Vancouver Canucks: 5 Takeaways from Year-End Press Conference
Impact Player Could Come in at Draft
It is no secret that the top three of this year’s draft features professional players who are playing huge roles for their respective European clubs. Jim Benning is convinced either one of the trio could make an impact as early as next season:
“If we are picking in the top three, I believe the top-three players can step right in and play in the NHL next year and be players who can contribute.”
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He is right that all three players could make an impact, but that does not guarantee anything for next season, even if the Canucks end up picking in the top three. Coming from Europe, Matthews, Laine and Puljujarvi will all be eligible to play in the AHL. While Matthews seems to be a middle-six NHL centre already, especially because he grew up playing in North America, giving Laine or Puljujarvi some time at the AHL level could certainly be a good decision.
There are obviously players like 2013 second-overall pick Aleksander Barkov, who jump right into the NHL and make an immediate impact. However, playing in the AHL has seldom hurt a player’s development.
Recent examples are Toronto Maple Leaf William Nylander and Colorado Avalanche Mikko Rantanen.
Nylander stayed in Sweden for the first half of his draft+1 season but joined the Toronto Marlies for the second half. He spent the majority of this season in the AHL as well, and now has a career total of 32 goals and 77 points in 74 games — ready to make an impact at the NHL level. For the Maple Leafs, Nylander scored six goals and added seven assists in 22 contests.
Rantanen, on the other hand, came right over to North America following the draft. He only had nine goals and 28 points in 56 games in his draft year in Finland, but became the San Antonio Rampage’s top scorer this season. He recorded 23 goals and 59 points in 50 games.
As opposed to Nylander, Rantanen has not been able to record his first NHL point yet, but he looks close to NHL-ready as well. Growing into a leader in the AHL before going to the NHL is certainly not a bad thing.
Next: Takeaway #5