The Canuck Way’s 2019 Vancouver Canucks mock draft

Round 3

David Quadrelli: Jayden Struble. Maybe, you’ve heard of him, maybe you haven’t. Ranked at 63 by TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Struble absolutely tore it up at the draft combine. He finished first in the Wingate test, the bench press test, the grip strength test, and the standing long jump test — at just 17 years old. Struble is set to play next season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League and is committed to Northeastern University of the NCAA. This past season, Struble played in the USHS prep league with St. Sebastian’s School, where he picked up ten goals and 30 assists in 28 games. He could be a nice addition to the Canucks’ defensive prospects, and really lock down the left side for years to come.

Alex Hoegler: Jordan Spence. Defence is the biggest organization need for the Canucks here, so why not add another one while they have a chance? Spence has some offensive upside (49 points in 68 games), and played for Canada’s U18 team. Benning will not regret loading up on blueliners here, especially considering he could use one or two of them as trade bait down the road — if the Canucks grow into a contender soon.

Stephen Kronstein: Nathan Légaré. Rated anywhere from 39 to 83, this dense, right-shot power forward scored a ton in the QMJHL, racking up 45 goals and 87 points in 68 games. Nathan falls to the Canucks at #71 because he’s a winger, and his team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Joshua Rey: Ilya Mironov. A big defensive defenceman who can use his size and physical abilities to stop the opponents on the offensive rush. He also has good mobility with a heavy shot and good passing.

Ben Steiner: Nolan Foote. Ranging anywhere from 27 to 87 in the ranking lists, Nolan Foote would be a steal for the Canucks. He had 63 points in 66 games for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets this season. If Foote makes the NHL, he will be a serviceable left winger, possibly alongside an Adam Gaudette.

Owen Gibbs: Ronnie Attard. He is a right-handed defenceman who will be playing with the Western Michigan Broncos. Could be this year’s Judd Brackett pick.

Matthew Zator: Rhett Pitlick. The Canucks would add more skill and speed to their left wing depth.

Jarred Chan: Karl Henriksson. Playing alongside 2020 top prospect Lucas Raymond, Henriksson is small at 5’9”, but plays a fast and smart game, achieving over a point per game for Frolunda’s J20 team in the SuperElit. He should play the majority of the next season for their SHL club. Honourable mention: Jackson LaCombe