Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Olli Juolevi poses for a photo after being selected as the number five overall draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Olli Juolevi poses for a photo after being selected as the number five overall draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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.
A lethal combo of size, speed and skill; plays a power game and possesses one of the most well-rounded skill sets in the CHL…has great wheels and is able to surprise with his speed…hands and ability to protect the puck is high end…plays very responsibly with the puck, but also makes something happen each time he possesses it…uses his strength and reach to guard the puck, driving his way around the offensive zone…a heads-up, confident passer…has a sharp release on his wrist shot and is capable of beating a goaltender from anywhere in the offensive zone….his slap shot has high-level accuracy and velocity…a ruthless presence off the puck, simply overpowers his opponents…a great leader, commanding respect with his work ethic and consistent high level of play…willing to stand up for his teammates and bring justice as he sees fit…beats teams with his IQ and seems to always be in control of the play…a number-one NHL center in the making.
Unfortunately, Patrick had a rough start into the season. He had sports hernia surgery in the summer, but started into the season with four goals and nine points in six games. However, Patrick suffered an abdominal injury, officially just labelled an “upper-body injury”, that has him sidelined indefinitely.
So far, no one seems to be challenging Patrick for the No. 1 spot, but missing a large chunk of the draft year is never positive. Scouts start to wonder whether his injuries and surgery could be an issue in the future. Furthermore, they wonder whether Patrick is being a little too careful with his injuries, thinking he might be able to get back on the ice even before being 100 percent healthy.
Still, unless one the remaining players has an absolutely incredible and unexpected season, Patrick should be able to hold on to the No. 1 spot. And if the Canucks actually managed to win the draft lottery, Patrick would have to be the No. 1 on their list.
If there is one forward who could challenge Patrick for the No. 1 spot, it’s Gabriel Vilardi. The No. 3 on Future Considerations’ November ranking sees himself as a player similar to New York Islanders captain John Tavares, which would be an incredible player to have on your top line.
A dynamic and often brilliant offensive attacker…has skilled hands and outstanding awareness…looks to set up his linemates with timely passes, but can also finish off the play when the opportunity is there…has nice size and uses it to protect the puck…has a quick jump and agility on his feet, but is not really a speed demon screaming up the ice…plays aggressively both when his team does and does not have the puck; often hunting it down and stripping it from his opponent…has a bag of tricks he uses to shake defenders and get his hard, accurate wrist shot off or dish a soft pass…very difficult to knock off the puck and is able to dangle in very tight spaces while under heaps of defensive pressure…a toolsy center who is just scratching the surface of his potential…a constant threat in the offensive zone…has the look of a future offensive catalyst at the NHL level.
Unfortunately, Vilardi carries a question mark with him as well. It is not about injuries or bad performances, but rather his current situation.
Vilardi sits at eight goals and 21 points in 13 OHL games this season, playing on the left wing of 2016 first-round draft pick Logan Brown. Which is the tiny yet significant issue when evaluating him. Vilardi sees himself as a centre and that’s where he has been playing up to this season, but scouts are unsure whether he projects as one at the next level.
Either way, Vilardi will be worth the pick for the team that gets him. Whether he becomes a winger or a centre in the NHL, Vilardi should become an outstanding playmaker who would help a Canucks rebuild.
Plus, a team like the Canucks might be the right place for Vilardi to transition back to centre, in case he stays on the wing for the rest of his junior career.
Casey Mittelstadt is the consensus No. 1 among American skaters, and he is the 2017 version of Clayton Keller — at least regarding his nationality, position, and draft rankings. Ranked fourth by Future Considerations and 13th by ISS Hockey, Mittelstadt could go off the board anywhere in the top 15. I personally like him a lot and expect Mittelstadt to be at least top-10 pick.
A smart, quick and highly skilled center…has a tremendous first-step jump, change of pace and ability to make defenders miss…though not the biggest or strongest player on the ice, he finds success in loose puck battles by using his smarts and insane ability to shield the puck from defenders…never takes a shift off, and has added noticeable muscle and speed this season…will finish chances with a quick release on a wrister or powerful snap shot…puckhandling skills are excellent and he is able to create scoring chances in almost all of his offensive-zone shifts using his great vision and understanding of the game…aware of his defensive responsibility and backchecks hard to cover…sets up scoring chances using accurate, hard passes…always in the action and loves being the go-to guy…can beat defenders or gain the zone by utilizing this hands, feet or brain…a potential future top-line, two-way guy.
