Vancouver Canucks: 2017 draft pick provides fans with hope

Following their successful 2017 draft picks, the Vancouver Canucks have finally provided this starving fan base with plenty of hope for the future.

Just three years ago, the Vancouver Canucks appeared to be a lost franchise that had no direction whatsoever.

The team had missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. Head coach John Tortorella was fired just one season into his five-year contract. General manager Mike Gillis was fired amidst fans’ wishes, and favorites Roberto Luongo and Ryan Kesler were traded after both stars requested to be dealt.

And most importantly, the Canucks have virtually no up-and-coming prospects to get excited about. This was a team that was too old and too slow to compete with the modern NHL.

Three years later, and the Canucks are suddenly in a great position when you take a look at how the new regime has drafted under president Trevor Linden and general manager Jim Benning.

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It’s definitely too early, but Vancouver’s 2017 draft class looks like it could be one of the best in franchise history.

It all starts with slick Swede Elias Pettersson, whom the Canucks selected with the fifth selection.

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound standout is going to need time to develop in Sweden before he comes to Vancouver, but you may be looking at this team’s No. 1 centre in three years.

Vancouver also landed right winger Kole Lind with the 33rd selection. The 23rd-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting could wind up as a major draft steal, given his fancy scoring touch.

Those were only a couple of the marquee selections made by Benning, and the 2017 draft isn’t the only reason why you should be excited about Vancouver’s long-term future.

Current Canucks look promising

We no longer have to worry about Bo Horvat (in case you ever did). He showed his ability to thrive as a first or second-line centre by leading the team with 52 points in 2016-17. Provided he can continue to develop chemistry with Markus Granlund and/or Sven Baertschi, Horvat could even be a consistent 60-to-70-point man.

Heck, Brock Boeser hasn’t even played a full season yet — and his four goals in just nine games suggest big things are on the way. Remember, this is a guy that Craig Button from TSN listed as the eighth-best skater not in the NHL back in February.

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Young defencemen Troy Stecher and Ben Hutton also provided plenty of flashes throughout 2016-17, and both guys should at least be second-pairing blueliners. Chris Tanev figures to remain a big piece of the Canucks long-term outlook as well.

You can be excited about the 2017 draft picks plus guys like Olli Juolevi, Adam Gaudette and Thatcher Demko. But who says some players from the 2016-17 Canucks can’t play even bigger roles in 2017-18 and beyond?

Rebuild is in right direction

It took a while, but Linden and co. have finally shown their willingness to commit toward a long-term rebuild. No more chasing expensive past-their-prime veterans in free agency (hello Loui Eriksson). It’s all about drafting and developing their players from here on out.

And I’m sorry if I’m sounding ultra optimistic about all these Canucks players. It’s not like every guy I’ve listed is going to be a superstar, but you get the picture. These are young guys with plenty of upside. It’s not the 2012-16 Canucks that relied on guys in their 30s to carry this team.

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But how many NHL teams can you say have a better long-term outlook than Vancouver? Powerhouses like the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks are built around core players in their late 20s or early 30s.

Vancouver is rebuilding the right way. Guys like Horvat, Stecher and Boeser will take the next step in 2017-18. Meanwhile, fans can patiently wait for Pettersson, Juolevi, Lind and Adam Gaudette to arrive and take over this franchise.

Conclusion

Listen, Canucks fans. I know it’s been a frustrating time. And don’t deny it — the lack of sellouts over the years and the general distaste of this team’s direction in recent years has caused some of the team’s followers to disappear.

But all good things take time in life. And that includes building a championship team in any sport. The Canucks are stockpiling their system with promising young players — that’s the way you make a Stanley Cup winner in today’s NHL.

Next: 5 Must-Watch Games for the 2017-18 Season

Don’t just think of the 2017 NHL Draft as a another day where Benning and the team went to work. Think of it as the beginning of a long-term future for your Vancouver Canucks.