The Vancouver Canucks have one of the NHL’s best prospect pools. TSN’s Craig Button shared his list of the team’s top 10 players in the system.
Like all NHL general managers, Jim Benning of the Vancouver Canucks has made his fair share of regrettable trades and free agent signings.
But there’s little denying that when it comes to the draft table, Benning is one of the best in the business. So far, Elias Pettersson — the No. 5 selection from 2017 — looks like the best player from his draft class.
Benning also found a true first line winger in Brock Boeser with the No. 23 pick in the 2015 draft. There have been some brilliant finds after the first round, too. This includes goalie Thatcher Demko (36th overall in 2014) and Adam Gaudette (149th overall in 2015).
Optimism is growing increasingly in Vancouver. This team fell just one game short of reaching the 2020 Western Conference Final, and more help will soon be on the way for this up-and-coming team, thanks again to Benning’s remarkable work at the draft.
Today, TSN’s Craig Button — one of the most well-known experts on NHL prospects — revealed his list of the 10 best in Vancouver’s system. You can see his rankings below:
With the 2020 #NHLDraft approaching, #TSNHockey provides a draft primer for each of the seven 🇨🇦 #NHL teams...
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) September 22, 2020
Today, we wrap it up with the Vancouver #Canucks: https://t.co/JO9pPlqSm5#DraftCentre pic.twitter.com/U1peoin1kt
The Canucks drafted Vasili Podkolzin with the No. 10 selection in 2019. He’s without a doubt the team’s most promising prospect, and the 19-year-old figures to play a major role in the team’s top-six once he arrives in the NHL.
It’s still early, but Nils Hoglander (the No. 40 pick in 2019) already looks like a major draft steal. He’s coming off a nine-goal and 16-point season for Rogle BK Angelholm of the SHL.
As you can see, the Canucks are loaded with quality prospects on the blue line. You can’t help but wonder if Benning might look to trade one or two this offseason for some immediate help. The team is in need of some veteran defencemen, after all, with Chris Tanev (a pending UFA) and Troy Stecher (a pending RFA) possibly hitting the open market.
That’s all for another day, however. The bottom line is that few teams have a brighter looking future than the Canucks, who aren’t lacking in strong and quality prospects.