks fans: Tanev suxx let him walk and now Lets trade 9th OV + for Seth Jones!!!

As long as we don’t lose Virtanen I’m fine w it

 

[Andy Dufresne]

If Benning traded a massive package for Jones it would be easily the dumbest thing he's done as a gm. Jones is not a guy who would re-sign here, and not because he wanted to but Jim ran out of time.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

I have not watch any of the prospects played this year but going into the draft it seems like the rankings are all over the place and nobody really knows who goes where. Based upon what I read online, this is my feeling for the #9 pick going into the draft.
Extremely happy: Power, Bernier, Clarke
Content: Hughes, Eklund, McTavish, Lambos, Guenther
Nervously optimistic: Wallstedt, Johnson, Edvinsson
Intrigued: Ceulemans, Sillinger, Lysell, Chibrikov (hoping we trade down if we are taking any one in this group)
Not very happy: Raty, Lucius, Svechkov
No opinion on anybody else because I didn't read up on them.

For a late round pick I would love for the team to take a flyer at Aito Iguchi.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Got bored at work and looked through the last 25 NHL entry drafts. Only twice in that span have 4 defensemen gone in the first 8 picks (most recently in 2012, when 6 went!), so there's a fairly good chance that one of Power/Brandt/Edvinsson/Hughes fall to us.

 

[StreetHawk]

Got bored at work and looked through the last 25 NHL entry drafts. Only twice in that span have 4 defensemen gone in the first 8 picks (most recently in 2012, when 6 went!), so there's a fairly good chance that one of Power/Brandt/Edvinsson/Hughes fall to us.

Well this draft isn’t exactly loaded with forwards. Beniers, guenther, Eklund would be your top 3.

Johnson, projects as a winger and didn’t drive play.
MacTavish top end a 2C do it all guy.
Lysell I’ve seen all over the map. From top 10 down to the 20’s.
Would need Detroit to go Wallstedt to help push a Dman down.