@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Early Mailbag Q: "unless the lottery moved me back to fifth overall… I’d find a way to move back in the draft." How far back would u go?

— Geordie (@geordiedent) April 30, 2017

I don’t know for certain where that quote is from, but it sort of sounds like something I would say. Which is to say that I’m totally on board with the Vancouver Canucks moving down from their fifth overall selection to accrue more picks in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft.

How far back would I go? Honestly, I’d feel comfortable dropping as far as tenth. I get the sense that even after the Owen Sound Attack’s wild playoff run (which finished as I write this) and Nick Suzuki’s significant role in driving that success, he’s not seen as a top ten pick in this year’s draft. In my estimation, Suzuki is somewhere in the six-to-eight range. If the Canucks can add a third round draft pick to move back a few spots and select Suzuki (or a player of similar quality) that’s worth making a move.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy If the top 3 centers are off the board at 5, would Nucks be better off selecting a power play dman?

— Shawn Finney (@7finney) April 30, 2017

I don’t know if I’d word it as “better off”, but I think there’s certainly a case for the Canucks drafting Timothy Liljegren or Miro Heiskanen at fifth overall, regardless of whether the centres they covet are there or not. That said, I think Cody Glass is still the right play if he’s there.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Ideal Scenario for 5th overall, only assuming Patrick and Hischier are 1,2. I.e, who is the 3rd best player, for you?

— Canucks/Jays (@CanucksJays) April 30, 2017

I’m bullish on Glass as the third best prospect in this year’s draft class. He’s the complete package. In fact, third is right where he sits on my most recent draft rankings. If the Canucks can find a way to get Glass at five, they have to pull the trigger. Glass is a 6’2 centre who can skate, play at both ends of the ice and is lauded for his high-end vision and anticipation.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Do the Canucks have enough disposable assets to trade up this year or next year (let's be real, we're never getting top 3-2 or 1st overall)

— Trevor Crawley (@tcrawls) April 30, 2017

Do I think the Canucks have the pieces to move up to first overall? Probably. I would caution against that move, though. This isn’t the draft to pay a king’s ransom to secure a top pick in. If anything, the Canucks would be wise to move back in the first round and pick up additional assets for later rounds.

As for next year, I tend to think the Canucks will find themselves at the top of the lottery. It’s safe to wonder if they’ll even need to trade up for the first or second overall pick.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy sounds like they won't try to move Tanev; how much pressure do you think the trade market will put on that stance.

— Aaron (@nobikes) April 30, 2017

I hope I’m interpreting Aaron correctly here, but I think what he’s striking at is that if the trade market pushes the Canucks with substantial offers for Chris Tanev, how far will they have to go to move Vancouver from their conviction about moving the stay-at-home defenceman.

With this current iteration of the Canucks front office, one of their greatest strengths and flaws is that they’re decisive. If they want a player, they’re going to do everything in their power to get that player. By that same token, if they have it in their minds that they need to keep a certain player, the same logic applies.

This is to say that I think we can take the Canucks at their word when various media outlets indicate their unwillingness to part with Tanev. So I have a hard time picturing what it takes to shake the Canucks from that stance. Tanev is a premier shutdown defenceman and a right-shot at that, so they shouldn’t settle for anything short of a blue chip prospect, a first-round pick and maybe someone who can play in a depth role for the Canucks immediately.

As an aside, I think Tanev for Jonathan Drouin and Ryan Callahan makes such an obscene amount of sense for everyone involved. That’s the trade the Canucks should pursue this offseason.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy After Nico, who can make plays at top speed?

— Joseph C (@joecarp12) April 30, 2017

I don’t mean to be pedantic, but multiple players in each round can make plays at top speed. I’m going to assume you’re talking about the high end of this draft for the purpose of this question though. With that, I think Glass, Suzuki, Liljegren, Heiskanen, Nolan Patrick, Cale Makar, Kailer Yamamoto, Owen Tippet and Casey Mittelstadt are high-end players who make great plays at top speed regularly. I’m sure I’m leaving some players out, too.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy I've seen lots of "move back in Draft". Which teams could you see actually be willing to make a deal to move up?

— Juston (@Juston1016) April 30, 2017

This is just a complete guess, but I could see the Lightning wanting to jump into the top five if Heiskanen or Liljegren are available. Tampa Bay has an embarrassment of riches in their prospect pool, but if there’s one area that’s lacking, it’s probably their blue line. Their window isn’t going to be open forever. Perhaps if they see a defenceman that can contribute to the Lightning not this year but the one after, they consider it worth the bounty to snag that player.

@JDylanBurke If TL and CM go 3-4, should Canucks draft Vilardi at 5 because he's best available, even though he's not "playmaking"?

— Matt Baer (@baerzerk84) April 30, 2017

I don’t know if I agree with your assessment of Gabriel Vilardi as someone who isn’t a playmaker. I think that’s definitely an element of his game and a strong one at that. There aren’t many players in this class with better hockey smarts and vision that Vilardi.

If there’s one question about Vilardi, it’s whether he’s going to play centre at the NHL level or not. That, and if his skating can improve enough to take his game to the next level. Would I be upset with the Canucks taking Vilardi at five? Not in the slightest. Can I see it happening? I’m doubtful of it.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Would you rather: have the 1st overall pick and rest of team stays the same, or #5 plus trade Tanev for another first rounder.

