Vancouver Canucks: Pacific Division Draft Grade Ranking
5. Vancouver Canucks
You might have noticed, the bottom-two teams of this ranking are two of the top-three teams in the division, which only makes sense. You also might have noticed that the Anaheim Ducks should be up next to complete the top-three group. Well, they are not — surprise, surprise.
For weeks leading up to the draft, fans were scared of Vancouver picking Olli Juolevi fifth overall. It almost seemed like I was the only one who was secretly hoping for Benning to make that call. Since center Pierre-Luc Dubois was not an option at five, most fans are fine with the pick now, and it is safe to say that it deserves an ‘A’. Juolevi is the best defenseman of this draft class and he will battle for a spot in training camp this year — even if he might not make it.
Are you happy with Olli Juolevi for the #Canucks? Who would have been your pick?
— The Canuck Way (@FSTheCanuckWay) June 25, 2016
After that, as said in the introduction, it got a little bit shaky. At 64, Benning reached for the player he really wanted because he didn’t have another pick until 140. Next was a promising two-way defenseman from the OHL, though injuries could be a concern with him. Lastly, the Canucks went with three overage forwards. Here is your 2016 Vancouver Canucks draft class:
| Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player | Pos | Country | Height | Weight | Amateur League | Amateur Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | VAN | OLLI JUOLEVI | D | FIN | 6′ 2″ | 188 | OHL | LONDON |
| 3 | 3 | 64 | VAN | WILLIAM LOCKWOOD | RW | USA | 5′ 11″ | 171 | USHL | USA U-18 |
| 5 | 19 | 140 | VAN | COLE CANDELLA | D | CAN | 6′ 1″ | 189 | OHL | HAMILTON |
| 6 | 3 | 154 | VAN | JAKOB STUKEL | LW | CAN | 5′ 11″ | 182 | WHL | CALGARY |
| 7 | 3 | 184 | VAN | RODRIGO ABOLS | C | LVA | 6′ 4″ | 188 | WHL | PORTLAND |
| 7 | 13 | 194 | VAN | BRETT MCKENZIE | C | CAN | 6′ 1″ | 190 | OHL | NORTH BAY |
All we can do is hope Benning was right about Lockwood. The problem is that there is a need for centers once Henrik Sedin retires, but Lockwood projects as a bottom-six player at best — and he is a winger anyway. At 64, Vancouver could have had Will Bitten and Noah Gregor, among others.
Of the final four picks, I like Rodrigo Abols the most. There is a chance that Vancouver could have just signed him as a free agent this summer, but after drafting him with a very late pick, no one can “steal” him from the Canucks. Abols is a big two-way center who can jump into the AHL this year.
Grade: B
Next: No. 4