Vancouver Canucks Haven’t Lost the 2016 NHL Draft
The Vancouver Canucks’ 2016 fifth-overall pick, Olli Juolevi, is back in juniors while other players seem to stick in the NHL — but that doesn’t mean they lost the draft.
When the Vancouver Canucks selected defenceman Olli Juolevi fifth overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, not everyone was happy. “Matthew Tkachuk is better” or “they shouldn’t have reached for a D-man” were just two of fans’ arguments.
To everyone’s defence, fans didn’t have much to cheer about. First, the Canucks finished the season 28th in the standings. Then, they fell two spots in the draft lottery. Seeing the club select a player that wasn’t No. 1 on your list can be frustrating in that situation.
Nevertheless, Juolevi seemed to be appreciated more and more as the summer went on. A two-way defenceman with top-pairing potential who won everything there is to win at the junior level sounds decent, especially after seeing the 2015-16 Canucks ‘D’.
But, we should have known (as Vancouverites tend to have severe mood swings throughout a Canucks season), things had to change again. Right away, Canucks management said Juolevi would most likely return to the OHL London Knights for another developmental year, and that’s exactly what happened. That alone doesn’t really matter, but it’s the other players that bring back old emotions.
Auston Matthews: first-line centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored four goals in NHL debut.
Patrik Laine: first-line winger for the Winnipeg Jets, had a hat trick in his fourth NHL game.
Jesse Puljujarvi: made the Edmonton Oilers out of camp and had a goal in three games.
Matthew Tkachuk: made the Calgary Flames out of camp and scored one goal in five games.
Mikhail Sergachev: made the Montreal Canadiens out of camp.
Jakob Chychrun: made the Arizona Coyotes out of camps and, at times, looks like their best player.
The Canucks had no chance to draft the first three — because they lost the lottery. Seeing all three of Matthews, Laine and Puljujarvi succeed hurts.
More from Draft
- Recapping the Canucks picks from rounds five to seven
- Canucks take Daimon Gardner in fourth round
- Canucks select Elias Pettersson in third round
- Canucks select Jonathan Lekkerimäki with 15th overall pick
- Five players the Canucks could draft with the 15th overall pick
At No. 5, many fans wanted to see the Canucks pick Tkachuk, a talented scoring winger. They didn’t, and Canucks fans now get to watch Tkachuk play in Calgary while Juolevi is far away, playing junior hockey in London.
Even many of those who accept that Vancouver wanted a defenceman have an issue with Juolevi, especially since both Sergachev and Chychrun — the other two of the top-three blue liners — made their NHL teams out of training camp.
All of a sudden, fans start saying the Canucks lost the draft. They should have picked Tkachuk. Or Chychrun or Sergachev.
Being disappointed totally makes sense. But don’t.
Don’t be disappointed. Don’t be angry. The Canucks made the right choice (probably).
What other players are doing in the NHL changes nothing about what the Canucks have in Juolevi. How soon a player makes the NHL says nothing about their ceiling or where their NHL career will go.
Next: Why Juolevi Was a Terrific Pick
Fans like to jump to quick conclusions, mostly because we are all driven by emotions. But right now, that just doesn’t make sense. Wait and see, and ignore the goals the others score as well as you can.
Juolevi’s time will come soon enough.