Prospect Info: Canucks C Daimon Gardner draft 4th Round, 112th Overall, 2022 Entry Draft

[VanJack]

Another guy still on the board late, who was rated higher in this year's draft. Some scouting services had him going between 54-60 in the third round. So getting him with the 112th pick in the fourth round has to be considered a 'win'.

I suppose the reason he dropped was that he spent his entire draft year in Minnesota high school hockey, and didn't exactly set the world on fire during a brief audition in the USHL. But I'm sure the Canuck scouts got a good long look at him and liked the upside. And the fact he's a natural center doesn't hurt either.

Canucks have drafted a couple of other guys out of high school hockey; Patrick McNally and Jack Rathbone. Hopefully Gardner's development is closer to Rathbone's.

 

[RobertKron]

Another guy still on the board late, who was rated higher in this year's draft. Some scouting services had him going between 54-60 in the third round. So getting him with the 112th pick in the fourth round has to be considered a 'win'.

I suppose the reason he dropped was that he spent his entire draft year in Minnesota high school hockey, and didn't exactly set the world on fire during a brief audition in the USHL. But I'm sure the Canuck scouts got a good long look at him and liked the upside. And the fact he's a natural center doesn't hurt either.

Canucks have drafted a couple of other guys out of high school hockey; Patrick McNally and Jack Rathbone. Hopefully Gardner's development is closer to Rathbone's.

Those two came out of prep school, which is IIRC a different circuit. The last player the Canucks took out of Minnesota High School might have been Pat White. Maybe LaBate?

 

[Gstank]

Kind of reminds me of the Keppen and Kunz picks a couple of years ago. Late round guys who are labled as powerforwards who we may never see until 4/5 years down the road

 

[StreetHawk]

Kind of reminds me of the Keppen and Kunz picks a couple of years ago. Late round guys who are labled as powerforwards who we may never see until 4/5 years down the road

Guys like that are a ways out.
Even Blake Coleman (not a power forward) he didn’t play in the nhl for a while. He was drafted in 2011 but he was eligible in 2010. Then 4 full years in ncaa. Mostly injured as a first year pro. Second year pro 2/3 in A and 1/3 in nhl. So he’s a guy who only saw like 20 odd nhl games in his D+7 season (from when he was drafted eligible). Guys drafted after round 2, can take them awhile if they ever do make it.

 

[m9]

Unless I misunderstood him, I don't think he's playing in Chilliwack next year? Pretty sure he said that on the radio yesterday.

 

[Vector]

Unless I misunderstood him, I don't think he's playing in Chilliwack next year? Pretty sure he said that on the radio yesterday.

I think you’re right. Canucks Army’s Chris Faber has this update:

“UPDATE: It’s up to development now, Gardner is set to play next season in the USHL before making the jump to the NCAA. We will see if he stays at centre because in the short amount of time we spent watching him in the USHL, he was playing left wing.”

 

[StreetHawk]

I think you’re right. Canucks Army’s Chris Faber has this update:

“UPDATE: It’s up to development now, Gardner is set to play next season in the USHL before making the jump to the NCAA. We will see if he stays at centre because in the short amount of time we spent watching him in the USHL, he was playing left wing.”

USHL probably a better option than bchl. There’s only 16 teams there and 17 in bc and the USHL draws upon all of the USA. Probably a higher quality of competition there. There’s like 80 or more of these tier ii teams throughout Canada. Majority of the 16-18 year olds are in the chl.

 

[wetcoast]

Not much of a prospect but we shall see.

He actually is the type of prospect we have missed for so long and if he develops we won't need a Jay beagle in the future signing.

 

[CanucksMJL]

I'm disappointed that he'll not be playing in my backyard. It would have been fun to give you guys my worthless opinion on a regular basis.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

3 points in 14 USHL games last season is hugely concerning. If this guy doesn't absolutely torch the BCHL next season you can basically write him off as a prospect.

Not a fan of drafting big guys that can't produce. Loser strategy. This dude and Dorrington qualify.

 

[shottasasa]

3 points in 14 USHL games last season is hugely concerning. If this guy doesn't absolutely torch the BCHL next season you can basically write him off as a prospect.

Not a fan of drafting big guys that can't produce. Loser strategy. This dude and Dorrington qualify.

Daniel Gee indicated that his underlying play was much stronger than his point total. I have no idea how many minutes he played or anything like that in such a small sample between 2 teams, so for now I’m going to defer to the scouts who had him ranked in the range of where he was drafted. Hopefully he turns out.

