The Canuck Way
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Vancouver Canucks: Top 5 Draft Targets in Playoff Scenario

By Janik Beichler

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning announces Jake Virtanen (not pictured) as the number six overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning announces Jake Virtanen (not pictured) as the number six overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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D Nicolas Hague — Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Ranked #21 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #12 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #9 by Future Considerations
Ranked #23 by McKeen’s Hockey

Unlike my November “players to watch” list, this edition is dominated by defencemen. First up is OHL blue-liner Nicolas Hague, ranked as high as ninth by Future Considerations and as low as 23rd by McKeen’s Hockey.

From Future Considerations:

"Hague has a great mix of size, skating and skill…shuts down the oppositions’ top lines and is a driver of the play…is physical and will give that extra shot to his opponent to leave a mark and an impression for the next time…doesn’t give his man room to breathe in front of the net…not shy with stepping in to lay the body, standing up his man with a solid check…controls the gap very well with strong position and good stick work…very balanced and surprisingly mobile for a big kid, he possesses a powerful lateral step…has a strong desire to skate with the puck, keeping his head up while weighing his options and hitting his man with a pass when the timing is right…heavy point shot, but needs to shorten his wind-up…has a solid transition game as he can use his reach to take the puck away from opponent and quickly turn his sights to making the breakout pass in one fluid motion…plays a solid two-way game and has solid top-four NHL upside."

For a long time, Vancouver’s ‘D’ seemed to be the club’s greatest weakness. Things have changed since then, but the Canucks’ D-core is still far from elite. A player like Hague could certainly help.

What stands out the most about Hague is a natural gift: his size. At 6-foot-6 and 214 pounds, Hague looks no less like a giant than Nikita Tryamkin. Also much like Tryamkin, Hague can skate, and he has the skill to make plays with the puck.

So far this season, Hague has 14 goals and 32 points in 43 games.

At this point, Hague doesn’t look like a future No. 1, but he certainly has top-four potential. He combines the size and physicality of a traditional D-man with the skill and mobility needed in today’s NHL.

With Hague, Tryamkin, Ben Hutton, Troy Stecher and Olli Juolevi, the Canucks’ blue line would be all but set for the future.

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