Canucks: Should they pick Corson Ceulemans with the ninth overall pick?
By Joshua Rey
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.
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What do you think of Ceulemans? Could he be a fit in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments below!