 

[ChilliBilly]

3 points in 14 USHL games last season is hugely concerning. If this guy doesn't absolutely torch the BCHL next season you can basically write him off as a prospect.

Not a fan of drafting big guys that can't produce. Loser strategy. This dude and Dorrington qualify.

See posts 56 & 57 above. Apparently he will not be playing in Chilliwack after all, which is unfortunate for those of us who live there. And 4th round picks have about 20% chance of having an NHL career. We can hope.

 

[Vector]

3 points in 14 USHL games last season is hugely concerning. If this guy doesn't absolutely torch the BCHL next season you can basically write him off as a prospect.

Not a fan of drafting big guys that can't produce. Loser strategy. This dude and Dorrington qualify.

He’s staying in the USHL and not going to the BCHL.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

He’s staying in the USHL and not going to the BCHL.

That's actually probably better for him. But again, he has to absolutely dominate.

 

[Vector]

That's actually probably better for him. But again, he has to absolutely dominate.

Selfishly, I’m disappointed since I’d probably go to a couple of games. Regardless, he absolutely needs to stomp all over whatever league he’s in.

 

[Guardian452]

Another guy still on the board late, who was rated higher in this year's draft. Some scouting services had him going between 54-60 in the third round. So getting him with the 112th pick in the fourth round has to be considered a 'win'.

I suppose the reason he dropped was that he spent his entire draft year in Minnesota high school hockey, and didn't exactly set the world on fire during a brief audition in the USHL. But I'm sure the Canuck scouts got a good long look at him and liked the upside. And the fact he's a natural center doesn't hurt either.

Canucks have drafted a couple of other guys out of high school hockey; Patrick McNally and Jack Rathbone. Hopefully Gardner's development is closer to Rathbone's.

The difference is Rathbone was a smaller player with elite skating skills whereas Gardner sounds like the typical player who was bigger than everyone he played against. Every sport is littered with the latter type of player who could dominate under 18 competition with their size, but struggled when they moved up. Hopefully Gardner won't turn out to be the myriad of prospects who struggle when they face competition who are just as big and fast.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

The only reason Rathbone was playing HS hockey was because he wanted to be close to his brother for one more year. USHL teams were *clamoring* for him. Not the case with Gardner.

 

[settinguptheplay]

3 points in 14 USHL games last season is hugely concerning. If this guy doesn't absolutely torch the BCHL next season you can basically write him off as a prospect.

Not a fan of drafting big guys that can't produce. Loser strategy. This dude and Dorrington qualify.

My understanding is that he joined teams late in the season and was mostly used in spot duty. I suspect he played very few minutes and was mostly stapled to the bottom of the line up.

 

[Luongos Knob]

Better HS numbers than Patrick White.... lol nonis

 

[Brock]

Big fan of this pick.

Wrote about him earlier this year for McKeen's (subscribers only):

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In a nutshell, Gardner has just a very intriguing package of size and skill. Skates well for his size. Really shows promise dominating the middle and is tough to stop in transition. Was a lot better at the USHL level than the stats would indicate. He was creating chances.

 

[cc]

It's a long shot but with is physical attributes, I'm hoping for a nick Paul type development from him

 

[timw33]

I'm hoping for a nick Paul type development from him

Take seven full years to become a full time NHL player and run out of team control right when he starts contributing?

 

[StreetHawk]

Take seven full years to become a full time NHL player and run out of team control right when he starts contributing?

outside of first rounders, majority of kids that you draft you end up with only 4/5 years of NHL team control. UFA at 27, so if they don't get to the NHL by 22, it's a short period of time.

Coleman went 6 years after he was drafted (and he was drafted a year after he was eligible) to play in the NHL.

Colton Ross was drafted in 2016, but with a Sept 11, 1996 birthday, he was draft eligible in 2014. Played 30/56 NHL last season during the Covid year, so he made the NHL at what would be his D+6 season. But, because he won't turn 27 until after June 30, TB holds his rights for another season until 2025.

Canucks will only hold Gardner's rights up to June 2031. Best case is probably a year in USHL, then minimum of 2 at Clarkson, but realistically 3.

 

[cc]

Take seven full years to become a full time NHL player and run out of team control right when he starts contributing?

He was developed and ultimately moved for a decent return so that would be fine with me.