Guys like Gaunce, Jensen, Hodgson and Schroeder--all picks by the previous Gillis regime--simply underscore how hard it is for many first-round draft picks to dramatically improve their games after they're drafted. The 'holes' in their game in junior and college, just became 'bigger holes' once they turn pro. All of these guys played a least few games in the league and showed flashes, but no consistent improvement.
In the case of Gaunce, the Canucks drafted him for his size and character (he was a captain in the OHL), but skating was always an issue....and guess what, six years after he was drafted it's still an issue. But taking a positive spin, it seems with the current regime, the fundamentals of even their later-round draft picks are better. Kids like Lockwood, Gaudette, Lind, Gadjovich, Jasek, Palmu and even this year's third rounder Madden can all skate and handle the puck. Seems to me there's a better foundation for them moving forward, and more likely they're going to make it eventually.