Like Vilardi, Mittelstadt can play on the wing as well, but he feels home at centre. At 6-foot-1, he is not overly tall, but he weighs in at 200 pounds, which he uses to his advantage with and without the puck.
With Mittelstadt, Horvat, Brandon Sutter and Brendan Gaunce, the Canucks could be set at centre for years to come. Depending on the outcome of their season and the draft lottery, Mittelstadt is a very realistic pick.
There has been a lot of movement in the top 31s of all scouting services so far, with players like Mittelstadt moving up and down. Whether the Canucks end up picking, third, eighth or 12th, Mittelstadt will be an option.
The Vancouver Canucks will lose the Sedin twins eventually. It’s inevitable. But since we are used to seeing a lot of Swedes on the roster — from Markus Naslund to the twins and Jacob Markstrom — Lias Andersson might be a great choice.
Being Swedish obviously isn’t the only argument for Andersson. A Future Considerations scout compares him to Detroit Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg:
A smart, mature, two-way center…good decision-making, leadership qualities and advanced understanding of the game…a true three-zone player…defensively responsible…will drop to block shots or find the open option and get his body in passing lanes…dangerous forechecker who reads the defense and uses an active stick to disrupt…covers up the ice for his teammates on the backcheck and always gives an honest effort…doesn’t commit a lot of mistakes and plays a very calm game while in puck possession…has solid offensive instincts…protects the puck very well and is hard to knock off of it, uses all of his frame to keep opponents away from the puck…possesses a nice, quick shot release…not a flashy puckhandler, but can carry it up ice and distribute it well…has solid vision and the ability to set up his linemates…has good balance and generates decent speed, but his skating has some room to grow…a potential two-way guy in the Zetterberg mold.
Unlike North American prospects, Andersson is already in his second professional season. In 2015-16, he appeared in 26 SHL games but went without a point. This season, however, he broke out as a legitimate scoring threat. So far, he has two goals and six points in 13 games. That comes in addition to his defensive abilities.
Coming from Sweden, Andersson will also be AHL eligible next season. For the Canucks, getting a pro-ready player, who could go to the AHL if need be, could be huge in the rebuild that is to come.
Andersson is ranked 12th by Future Considerations and 25th by ISS Hockey. If the Canucks manage to get back into playoff contention — or even manage to get in — Andersson could be the perfect choice. He might be a second Horvat, in the sense that he doesn’t necessarily have No. 1 potential, but Horvat on the top line and Andersson on the second would be a great place to start.
If there is one player I could see rising from top-30 ranks in November to the top 5 come draft time, it is Nico Hischier. The Swiss centre is dominating the Quebec Hockey League with the Halifax Mooseheads, after spending half of last season in the Swiss NLA.
A smooth-skating, playmaking center…good skating agility and top speed, but is more quick than fast…is able to make quick turns and displays good lateral movement…not big or strong, but still shows willingness to take hits and battle for space…goes into board battles and uses his body to fight for pucks…excellent playmaking instincts, vision and passing skills…puts puck where his linemates can best utilize the chance…an incredible stickhandler who thrives in possession and can make defenders look foolish…competitive and driven…poise is a major standout attribute…dangerous when given time, especially on the power play as he takes full control of the play from the half wall with the puck, using his impressive agility, hands and vision to make plays…plays a responsible defensive game…one of the best talents to come out of Switzerland.
With 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 21 games, Hischier is currently tied for second in QMJHL scoring. Only his line mate Maxime Fortier has one more point. Nevertheless, there are some question marks about Hischier’s game, which forced him into a 20th rank in Future Considerations’ fall rankings.
For example, it often seems like Hischier lets his line mates do the ‘dirty work’, before suddenly appearing in the right place at the right time. With the puck, Hischier is absolutely outstanding, but there are holes in his game like when it comes to getting the puck.
That said, Hischier plays a responsible defensive game and is a strong all-around player. He, too, can play at centre or on the wing, and could be a terrific addition to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks’ season went off to a rather bad start, but the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is certainly worth looking forward to.
