Canucks Biggest Draft Booms and Busts since 2000

[LastWordArmy]

As the 2020 NHL Entry Draft approaches, we decided to examine each team’s best and worst pick since the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The biggest boom is a player that had the best value relative to where they were selected. Meaning, no one in the first round will be considered a team’s best value pick. However, the biggest bust picks will almost always be in the first round. We will examine each player, why they were picked where they were, and what their NHL career was like. Today, we’ll focus on the Vancouver Canucks draft Boom and their Draft Bust.

Here is the article
Vancouver Canucks Biggest Draft Boom and Bust Since 2000 - Last Word on Hockey

Here is a taste with an HM


Patrick White

Patrick White is the name that is inevitably spoken when the topic of lousy Vancouver Canucks draft picks comes up. The pick is remembered (and criticized) as being “way off the board” but it wasn’t as huge a stretch as that. White chose to stay with his hometown high school team, which raised some eyebrows. But while there he won multiple All-State nominations and was runner up for the state’s Mr. Hockey Award. He had promised to go to the University of Minnesota’s excellent program, so it seemed like a reasonably safe pick at 25th overall. Unfortunately, the program was good enough to leave him with minimal ice time, and he never played a professional game in North America. The picks immediately following White were St. Louis Blues star David Perron and current New York Ranger Brendan Smith.

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[VanJack]

The thing about Nathan Smith, Patrick White and Nik Jensen is that they were drafted well into the bottom half of the first round. That's often because these players were dropping during their draft year, and never really improved much in their draft-plus-one season.

In fact using that criterion, other examples of a 'mild to medium busts' would be Jordan Schroeder, Hunter Shinkaruk and Brendan Gaunce.

But a better example might be Cody Hodgson, a legitimate top-10 pick at the time, who's career was derailed by injury and illness. Still, you expect a lot more from a guy picked in the top-10.

 

[Hit the post]

The thing about Nathan Smith, Patrick White and Nik Jensen is that they were drafted well into the bottom half of the first round. That's often because these players were dropping during their draft year, and never really improved much in their draft-plus-one season.

In fact using that criterion, other examples of a 'mild to medium busts' would be Jordan Schroeder, Hunter Shinkaruk and Brendan Gaunce.

But a better example might be Cody Hodgson, a legitimate top-10 pick at the time, who's career was derailed by injury and illness. Still, you expect a lot more from a guy picked in the top-10.

He still put up enough numbers at the NHL level to get himself a decent NHL contract after his ELC expired.

Clock clearly is ticking on Joulevi. 5th overall pick that unless he improves noticeably, might not ever be anything more than a #6 D/power play specialist. THAT would be the biggest bust since 2000 if that happens imho.

 

[nowhereman]

He still put up enough numbers at the NHL level to get himself a decent NHL contract after his ELC expired.

Clock clearly is ticking on Joulevi. 5th overall pick that unless he improves noticeably, might not ever be anything more than a #6 D/power play specialist. THAT would be the biggest bust since 2000 if that happens imho.

2016 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com

It really hurts to look at the stats of the 2016 NHL draft and see one notable blank stat line near the top. I didn't love the pick at the time but also didn't think it would turn out that poorly. OJ still has time to right the ship but he'll likely never come close to what was expected out of him.

That one hurts, especially with Tkachuk, Keller, Sergachev, and McAvoy taken soon after.

 

[ChilliBilly]

Tryamkin has the chance to be the best choice of Canucks outside of the 1st round. Yet to be determined.

Without a doubt the best since 2000 has been Edler. 3rd round, and might be the Canucks best Dman of the last 50 years.

 

[Hit the post]

Tryamkin has the chance to be the best choice of Canucks outside of the 1st round. Yet to be determined.

Without a doubt the best since 2000 has been Edler. 3rd round, and might be the Canucks best Dman of the last 50 years.

Dirk Graham - 1991 Selke Trophy winner
(drafted 5th round).

 

[ChilliBilly]

Dirk Graham - 1991 Selke Trophy winner
(drafted 5th round).

fair comment, but doesn't fit the criteria ....

and never played as a Canucks ....

 

[MS]

Tryamkin has the chance to be the best choice of Canucks outside of the 1st round. Yet to be determined.

Without a doubt the best since 2000 has been Edler. 3rd round, and might be the Canucks best Dman of the last 50 years.

There is zero chance that Tryamkin turns out better than Edler.

 

[82Ninety42011]

Dirk Graham - 1991 Selke Trophy winner
(drafted 5th round).

Had no idea was drafted by Canucks another one that got away. Google will be next to see who traded for.

Edit. Guess we let him go for nothing North Stars signed him as FA apparently.

 

[Hit the post]

Had no idea was drafted by Canucks another one that got away. Google will be next to see who traded for.

Edit. Guess we let him go for nothing North Stars signed him as FA apparently.

