Vancouver Canucks: Redrafting the 2010 NHL Draft

If you were disappointed when the Vancouver Canucks traded their second and fourth-round picks of this year’s draft, I hope you didn’t pay attention in 2010.

When we think back to the year 2010, we often connect it with the Vancouver Canucks’ most successful era. Between 2008 and 2013, Vancouver won five straight division titles, as well as two President’s Trophies. In 2010, they were still one year away from their first time atop the league standings, but they were already good enough to turn the focus away from the draft. The Canucks wanted to win.

As noted in our 2008 Redraft, the Canucks traded their 2008 first-round pick Michael Grabner, their 2010 first-round selection and Steve Bernier to the Florida Panthers for Victor Oreskovich and Keith Ballard. So, Vancouver was without a first-rounder in 2010.

The Vancouver Canucks’ second-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade that sent Raffi Torres to Buffalo in exchange for Nathan Paetsch and this pick. Hence, the Canucks were also without a second-round selection.

Last but not least, the Canucks sent their third-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Andrew Alberts. That left Vancouver with the following selections:

115 – D Patrick McNally
145 – D Adam Polasek
172 – F Alex Friesen
175 – G Jonathan Iilahti
205 – D Sawyer Hannay

Of course, drafting NHL players in the later rounds is far from easy. At least the Canucks got forward Alex Friesen, who made his NHL debut for the club in the 2015-16 season. It is hard to predict where that will go, but it is good to have gotten at least one professional.

That said, it could have been much better — as always.

Next: Round 4