Canucks: 3 defencemen they could draft in the third round
By Joshua Rey
Daemon Hunt, 6’0″, 198 pounds, shoots left
Last season, Daemon Hunt was an alternate caption for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. Unfortunately, he only played 28 games and got 15 assists because of an injury sustained in a game against the Edmonton Oil Kings where his arm was cut by a player’s skate blade, and because of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
Hunt could go somewhere in the second or third round. Hopefully, he’s available by the time Vancouver picks.
J.D. Burke, editor-in-chief of Elite Prospects, contributor for EP Rinkside and co-host of Rink Wide on TSN 1040 spoke about Hunt with me on the Avid Discussers Podcast.
"He’s a great skater. I think he’s got underrated offensive instincts, if he is available in the third round that has to be a huge boom for the Canucks and you almost have to move up at that point to secure the bag as it is and I think he is that type of player.”"
Burke isn’t wrong about the skating, and I can see why he would like the Canucks to select him.
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Hunt has a bullet of a slap shot. One that can be used effectively on the power play.
Offensively, his skating is put on display as he uses it to retrieve dump-ins and to carry the puck through the neutral zone and the offensive zone with ease.
Hunt is a terrific passer, knows how to make the right play and can join the rush to create some offence.
Defensively, Hunt excels too. He can get physical and can lay out big hits and stay disciplined at the same time.
He knows how to read the play and can force his opponents to make mistakes with their passing and shooting. Hunt is very good at defending on the rush with his excellent backcheck and backward skating.
Hopefully, Hunt can bounce back next season and develop further. If so, he could be a worthwhile pick for the Canucks.
Hunt could be a potential steal and could possibly be a reliable top-six –maybe even a top-four — defenceman in the NHL. So the Canucks shouldn’t pass the opportunity up he is available.