Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Edmonton Oilers winger David Perron says he thought he was going to get drafted by the Vancouver Canucks back in 2007.
“I thought I would be drafted by the Canucks, but I don’t make the decisions,” he told the Province.
The Canucks were selecting 25th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft with Perron still on the board, but they opted to select Patrick White from the University of Minnesota. The St. Louis Blues picked Perron with the 26th overall pick right after.
Despite being ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the 10th best North American skater, picking Perron was deemed a ‘risk’. He was 19 years old, had only one season of major junior hockey experience, and was three years removed from playing Midget B hockey. His defensive game wasn’t the strongest either.
White, a player described as the ‘total package,’ was deemed the ‘safer’ pick.
"The skilled centre plays with an edge in the pressure-packed world of Minnesota high school hockey and also excelled in the United States Hockey League. … [The Canucks] were sold on White’s total package and accelerating his learning curve at the University of Minnesota."
“He has good offensive instincts and is good with the puck and his vision is also above average,” then-Canucks general manager Dave Nonis said.
White, 24, is currently playing with HC Banska Bystrica in the Slovak Extraliga where he has 7 goals and 14 points in 25 games.