Vancouver Canucks will have a tough decision with a top-five pick

The 2018 NHL entry draft is loaded at the top with elite wingers from all around the world. The Canucks currently sit with a 90.5% chance of not picking first overall and I’m going to explore some other spots where they could land and who they should explore at that pick.

The Vancouver Canucks currently sit with a 9.5% chance of landing that first overall pick, as much as I would love to believe that the Canucks can win the lottery I am going to stick with the 90.5% chance that the Canucks drop to another spot.

Here’s the deal, the ultimate fit for the Canucks in this upcoming draft is Rasmus Dahlin. A projected first pairing franchise defenceman and he happens to be Swedish as well. Dahlin fits with the Canucks better than any other team, but will the Canucks land the first overall pick? 

If the Canucks land the first overall pick there won’t be enough craft beer in Vancouver to go around. It will be the best feeling for Canucks fans since 2011 when Alex Burrows “slayed the dragon” or the famous stanchion goal.

Dahlin aside

The biggest need for the Canucks is a good puck moving defenceman with offensive upside. I know I just described Dahlin again.

Please give us the first overall pick.

Adam Boqvist, Quinn Hughes and Evan Bouchard are the top three defenceman after Dahlin.

Let’s say the Canucks were to fall into the number two or three spot, it may be Adam Boqvist who is having his name being called by Jim Benning.

More from The Canuck Way

• Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
• What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
• Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Though many scouts a lot smarter than me have the three wingers ranked ahead of Boqvist, the Canucks have a need. It could be smart to trade down to the number three or four pick if that team is interested in drafting one of the top wingers.

Best available?

If you ask any general manager in the NHL what they look for with their first round draft pick, they will all say the same thing. They are looking to get the best player available, specially when you are projected to pick in the top five.

This is where it gets complicated for the Canucks, it’s clear that this team needs to add puck moving defencemen. That’s the way the NHL is moving towards, look at the Nashville Predators build for a prime example.

It would be damn hard to pull the trigger on a puck moving defenseman when there are the three big wingers available in Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina or Brady Tkachuk.

As for those wingers, I personally have Tkachuk ranked first followed by Svechnikov and then Zadina. I know it’s not the popular choice and Bob McKenzie had his last rankings come out where he ranked them with Svechnikov first followed by Zadina and then Tkachuk. Craig Button also had his latest rankings come out and he has the wingers ranked with Tkachuk at first followed by Svechnikov and Zadina.

The big difference between McKenzie and Button’s ranking is not only Tkachuk but Boqvist as well. McKenzie has the wingers above Boqvist and Button has him ahead of the trio of wingers.

Rank it Up

So here’s how I see it

First Overall Pick: Rasmus Dahlin

That’s it, easy.

Second Overall Pick: Explore a trade or go with Adam Boqvist.

This one was tough for me, as much as I would love to see Tkachuk go at number two it is the right call to draft the defenceman with this much offensive upside. Boqvist controls the puck well and can make beautiful passes to start the rush and escape his own zone.

The Canucks should explore moving this pick if one of the team possessing the third, fourth or fifth pick makes a solid deal because they would like to select Svechnikov.

Third Overall Pick: Brady Tkachuk

GO FOR IT! Brady Tkachuk is a gamer, he has the drive that you want to add to your team at this point in your rebuild. The Canucks have already passed on two Tkachuks and I don’t think they should pass on a third.

Having guys like Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser in your organization are great because their lives are all hockey. Tkachuk is no different, he lives and breathes hockey. Tkachuk also has the fight in him that Canucks fans have been craving.

How good does a line of Tkachuk-Pettersson-Boeser sound?

Too good.

Fourth Overall Pick: Andrei Svechnikov

This would not disappoint anyone if Svechnikov dropped to the fourth pick. He is a six foot three inch sniper with size and skill. Looks to be an NHL player in his first season and could be a long serving top six forward for his whole career.

Fifth Overall Pick: Filip Zadina

Zadina wowed everyone at the World Junior Championships, his shot was off the charts and he would fit on any team’s powerplay as the left-handed shot that sits on the right side and lets his shot rip, similar to Boeser but on the opposite side.

That sounds like a nice fit for the Canucks powerplay now that I think about it.

Sixth Overall Pick (or worse): DEFENCE!

Have mercy on the Canucks and lets not drop to this pick. I’m trying to be very positive over the last couple weeks and as Lavar Ball says I’m going to speak it into existence.

The Canucks will get a top three pick in the draft!

But if they do drop to sixth or later the Canucks should go for defence, there are a lot of second tier defencemen ranked in the remaining top 10 such as Hughes or Bouchard.

Do you think the Canucks should pick one of the wingers ahead of Boqvist?  Do you think Svechnikov or Zadina is going to be better than Tkachuk? Let me know in the comments!

Next: Vancouver Canucks shouldn’t chase Evander Kane in free agency

You can do the draft lottery simulator as many times as you want, it’s not going to change where the Canucks pick in this upcoming draft. I’m keeping positive and hoping for a top three while praying for the first overall pick.

Dahlin can alter a franchise immediately but a guy like Boqvist can alter a franchise down the road. The trio of wingers will all most likely step right into the NHL next year. With all the high-end prospects upcoming, the biggest day of the Canucks year will be late in April when the Canucks find out where they will be picking in the 2018 draft. #RaceForDahlin