Vancouver Canucks 2017 NHL Draft Profile Overview
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)
Liljegren, TimothyDRögle BKSHL (SWE)
Makar, CaleDBrooks BanditsAJHL
Forwards
POS
Team
League
Profile
Andersson, LiasCHV71SHL (SWE)
Glass, CodyCPortland WinterhawksWHL
Hischier, NicoCHalifax MooseheadsQMJHL
Mittelstadt, CaseyCGreen Bay GamblersUSHL
Necas, MartinCHC Kometa BrnoCzech Extraliga (CZE)
Patrick, NolanCBrandon Wheat KingsWHL
Pettersson, EliasCTimra IKAllsvenskan (SWE)
Rasmussen, MichaelCTri-City AmericansWHL
Suzuki, NickCOwen Sound AttackOHL
Tippett, OwenRWMississauga SteelheadsOHL
Tolvanen, EeliLWSioux City MusketeersUSHL
Vesalainen, KristianRWFrolunda HCSHL (SWE)
Vilardi, GabrielCWindsor SpitfiresOHL
Round 2
Defensemen
POS
Team
League
Profile
Jokiharju, Henri DPortland WinterhawksWHL
Vaakanainen, Urho DJYPLiiga (FIN)
Forwards
POS
Team
League
Profile
Anderson-Dolan, JaretCSpokane ChiefsWHL
Geekie, MorganCTri-City AmericansWHL
Ikonen, JoniRWFrolunda HC J20SuperElit (SWE)
Kostin, KlimRWDynamo MoskvaKHL (RUS)
Lind, KoleRWKelowna RocketsWHL
Popugaev, NikitaRWPrince George CougarsWHL
Reedy, ScottCUSA U-18NTDP
Robertson, JasonLWKingston FrontenacsOHL
Ruzicka, AdamCSarnia StingOHL
Safin, OstapCHC Sparta Praha U20Czech U20
Yamamoto, KailerRWSpokane ChiefsWHL
Round 3
Defensemen
POS
Team
League
Profile
Farrance, DavidDUSA U-18NTDP
Fleury, CaleDKootenay IceWHL
Gildon, MaxDUSA U-18NTDP
Westerlund, FilipDFrölunda HCSHL (SWE)
Forwards
POS
Team
League
Profile
Chytil, FilipCHC ZlinExtraliga (CZE)
Elvenes, LucasRWRogle BK J20SuperElit (SWE)
Rounds 4-5
Goaltenders
POS
Team
League
Profile
Skinner, StuartGLethbridge HurricanesWHL
Defensemen
POS
Team
League
Profile
Latvala, OttoDHPK U20Jr. A SM-liiga (FIN)
Rasanen, EemeliDKingston FrontenacsOHL
Walford, ScottDVictoria RoyalsWHL
Walsh, ReillyDProctor AcademyUSHS
Forwards
POS
Team
League
Profile
Joly, D’ArtagnanRWBaie-Commeau DrakkarQMJHL
McKenzie, SkylerCPortland WinterhawksWHL
Texier, AlexandreCBruleurs de LoupsLigue Magnus (FRA)
Rounds 6-7
Defensemen
POS
Team
League
Profile
Anderson, GrantDWayzata HighUSHS
Gawanke, LeonDCape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL
Forwards
POS
Team
League
Profile
Almeida, JustinCMoosejaw WarriorsWHL
Cockerill, LoganRWUSA U-18NTDP
Stachowiak, WojtekRWJungadler MannheimDNL (GER)
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!