Vancouver Canucks: Grades for every 2019 draft selection

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The Vancouver Canucks selected eight forwards and one goalie with their picks. Here are the draft grades for their all nine 2019 draft selections.

There was no shortage of entertainment during the 2019 draft weekend, and Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning has the city buzzing after making a couple of blockbuster moves.

His first one, of course, was drafting Russian winger Vasili Podkolzin with the No. 10 pick. Some wondered if he’d look to trade up or down in the order. But ultimately, Benning couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to add the super talented Russian forward to a young core that’s on the verge of taking this team to the postseason.

Then on day two, Benning acquired Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Miller, surrendering goalie Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third rounder and a conditional 2020 first round pick — which moves to 2021 if Vancouver misses the postseason next year.

Benning took a serious gamble here, but he believes Miller is one of the final pieces required to get Vancouver back into the playoffs. Only time will tell if the trade was worthwhile.

Outside of goalie Arturs Silovs, the Canucks only drafted forwards. They didn’t take a single blueliner here. But it’s hard to complain about most of Benning’s selections — particularly the guys he got in rounds one, two and four.

Say what you want about Benning and his first five years as GM of the Canucks, but the draft has always been his best work. And he had another wonderful showing this weekend, adding more brightness to an already promising future.

Now, let’s take a look at my grades for every single Vancouver Canucks draft pick in 2019.

Round 1: Vasily Podkolzin (10th overall)

The Canucks had to take a goal-scoring winger to complement the young core of Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. Mission accomplished.

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Podkolzin has two years left on his KHL contract, but once he makes the jump to the NHL, expect big results. He brings good size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), and is a natural goal-scorer with an elite all-around skill set.

Throw in the Miller trade, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about the look of Vancouver’s future top six. Podkolzin has all the makings to be a future 30-goal scorer here on the west coast, and he’ll make a giant impact once he makes it to the NHL.

Benning didn’t go off the board here., and he didn’t have to pay a hefty price to trade up. He got a world-class talent with the No. 10 pick, and it won’t be long until Vancouver finally becomes an offensive machine again.

Grade: A+

Round 2: Nils Höglander (40th overall)

The Canucks found excellent value in Swedish winger Nils Höglander, whom Corey Pronman of The Athletic (subscription required), ranked as the No. 18 prospect of the 2019 draft back in May.

Winger wasn’t the biggest organizational need for the Canucks here. Not after they landed Podkolzin and Miller. But you can never fault Benning for taking a talented scoring winger who was probably the best guy available.

Höglander has the tools to be an impact player in the NHL. He isn’t exactly a franchise-changing superstar, but he could be a serviceable bottom nine forward. There really isn’t a whole lot to dislike about the pick here.

It was a low-risk move with a potentially very high reward. Good on Benning for adding another scorer in his prospect pipeline. That never hurts.

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Grade: B+

Round 4: Ethan Keppen (122nd overall)

Around this point of the draft, teams are simply taking guesses and hoping for the best, but I really like what Keppen can bring to the table. He’s got good size (6-foot-2, 212 pounds), and brings much needed toughness and physicality.

Keppen scored 30 goals and 59 points for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL this past season. Pronman believes Keppen is among the Vancouver draft selections “with reasonable chances to play games in the league.” It’s a smart pick for the Canucks.

Grade: B

Round 5: Carson Focht (133rd overall)

I was expecting a defenceman here, but the Canucks were likely just going with who they thought was the best player available. Centre isn’t exactly the organizational need, with Horvat, Pettersson and Adam Gaudette filling out those roles.

At any rate, Focht had a strong showing with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, scoring 26 goals and 64 points in 68 games. He’s got a long path ahead of him in trying to turn professional, but in terms of his overall skill level, there isn’t much to dislike about the selection.

Grade: C+

Round 6: Arturs Silovs (156th overall)

I like the player, but I don’t think the Canucks should have gone goalie here. Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko will take care of the crease next season, and top goalie prospect Michael DiPietro could be an NHL starter in a few years. But at the end of the day, you can never have enough netminders in the system.

Grade: C

Karl Plasek (175th overall)

The Canucks are really just taking educated guesses here, but Plasek has some upside here. The Czech forward played 10 games for HC Kometa Brno U19 and had 10 goals and five points. Can’t complain about a quality scoring winger here.

Grade: B-

Jack Malone (180th overall)

No complaints here. Malone is a versatile forward with a strong frame (6-foot-1, 192 pounds), who put up 59 points in 57 games for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. He’s got a decent chance of turning into an NHL regular.

Grade: C+

Aidan Mcdonough (195th overall)

Another American forward here with plenty of offensive upside. Mcdonough had a big year for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, with 21 goals and 42 points in 50 games. He’s another big winger (6-foot-3, 190 pounds). The Canucks haven’t found many late round gems over the years, and again, they’re just taking a shot in the dark at this point in the draft. May as well take a chance on a guy of Mcdonough’s skill level.

Grade: B

Round 7: Arvid Costmar (215th overall)

With their final pick, the Canucks took Swedish forward Arvid Costmar. It’s a smart choice. He’s a quality playmaker with good hands and a dangerous release on his shot. Costmar had 13 goals and 38 points in 44 games for Linköping HC J20 of the SuperElit league.

Grade C+

Conclusion

Final grade: B

The Canucks surprised just about everybody by not taking a defenceman here. But with Quinn Hughes arriving and Jett Woo and Olli Juolevi waiting in the wings, Benning is obviously confident with what he has in the system. It’s also likely that he adds a defenceman or two via trade and/or free agency in the coming days.

The Miller trade comes with some risk, but I have little doubting the Canucks will be a playoff team in 2021, so I’m not worried about Benning giving up a potential lottery pick here. He had a very solid draft and made a big move for a potential first liner. Giving up the draft picks for a 26-year-old forward in his prime was worth it.

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Overall, I like this draft for the Canucks. Podkolzin might be the final piece the Canucks need in their quest to build up a championship team. Höglander should be a solid future second or third-liner, while the other picks all carry lots of potential. I wouldn’t be surprised if five of these guys turned into NHL regulars.

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