Vancouver Canucks: Three more B.C. connections to the 2019 draft
With next year’s draft in Vancouver, I wanted to give you a few more local connections. This trio of players adds to the excitement.
It may be August, but I am always excited about the next NHL Entry Draft. 2019 will be particularly special for the Vancouver Canucks since they are hosting the rest of the league next June. What a time for the Canucks to be bad.
There are so many storylines before the draft lottery breaks the hearts of Canucks fans (again). Maybe we will get to see a pair of American brothers united. Or a kid from Cranbrook playing for the local junior team will don the blue and green on draft day. What about the son of a former Canuck?
Well, the players discussed today won’t be near the top of the first round. But hey, they could be there for one of the team’s later selections. Again, things change all the time and last year’s draft showed how unpredictable teams can be. A lot can happen in a single draft year.
The Canuck connection
It almost makes you feel old when you see the sons of former NHL players at the draft. We started seeing second and third generation players in the last few years and 2019 is no exception. The article photo gave it away, but Canucks fans will get to see an old fan favourite at the draft.
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
Born in Vancouver, Tag Bertuzzi will look to follow in his father’s footsteps, carving out his own way. Getting there could be a similar path, as Tag plays for the Guelph Storm, just like his dad. Although, Tag is a centre, so his path won’t be exactly the same.
Canucks fans fondly remember Todd Bertuzzi as the ultimate power forward. One of the legendary pillars of the West Coast Express, blending together an incredible mix of size, skill and snarl. The city has an interesting relationship with power forwards, always hoping the next great one will play for the Canucks.
Tag may not be as physically imposing as his dad, but at 6 feet tall and 192 lbs, he’s no lightweight, either. If you remember, Todd Bertuzzi fell out of favour with the Islanders because of his poor fitness (also because Mike Milbury was an idiot). You don’t have to worry about that with Tag. Although it is difficult to live up to the expectations that come with being the son of a good player, I look forward to seeing how Tag does.
Representing the Lower Mainland in the WHL
The most notable connection to the team is Tag Bertuzzi. However, we have two more standouts from the Lower Mainland. Sasha Mutala grew up in the Vancouver area, playing for Burnaby Winter Club.
Mutala will be playing south of the 49th parallel with the Tri-City Americans. Assuming he doesn’t make the Red Wings, Mutala will play with Surrey’s Michael Rasmussen. I may think Rasmussen was drafted a little too high, but at the WHL level, those two could be a dangerous combination. Not a bad way to boost your draft stock. Mutala also played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, collecting four points in five games.
For our final connection to the province, we have Langley’s Josh Williams. Looking to build on a year that was ended early due to injury, Williams is hungry for a great draft year. He also plays right wing and will put his skills on display with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Even with Willie Desjardins gone, we can still tie something back to that team. All jokes aside, Williams is looking to take on a bigger role with the club this season. He was there at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well, scoring five times in as many games. Williams left the tournament with six points and I’m sure scouts are keeping tabs on the young forward.
Next. Local kid Bowen Byram is on everybody's radar in 2019. dark
If you were ever sour about the Canucks not picking locally, that could change at the next draft. Keep in mind, the team should still take the best player available. This could be one of the rare times where positive PR overlaps with getting the best player possible. With eight selections (for now), there will be a whole host of opportunities in Vancouver.