Vancouver Canucks 14 Thoughts for the Last 14 Days of the Season
By David Joun
Thought #8: Adding the Blue Jackets Compensatory Pick
Well, great news. In a deep draft like this year, an early second-round pick is just as good as any other year’s late-middle first rounder. Each draft pick is an opportunity to hit a home run with GM Jim Benning. Vancouver will look to claim the John Tortorella compensatory pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Why is this significant? Well, the Blue Jackets could choose not to give up their pick for another two years. But how many years does Columbus finish above Vancouver in the standings? The Blue Jackets may just take this year to hand over the pick.
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That will allow the Canucks to have two high second-round picks. A great situation for Vancouver, whether they actually draft with the pick or not. The famous incident that saw Dougie Hamilton come to Calgary was enabled by the Flames’ plethora of draft picks in the second round. Could Trader Jim pull off a similar trade, perhaps for a Travis Hamonic? Just spitballin’ here folks.
With the draft so deep, the Blue Jackets may not give the Canucks the pick at all. That is a complete possibility. The Blue Jackets sit fourth from the bottom in the standings right now. And of course, who knows when the Canucks could erupt with a set of W’s stringed together?
The first day of the draft goes June 24th in Buffalo, New York. Just three more months, and just 14 more days to help decide its fate!
Next: Thought #9: The Draft Lottery is April 30th