Canucks: Should they pick Corson Ceulemans with the ninth overall pick?

Where do the expert rank him?

Ceulemans’ ranking varies among the experts, which is no surprise given how unpredictable this year’s draft is.

Ranked #14 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters

Ranked #60 by Elite Prospects

Ranked #11 by FC Hockey

Ranked #19 by TSN’s Bob McKenzie

Ranked #42 by Dobber Prospects

Ranked #55 by SmahtScouting

What do the experts say?

Let’s first take a look at what Tony Ferrari of Dobber Prospects had to say on Ceulemans:

“Corson Ceulemans is an offensive defenseman who loves to get up in the play and create offensively for the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. His raw tools are enticing as he boasts a mobile 6’2″ frame and has filled it out quite well to this point. Ceulemans has a good, strong stride that powers him up ice and he has well above-average puck skills which allow for him to deke and maneuver his way through the neutral zone. He is able to make good breakout passes when he needs to but excels when carrying the puck on his stick. In the offensive zone, he is at his best when he is able to work himself open and get pucks on net. He stays mobile along the blueline and does a good job of changing the angle most of the time, opening passing and shooting lanes. He is a good powerplay quarterback who can move the puck to his teammates and likes to take chances by attacking the slot himself. He has a good shot and he isn’t shy to use it. Many of the concerns about Corson Ceulemans game come from the fact that he plays in the AJHL and he struggles defensively. The AJHL isn’t the best league for the development of projectable skills in most years and this year is no different. There have been a lot of comparisons to former AJHL star Cale Makar who hailed from the same organization but those are unfair and a bit unrealistic. The game Makar plays is truly special and isn’t likely to be replicated, even from a defender from the same team who has produced at roughly the same rates up to their draft years. Ceulemans has a lot of raw talent and if he can develop a bit better defensive awareness and reign some of his offensive aggression in, he very well could be a solid NHL defender who can run a powerplay. The ceiling isn’t quite Makar, but he certainly brings some upside and intrigue to the 2021 NHL Draft.”

Sam McGilligan of SmahtScouting also had some insights on the 18-year old:

“I don’t know how else to say this: Corson Ceulemans both perplexes and fascinates me. My opinion on him has changed repeatedly with my viewings. There are a lot of tools that he possesses that an NHL development staff would work with. He’s going to be playing in Wisconsin next year who are more than capable of starting the refinement process his game desperately needs. He’s a great skater, exhibits great passing, can defend the transition using his length and skating ability, owns a strong first pass, possesses the ability to carry the puck up ice, can facilitate the puck throughout the offensive zone and has the capacity to quarterback a power-play. My biggest concern more than anything is the fact that, despite having these abilities, he shows such inconsistency in using them on a regular basis in the AJHL. This isn’t the WHL, this is a league that is very clearly a league below that. I can’t help but walk away with the impression that if he was playing in the WHL we’d be seeing these issues exposed on a much more regular basis and his ability to impact the game would be heavily impeded. His processing of the game has to speed up, and that’s really difficult to teach someone. As more and more variables are introduced, Corson finds himself falling more and more behind the play. He displays tunnel vision at times when the puck is on his stick. These are things he has to work on to be an effective player for Wisconsin over the next few years, but it’s not obscene to picture a future where he does iron out those flaws and the tools start to shine. I may have sounded overly negative on Ceulemans but no NHL General Manager drafts based on what a player is at 18, they draft based on what that player could be at 23. Corson Ceulemans has the tools and the potential to be a very effective hockey player at 23 years old and I’m very, very intrigued to see what he could become with the right development staff.”

Why should the Canucks draft him?

Ceulemans has the potential to be a solid two-way defenceman in the NHL. Scouts have compared his game to Colorado’s Cale Makar, though it is highly unlikely that he’ll reach such an elite status. It’s not too hard to see why he is being compared to Makar, though.

Ceulemans provides good acceleration, speed and agility on the ice, and is also a reliable playmaker.  Ceulemans can also deliver tape-to-tape passes, protect the puck well at the blue line, and provide an accurate wrist shot.

It seems that he needs to work on his game defensively. While he does provide offence, it can often cause him to be too aggressive, leading to repeated turnovers.  Ceulemans also needs work on his defensive fundamentals on the rush, especially on one-on one situations. However, he is very good at moving the puck up the ice quickly, which can help overshadow some of his defensive flaws.

Ceulemans will be playing against better competition in the NCAA compared to his time in the AJHL, which would be a great opportunity to not only enhance his offensive game, but to also improve his defence.

Although it might be higher than where he is ranked, the Canucks should consider Ceulemans in this upcoming draft, particularly with their need to secure a right-handed defenceman. The team could benefit from his transition game and ability to quarterback a powerplay, and Ceulemans could also slot in the Canucks top four defensive pairings in the future.

What do you think of Ceulemans? Could he be a fit in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments below!