I don't remember the circumstances surrounding that but I'd guess it had something to do with the Canucks not being a team with "deep pockets" so they let him go without offering him a contract (certainly couldn't have been the Canucks been a 'stacked team' then).

 

[MS]

I don't remember the circumstances surrounding that but I'd guess it had something to do with the Canucks not being a team with "deep pockets" so they let him go without offering him a contract (certainly couldn't have been the Canucks been a 'stacked team' then).

Graham spent two years in our system before being released, then spent a further two years shredding the IHL while unattached to any NHL team before Minnesota gave him a 2nd chance.

 

[82Ninety42011]

I don't remember the circumstances surrounding that but I'd guess it had something to do with the Canucks not being a team with "deep pockets" so they let him go without offering him a contract (certainly couldn't have been the Canucks been a 'stacked team' then).

Did some googling and all I can find is this stolen from an Canucks Army article.

"It wasn’t until he decided to play out his contract with the Canucks and join the IHL’s Toledo Goaldiggers (great name!) that Graham began to blossom as a pro. In the 1982-83 season, Graham exploded for 125 points to lead his team in scoring and attract the interest of the NHL and the Minnesota North Stars."

 

[Jyrki21]

"It wasn’t until he decided to play out his contract with the Canucks and join the IHL’s Toledo Goaldiggers (great name!) that Graham began to blossom as a pro. In the 1982-83 season, Graham exploded for 125 points to lead his team in scoring and attract the interest of the NHL and the Minnesota North Stars."

I'm surprised that a team with such a punny name didn't make the slightest attempt at a corny logo to go along with it -- it's pretty much just '70s Canucks meets Nordiques.

Also:

 

[I am toxic]

He still put up enough numbers at the NHL level to get himself a decent NHL contract after his ELC expired.

Clock clearly is ticking on Joulevi. 5th overall pick that unless he improves noticeably, might not ever be anything more than a #6 D/power play specialist. THAT would be the biggest bust since 2000 if that happens imho.

I'm surprised that a team with such a punny name didn't make the slightest attempt at a corny logo to go along with it -- it's pretty much just '70s Canucks meets Nordiques.

Also:

And a bit like another Vancouver team from the '70's

(They handed out stickers at the games, had one stuck to my bedroom door for years. God help me.)

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Jury is out on Juolevi (although they may be reaching the end of their deliberations), so I would say Hodgson is the biggest bust in this timeframe. The methodology in drafting him certainly wasn’t wrong - I don’t think many argued he was the BPA at the time. But his attitude issues sunk him in Vancouver before he could even get started, and injuries / genetic conditions completely derailed his career soon after.

Also on the bust side - it still blows my mind that we only hit on 1 pick in the insanely deep 2003 draft. We had a ton of picks, too, and not a single NHL player after Kesler.

As for boom - Pettersson and Hughes are the best picks, but if we are going for late round gems, Bieksa would be the best steal. Honourable mentions to Hansen, Gaudette and Hutton.

 

[82Ninety42011]

I'm surprised that a team with such a punny name didn't make the slightest attempt at a corny logo to go along with it -- it's pretty much just '70s Canucks meets Nordiques.

Also:

Ya that's pretty sad indeed I'd would have expected something a little more sensational.

 

[MS]

Jury is out on Juolevi (although they may be reaching the end of their deliberations), so I would say Hodgson is the biggest bust in this timeframe. The methodology in drafting him certainly wasn’t wrong - I don’t think many argued he was the BPA at the time. But his attitude issues sunk him in Vancouver before he could even get started, and injuries / genetic conditions completely derailed his career soon after.

Also on the bust side - it still blows my mind that we only hit on 1 pick in the insanely deep 2003 draft. We had a ton of picks, too, and not a single NHL player after Kesler.

As for boom - Pettersson and Hughes are the best picks, but if we are going for late round gems, Bieksa would be the best steal. Honourable mentions to Hansen, Gaudette and Hutton.

The revelation that Hodgson had a genetic disorder which ended his career really removes him from 'bust' status, IMO. Or at least puts a massive asterisk beside it.

The guy had 3 productive NHL seasons, finished 1st and 2nd in scoring on an NHL team, and led Canada in scoring at a World Championships before circumstances beyond his control destroyed his career. Without those issues, I think it's fair to say he probably has one of those Umberger-type 800-game, 500-point careers.

As for 2003, Marc-Andre Bernier is one of the lowkey worst Canuck picks ever. Ponderous, awful player who scored 1 career AHL goal, and 3 of the 4 players taken after him were Max Lapierre, David Backes, and Jimmy Howard.

 

[timw33]

As for 2003, Marc-Andre Bernier is one of the lowkey worst Canuck picks ever.

I remember watching him play for the Victoria Salmon Kings , where I quickly realized what a kiss of death playing for the Victoria Salmon Kings was for Canuck propsects.