— Nathan (@natevk) April 30, 2017

I’d rather the former of those two options. The thing is, the Canucks can always trade some of the players and assets they already have eventually. This rebuild is a long-term play. When you have a chance at a player of Patrick or Hischier’s calibre, you take it every time.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Do you think any of the top 4 draft teams take a D man?

And do you think Patrick gets passed on multiple times?

— Canuck (@gillisisgod) April 30, 2017

I can definitely see one of the top four teams in the draft taking a defenceman. In fact, I’ll be surprised if the Dallas Stars don’t take a defenceman. I’m less confident Patrick gets passed over, but anything can happen.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Will the #Canucks ever be able to break the curse? Was waiving a white towel by RN a good idea after all? Will Nolan Patrick fall to 5th?

— Artem Zhurakhovsky (@nas19ua) April 30, 2017

The Canucks aren’t cursed. The fifth overall selection was the second-most likely scenario for the Canucks. This isn’t voodoo and the league isn’t out to get them. And yes, waiving the towel was a good idea. They tried to compete and still finished 29th in the league. It’s not like there’s an alternative here. And no, I can’t foresee a scenario where Patrick falls to fifth.

@JDylanBurke 'IF' Canucks deal Tanev in a deal which included a top 6-7 pick in this draft, combo of Glass/Mittelstadt and Liljegren maybe?

— Vikingstad (@HockeyRockBeer) April 30, 2017

I would consider those the likely scenarios, assuming two of the three you’ve listed are available to Vancouver with the fifth pick and their second first rounder, assuming they get one.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Top 5 current coaches and top 5 current general managers in the NHL in your opinion?

— John Puck (@JohnPuck1992) April 30, 2017

Coaches: Mike Babcock, Joel Quenneville, Bill Peters, Peter Laviolette and Bruce Boudreau. Honourable mention: Alain Vigneault, Darryl Sutter, Peter DeBoer

General Managers: Lou Lamoriello, Ron Hextall, Jim Rutherford, Steve Yzerman and Doug Wilson

Honourable mention: Ron Francis, Bob Murray.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy What would a realistic trade scenario look like for the nucks if they wanted to trade back to the latter end of the lottery?

— Scott MacDonald (@Scott995) April 30, 2017

Sorry, but I’m just not equipped to answer this particular question. There are far too many factors at work here for me to make even a worthwhile guess.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Is casey mittelstadt capable of being the best player of the draft? High risk high reward guy? Cuz he had dynamic skill and speed.

— Karn (@D_99Karn) April 30, 2017

I suppose Mittelstadt being the best player to come from this draft is possible. I don’t fancy it as likely.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy If both are available at 5 then who do you select: CM or CG???

— Karn (@D_99Karn) April 30, 2017

Cody Glass.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy What is the ceiling for Patrick,hischier,villardi,maker,hieskanen,CM,glass,lilgegren at the NHL level??

— Karn (@D_99Karn) April 30, 2017

Every one of the offensive players you’ve listed has the potential to be a first-line player in the NHL in some capacity. So, too, do the blue liners you’ve listed have potential to develop into top pair defencemen.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Is it possible the player we get at 5th could eventually be as good as Patrick or nico?

— Dan Herman (@dansjherman) April 30, 2017

There might be a player in the fifth or sixth round of this year’s draft that could be the best player when we look back on this class ten years or more from now. Which is to say that it’s possible the Canucks could draft a player at five that turns out better than the player taken at one. I don’t think it’s likely, though.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Why would anyone let the lottery result change their view of how much the system incentivizes tanking? The odds/rationale don't change.

— Jyrki21 (@Jyrki21) April 30, 2017

This is a tough one, but I’m thinking Denmark.

Okay, in all seriousness, I can’t wrap my mind around the notion that Saturday’s draft lottery changes anything. If your perspective on the Canucks post-trade deadline plan changed, I just don’t even know how to reconcile that. It makes absolutely zero sense. The probability didn’t change. And the Canucks still benefited from their 29th place finish! One more point and they would be picking seventh overall.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Should Canucks avoid Casey if he plans to commit all 4 years to college?

— Kristo (@kristo_01) April 30, 2017

Everything the Canucks do at this stage should be focused on building an optimized roster and salary situation for four-to-five seasons from now. If that means waiting out Mittelstadt, then they absolutely should.

The only thing I would be leery about is that once Mittelstadt finishes his senior year of college, he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Everyone is going to write it "Middlestat" for the entirety of his career. Should he just give in and anglicize it now like it's WWI?

— Jyrki21 (@Jyrki21) April 30, 2017

Let’s just hold the draft on Ellis Island from now on and let the fine people there figure out what to name these guys.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Is Jim Benning going to go completely off the board and take someone not ranked in the top 8 at the draft?

— Nuckledown (@lancet5400) April 30, 2017

Depends on what rankings you’re looking at. That said, if they go with Liljegren, at the rate he’s dropping, it will be considered something of an off the board pick depending on who you’re talking to.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy Who is the rudest on the CA slack

— sedinitronic (@sedinitronic) April 30, 2017

Jackson.

@JDylanBurke @CanucksArmy @ exp.draft, is there movement only allowed between Vegas and teams or do all teams get to make transactions?

— Noel A. (@quick_s1lver) April 30, 2017

Nope. Other teams can make trades. In fact, the Carolina Hurricanes just acquired Scott Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks last week.