Vancouver Canucks 2017 NHL Draft Profile Overview

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Logan Stanley is greeted by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected as the number eighteen overall draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets 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; Logan Stanley is greeted by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected as the number eighteen overall draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets 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 are preparing for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft — and so are we.

Once again the Vancouver Canucks failed to secure a spot in the NHL playoffs. So, instead of competing for the Stanley Cup, Canucks GM Jim Benning and his staff will use the upcoming months to prepare next season’s roster. Now that the organisation is officially in a ‘transition period’, the 2017 NHL Entry Draft will be of utmost importance.

A four-game winning streak to start the 2016-17 season gave fans hope for the playoffs. But — blame the coach, the roster, injuries or anything else — unfortunately, the team was unable to play competitively for an entire season. With that, they are guaranteed another high draft pick this year.

Here at The Canuck Way, we will do our best to prepare you for the upcoming draft by profiling as many eligible players as we possibly can. Keep in mind that we are not saying these are players the Canucks are targeting. Instead, these are players that we think the Canucks could or should have interest in.

This year’s draft seems wide-open, with no real consensus in any of the seven rounds. So, it will certainly be interesting to see who will put on a Vancouver Canucks jersey come June.

We will be updating the list below daily as we continue to profile this year’s NHL draft prospects.

Round 1

Defensemen

POS

Team

League

Profile

Heiskanen, MiroDHIFKLiiga (FIN)

Miro Heiskanen

Liljegren, TimothyDRögle BKSHL (SWE)

Timothy Liljegren

Makar, CaleDBrooks BanditsAJHL

Cale Makar

Forwards

POS

Team

League

Profile

Andersson, LiasCHV71SHL (SWE)

Lias Andersson

Glass, CodyCPortland WinterhawksWHL

Cody Glass

Hischier, NicoCHalifax MooseheadsQMJHL

Nico Hischier

Mittelstadt, CaseyCGreen Bay GamblersUSHL

Casey Mittelstadt

Necas, MartinCHC Kometa BrnoCzech Extraliga (CZE)

Martin Necas

Patrick, NolanCBrandon Wheat KingsWHL

Nolan Patrick

Pettersson, EliasCTimra IKAllsvenskan (SWE)

Elias Pettersson

Rasmussen, MichaelCTri-City AmericansWHL

Michael Rasmussen

Suzuki, NickCOwen Sound AttackOHL

Nick Suzuki

Tippett, OwenRWMississauga SteelheadsOHL

Owen Tippett

Tolvanen, EeliLWSioux City MusketeersUSHL

Eeli Tolvanen

Vesalainen, KristianRWFrolunda HCSHL (SWE)

Kristian Vesalainen

Vilardi, GabrielCWindsor SpitfiresOHL

Gabriel Vilardi

Round 2

Defensemen

POS

Team

League

Profile

Jokiharju, Henri DPortland WinterhawksWHL

Henri Jokiharju

Vaakanainen, Urho DJYPLiiga (FIN)

Urho Vaakanainen

Forwards

POS

Team

League

Profile

Anderson-Dolan, JaretCSpokane ChiefsWHL

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Geekie, MorganCTri-City AmericansWHL

Morgan Geekie

Ikonen, JoniRWFrolunda HC J20SuperElit (SWE)

Joni Ikonen

Kostin, KlimRWDynamo MoskvaKHL (RUS)

Klim Kostin

Lind, KoleRWKelowna RocketsWHL

Kole Lind

Popugaev, NikitaRWPrince George CougarsWHL

Nikita Popugaev 

Reedy, ScottCUSA U-18NTDP

Scott Reedy

Robertson, JasonLWKingston FrontenacsOHL

Jason Robertson

Ruzicka, AdamCSarnia StingOHL

Adam Ruzicka

Safin, OstapCHC Sparta Praha U20Czech U20

Ostap Safin

Yamamoto, KailerRWSpokane ChiefsWHL

Kailer Yamamoto

Round 3

Defensemen

POS

Team

League

Profile

Farrance, DavidDUSA U-18NTDP

David Farrance

Fleury, CaleDKootenay IceWHL

Cale Fleury

Gildon, MaxDUSA U-18NTDP

Max Gildon 

Westerlund, FilipDFrölunda HCSHL (SWE)

Filip Westerlund

Forwards

POS

Team

League

Profile

Chytil, FilipCHC ZlinExtraliga (CZE)

Filip Chytil

Elvenes, LucasRWRogle BK J20SuperElit (SWE)

Lucas Elvenes

Rounds 4-5

Goaltenders

POS

Team

League

Profile

Skinner, StuartGLethbridge HurricanesWHL

Stuart Skinner

Defensemen

POS

Team

League

Profile

Latvala, OttoDHPK U20Jr. A SM-liiga (FIN)

Otto Latvala

Rasanen, EemeliDKingston FrontenacsOHL

Eemeli Rasanen

Walford, ScottDVictoria RoyalsWHL

Scott Walford 

Walsh, ReillyDProctor AcademyUSHS

Reilly Walsh

Forwards

POS

Team

League

Profile

Joly, D’ArtagnanRWBaie-Commeau DrakkarQMJHL

D’Artagnan Joly

McKenzie, SkylerCPortland WinterhawksWHL

Skyler McKenzie

Texier, AlexandreCBruleurs de LoupsLigue Magnus (FRA)

Alexandre Texier

Rounds 6-7

Defensemen

POS

Team

League

Profile

Anderson, GrantDWayzata HighUSHS

Grant Anderson

Gawanke, LeonDCape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL

Leon Gawanke

Forwards

POS

Team

League

Profile

Almeida, JustinCMoosejaw WarriorsWHL

Justin Almeida

Cockerill, LoganRWUSA U-18NTDP

Logan Cockerill

Stachowiak, WojtekRWJungadler MannheimDNL (GER)

Wojtek Stachowiak


Next: Full first-round mock draft

Our work will be intensive and we want your feedback. Is there a player you would like us to profile and give our feedback on? Do you think there is a player that the Canucks absolutely must target in the draft? Is there someone who many think the Canucks should pick but you are against?

Let us know via the comment section or social media and we will do our best to answer the call!