Vancouver Canucks: 5 Players to Watch for 2017 NHL Draft

The Vancouver Canucks want to get into the playoffs, but they also want a new No. 1 centre. Reaching the playoffs seems like a stretch, so let’s get excited about the draft!

When the Vancouver Canucks missed out on Auston Matthews and Pierre-Luc Dubois at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, they went with defenceman Olli Juolevi at No. 5. So, with Henrik Sedin aging and declining, the need for a new No. 1 centre is still there, with increasing urgency.

Canucks centre Bo Horvat projects to be a reliable two-way centre who can score goals while being responsible in his own end. He struggled a bit defensively last season, but is steadily improving. Still, Horvat does not look like a future No. 1 centre at this point.

Until 2014, the Canucks had a strong one-two punch in Sedin and Ryan Kesler. Horvat could certainly develop into a Kesler-type player, but the need for the next Sedin remains.

Luckily, the 2017 NHL Draft promises to have several centres available in the first round that all have top-six potential. Whether the Canucks pick first, fifth, 10th or 15th, they should get a chance to draft another top-six centre, perhaps even a future No. 1.

Let’s take a closer look at five of them!