Vancouver Canucks: Early 7-Round Mock Draft
The Vancouver Canucks’ season is coming to an end — time for our first mock draft of the year.
Despite a strong start into the year, the 2015-16 campaign has been a dreadful one for the Vancouver Canucks, and they are set to finish 28th in the standings. On the bright side, 28th in the league equals third in the draft lottery standings and a guaranteed top-six selection at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
For the first time in seemingly forever, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be held without Canadian participation. So, the draft will be much more fun to look at over the next weeks.
How about a first seven-round mock draft for our Vancouver Canucks?
As of today, the Canucks own a pick in each of the first four rounds, one in the sixth and two in the seventh round.
In addition, they might get a second-round selection from the Columbus Blue Jackets as compensation for ex-Canucks coach John Tortorella. If it is not this year’s pick, Vancouver will get one in 2017 or 2018. The Jackets have to decide by June 1.
A big winger who combines size, skating and skill, and plays a smart game at both ends of the rink. More of a playmaker than a scorer. Voted MVP of the 2016 World Juniors as he won gold with Team Finland. Playing his second full professional season. . RW. Karpat Oulu, Liiga. Jesse Puljujarvi. 1. player. 104
104. Fourth player to be granted exceptional player status to join the OHL a year early after <a href=. D. Mississauga Steelheads, OHL. Sean Day. 2. player
Related: 3 Second-Round Targets for the 2016 Draft
3. player. 104. Shutdown defenceman who is starting to contribute offensively. Has a large frame, skates well and plays a smart defensive game. Has been improving well offensively and can become a solid two-way defenceman if he keeps that up.. D. USNTDP. James Greenway
104. Natural goal scorer whose most significant weakness is his size. At 5-foot-7, he’s shorter than Johnny Gaudreau and <a href=. C. Victoria Royals, WHL. Matthew Phillips. 4. player
player. 104. Great scorer with pro size, playing for the Espoo Blues U20 in Finland’s Jr. A league. Won gold with Team Finland at World Juniors but is far behind teammates like Puljujarvi in development, especially regarding his defensive game.. LW. Espoo Blues U20, Jr. A SM-Liiga. Kasper Bjorkqvist. 6
Related: 5 Late-Round Options for the 2016 Draft
D. Swift Current Broncos, WHL. Colby Sissons. 7. player. 104. A solid two-way defenceman at the junior level. Does a lot of things right but is not a standout in any area. Can be a solid D-man at the pro level if he improves in all areas of his game.
7. player. 104. Hard-working goaltender who took huge strides over the past couple of years. Much more consistent than he used to be, certainly worth a late-round pick.. G. Prince George Cougars, WHL. Ty Edmonds
Will the Canucks select any of these players? We will see in June.
In the first round, a lot will depend on the draft lottery. But, no matter where they end up picking, they will get an elite prospect.
Next: Top 5 Draft Prospect Profiles
Behind that, being third-last in the standings is not a bad thing either. The second-round pick is almost a late first-rounder, the third-round pick almost a late second-rounder and so on.
Vancouver will have many choices, and Jim Benning and his staff seem capable of making the right ones.