Canucks: Can Nils Hoglander make the lineup next year?

Vancouver Canucks’ prospect Nils Hoglander was a living highlight reel in the hockey world this season. Can the 19-year-old crack next year’s Canucks lineup?

Over Jim Benning’s six-year tenure as general manager for the Vancouver Canucks, he’s done an excellent job finding and selecting highly talented players at the draft table. With much help from the team’s Director of Amateur Scouting Judd Brackett, he’s successfully managed to bring in a true abundance of youth that’s skilled enough to handle more or less being fast-tracked straight into the up and coming core of the Canucks.

Benning was originally brought in for the GM position because he was known for his first-class scouting ability. And when the decision was made in 2015-16 to move Brackett from scout to Director, that’s when the team really started to find some quality players not only in the first round but deeper in the draft as well.

With Benning and Brackett’s combined expertise, the Canucks’ draft success in the last handful of years has found them franchise-changing players in the likes of Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser. Not to mention the players they’ve acquired at the draft who are NHL ready now (or soon to be) like the SHL’s flashy winger, Nils Hoglander.

Selected 40th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Hoglander was considered by many people to be one of the bigger second-round steals. Many mock drafts at the time had Hoglander taken before the closing of round one, but luckily for Vancouver, he was still available at 40 and they did not hesitate to select the Swedish playmaker. With a year or two of player development overseas, management knew the kid could very soon be bringing something special to the Canucks.

This past year, Hoglander reported to the Rogle BK to play his second season in the Swedish Hockey League and to further develop his skills for the NHL. Hoglander performed well in his sophomore season putting up 16 points (9 goals and 7 assists) in 41 contests, but it was his stunning performance at the World Junior Hockey Championships that got the entire world’s attention.

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1210277304624197632

A never before seen lacrosse style goal was pulled off at the WJHC by none other than Hoglander himself. It was the craziest goal ever completed on the junior stage and it went down as one of the gnarliest goals of the season world-wide. It was truly a beautiful sight to see and a move that only a very select few can pull off in an actual game. It was the nicest goal of his 11 point WJHC performance but he actually accomplished the same goal in the SHL. He’s proving his abilities are no fluke and it really gets the tastebuds watering when you start to imagine that skill being combined with the Canucks’ top talent. It really raises the question, “Can Hoglander make the team as early as next year?”

With an Oscar-worthy performance at the WJHC, an exceptional sophomore season in the SHL, and a couple of soon to be “Goal of the Year” candidates under his belt, it’s certainly intriguing to want to see the 19-year-old in a Canucks uniform next season. But if that actually happens remains to be seen. Personally, I’m a little skeptical, and I think a little time in the AHL might be what’s next for the prospect. His SHL numbers playing against men suggest he needs more time.

No doubt about it, Hoglander has an arsenal filled with skill, and that very talent is going to one day wreak havoc across the NHL. But with his lack of size and inexperience on and NHL ice rink, I just don’t see Hoglander cracking the roster on opening night. A few good months in the AHL next year and he could very well earn it and be the go-to call-up by the back half of 2020-21.

Hoglander’s NHL impact is coming soon, just don’t bank on him being a main roster player for the Vancouver Canucks by the start of next season. By no means is he a shoe-in. If he wants it, he’s going to have to go above and beyond in earning it.