Vancouver Canucks Must Acquire Another 2017 First-Round Pick

The Vancouver Canucks need another first-round draft pick. It would not only put the organization ahead one year in the rebuild process, but also make up for the departure of defensive prospect Nikita Tryamkin.

Another first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is exactly what the Vancouver Canucks need. Despite Canucks management being hesitant in using the word rebuild, their most recent roster moves suggest just that. It is time to acquire assets…as many as possible!

Look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs. Other than a few filler players, the team traded everyone else for picks or prospects. If they had a certain need, they addressed it then flipped whoever they could for more picks.

With some luck, this model works.

The Carolina Hurricanes are also a rising young team that spent the last couple of years loading up on picks and young players. They have more defensive prospects than they need…a problem the Vancouver Canucks wish they had.

The Departure of Tryamkin

Nikita Tryamkin leaving to the KHL set the Vancouver Canucks back a year in their rebuild process. Already a fan favorite and possibly a key contributor the back end, the big, young Russian filled a top defensive spot that he could have held for years. Plus, we hadn’t seen the best of him yet.

Now that spot needs to be filled.

With Luca Sbisa being selected in the expansion draft and Tryamkin signing with Yekaterinburg Automobilist, the once-hopeful Vancouver Canucks defense is now short of NHL prospects. If Oli Juolevi performs well in training camp and is ready for the NHL than great, because he can fill the vacancy on the blue line. But if not, the Canucks have an issue as they will not rush Juolevi’s development.

2017 NHL Entry Draft

The Vancouver Canucks cannot wait until they get a look at Juolevi in camp to address their defense. For now, they can certainly sign a filler player to replace Sbisa, give Alex Biega a full-time role, or let Andrey Pedan and Philip Holm play – assuming they have decent training camps. Yet, the Canucks have an opportunity this afternoon to help the defense long-term.

At this point, there is no doubt that if Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen are off the board at five, the Vancouver Canucks will pick a center, since Henrik Sedin needs a replacement. But in a draft with so much uncertainty surrounding the developmental trajectory of several first-round players, draft picks are more expendable than in past years.

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As Benning told TSN 1040, he likely won’t trade Chris Tanev for another first-round pick; however, the Canucks have other assets they can afford to lose for an additional first-round spot. These include: a second-rounder (33^rd overall), another second (55^th), and a third-round pick (64^th). In an average draft at best –where the talent depth dips in the second round – acquiring another first-round pick is possible.

If the Vancouver Canucks can double up on first round picks, the loss of Tryamkin does not hurt their rebuild as much because they can select a defensemen. If the pick is between three and 18, and depending who is available at five, the Canucks could even draft a defensemen at five and use the later pick on a center.

Next: 2017 Draft start time, Canucks targets, mock draft, trade rumors

Regardless, the Vancouver Canucks must acquire another first-round pick today in order to get their rebuild back on track.