Why the Vancouver Canucks should draft Nolan Foote

With the NHL Draft fast approaching, here at The Canuck Way, we’re continuing our series of prospect profiles and draft talk. Next up is Nolan Foote, who I would love to see the Vancouver Canucks draft.

I know, I know, he’s fallen in all the draft rankings, but wouldn’t anyone’s draft stock plummet if they were attempting to play with a broken wrist? Because that’s exactly what Nolan Foote did this year with the Kelowna Rockets. Here’s why I think the Vancouver Canucks should call his name on draft day.

The son of former NHL defenceman Adam Foote, who enjoyed an illustrious career in which he appeared in over 1100 games and won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche, Nolan Foote is a player that I think could be a diamond in the rough at this year’s draft. I use that diamond in the rough term loosely, because there was a time when Foote was considered a top prospect of this year’s draft.

Less than a year ago, Foote was expected to be selected mid-late first round at this year’s draft. As the year went on, he continued to slip down draft rankings and now, is almost a rarity to see in anyone’s top 30, and some reputable scouts don’t even see him going in the top 50. That means he could be the perfect player for the Canucks to take with their third-round pick at 71 overall.

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Now, don’t get me wrong, Foote at 71 is an absolute steal in my opinion. I would not be complaining if the Canucks selected him in the second round, as some can still see Foote going in the late first round Anything can happen on draft day, but I am hoping one of the things that happen is that the Canucks walk away with Foote.

As I mentioned earlier, Foote was playing almost the entirety of this season with a broken wrist that he didn’t even realize was broken. Combine that and getting hit with mono, a brutal sickness, the season prior, and Foote’s ability to strut his stuff to NHL scouts was impeded greatly.

Despite this tough hand (no pun intended) he was dealt, Foote still managed to put up 36 goals and 27 assists. Do you realize how tough you have to be to play through a broken wrist and just keep taping it up, thinking it’s a sprain? Tough enough to compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a place the Canucks want to get to in the near future.

Don’t let Foote’s plummeting on the draft boards fool you, TSN’s Bob McKenzie still has him at the 27th spot, currently owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who drafted Foote’s brother, Cal Foote, in the first round of the 2017 draft, 14th overall. To top it all off, Foote was a teammate of Kole Lind, who is currently getting set to play his second season with the Utica Comets.

Whether the Canucks draft Foote in the second round or the third round, the six-foot-three forward is a big player with a big shot and big upside who I would be more than happy to see the Canucks draft. What do you think Canucks fans? Should the Canucks draft Foote? Let me know in the comments section below!