 

[Horse McHindu]

Agreed about Hodgson.

Hodgson was really starting to come into his own before his illness.

He took a noticeable leap in Vancouver during his last season here (loved his goal against Tim Thomas in Boston during our 1st post Stanley Cup meeting against Boston), and he also had 1-2 very good seasons in Buffalo if I recall correctly (before his illness related plummet).

 

[Jyrki21]

And a bit like another Vancouver team from the '70's

(They handed out stickers at the games, had one stuck to my bedroom door for years. God help me.)

I own a very inauthentic Blazers' T-shirt with that logo... don't tell one Mr. Alfred J. Mikl, who is the current trademark holder according to the CIPO database.

 

[I am toxic]

I own a very inauthentic Blazers' T-shirt with that logo... don't tell one Mr. Alfred J. Mikl, who is the current trademark holder according to the CIPO database.

It all just brings back tough memories. Hockey in the '70's wasn't painful, it was masochism.

Canucks.

Blazers.

North Van Minor Hockey Association (used the same logo as the '70's Canucks, I got stomped by my friends who all left to go to NSWC).

Why I am still involved in hockey to this day is a mystery. I now realize I suffered from hockey depression from 1973 to 1994 when we finally made it to the Cup Final with legit stars and a HHoF player.

 

[RobertKron]

Jury is out on Juolevi (although they may be reaching the end of their deliberations), so I would say Hodgson is the biggest bust in this timeframe. The methodology in drafting him certainly wasn’t wrong - I don’t think many argued he was the BPA at the time. But his attitude issues sunk him in Vancouver before he could even get started, and injuries / genetic conditions completely derailed his career soon after.

Also on the bust side - it still blows my mind that we only hit on 1 pick in the insanely deep 2003 draft. We had a ton of picks, too, and not a single NHL player after Kesler.

As for boom - Pettersson and Hughes are the best picks, but if we are going for late round gems, Bieksa would be the best steal. Honourable mentions to Hansen, Gaudette and Hutton.

A big problem, and it should be a familiar one, in 2003 was that they only had two picks in the top 100.

Also, FWIW, Brandon Nolan was starting to look like he could play in the league and then had a career-ending concussion.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

It all just brings back tough memories. Hockey in the '70's wasn't painful, it was masochism.

Canucks.

Blazers.

North Van Minor Hockey Association (used the same logo as the '70's Canucks, I got stomped by my friends who all left to go to NSWC).

Why I am still involved in hockey to this day is a mystery. I now realize I suffered from hockey depression from 1973 to 1994 when we finally made it to the Cup Final with legit stars and a HHoF player.

I played with the Vancouver T-Birds until second year Pee Wee when I moved to the North Shore. My Dad and his siblings had fond memories of NSWC from their youth - in the 60s - so it seemed logical for me to play there. What a shit show. I ate, slept and breathed hockey prior to that year, and that year made me quit. Everyone was out for No. 1, and as crazy as the players were, the parents were worse. So I quit and didn’t play again until second year midget...with North Van Minor Hockey. This would have been around 2001 or 2002. I’ll bet you money we wore the exact same duds you wore as a kid - they were beaten, battered, moth eaten, pilly 1970s style Canucks jerseys. That year was violent as hell, but at least it was fun and our team felt like a team.

 

[Hit the post]

I remember watching him play for the Victoria Salmon Kings , where I quickly realized what a kiss of death playing for the Victoria Salmon Kings was for Canuck propsects.

Not many make it out of the ECHL. Guys like Burrows are the exception rather than the rule.

 

[I am toxic]

I played with the Vancouver T-Birds until second year Pee Wee when I moved to the North Shore. My Dad and his siblings had fond memories of NSWC from their youth - in the 60s - so it seemed logical for me to play there. What a shit show. I ate, slept and breathed hockey prior to that year, and that year made me quit. Everyone was out for No. 1, and as crazy as the players were, the parents were worse. So I quit and didn’t play again until second year midget...with North Van Minor Hockey. This would have been around 2001 or 2002. I’ll bet you money we wore the exact same duds you wore as a kid - they were beaten, battered, moth eaten, pilly 1970s style Canucks jerseys. That year was violent as hell, but at least it was fun and our team felt like a team.

Yes, if you wore #14 midget jersey that was my moths that had been chewing on it.

It's funny, my kid has played T-Birds for the past 9 years, I've coached his teams and now consider myself as much a T-Bird as NVMHA (they were never called Storm when I was there).

He also played on a NSWC spring team so we got to know some of those families well. It was funny, as the goalie he was never a threat to the players, all the families were just happy there was a target in net.

As for parents, well, I would have to share it in a PM. Fortunately my daughter is in dance, hockey dads and dance moms make each other look equally . . . sane . . .