Vancouver Canucks: Grades for every 2019 draft selection

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.