The Canuck Way
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Vancouver Canucks 2019 Draft

By David Quadrelli

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Vasili Podkolzin, tenth overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Vasili Podkolzin, tenth overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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KELOWNA, CANADA – FEBRUARY 2: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Kelowna Rockets sits on the bench against the Kamloops Blazers at Prospera Place on February 2, 2019 in Kelowna, Canada. (Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
KELOWNA, CANADA – FEBRUARY 2: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Kelowna Rockets sits on the bench against the Kamloops Blazers at Prospera Place on February 2, 2019 in Kelowna, Canada. (Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

The Bad

Honestly, the only thing I would consider bad about this draft is that the team did not once select a defenceman. Now, the team has said they are looking to add to their blueline in free agency, but Benning also said he wouldn’t rule out acquiring another top six forward.

My only issue with selecting all forwards is that if you don’t draft defencemen, where are they going to come from? Free agency? Trades? At 40th overall, I turned to the person I was sitting beside at the draft and said, “They’re taking Kaedan Korczak here for sure.” A 6’2 right-handed defenceman who skates well for his size? What’s not to like?

Then they announced Hoglander, who I am extremely happy to see in a Canucks’ uniform. I think he’ll be a major piece to the puzzle going forward, but I still would not have minded seeing the team go after a big solid right-handed defenceman. Oh well, here’s hoping Hoglander turns out to be a major steal. Sure enough, the Vegas Golden Knights selected Korczak just one pick later at 41 overall.

The only bad I can really point to in this draft is not selecting a single defenceman. That being said, the team still has Brogan Rafferty and Josh Teves who they recently added, so it’s not like the cupboards are completely empty.

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