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Vancouver Canucks draft 6’4 defenceman Joni Jurmo with pick number 82

Photo credit: Twitter Via @Jonijurmo

By David Quadrelli

Oct 7, 2020, 14:48 EDTUpdated: Oct 7, 2020, 15:07 EDT

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It took a while, but the Vancouver Canucks have made their first selection of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

The Canucks took defenceman Joni Jurmo with the 82nd overall selection in round three, the Canucks’ first of five picks in this draft.

Jurmo is a smooth-skating 6’4 left-shot defenceman listed at 198 pounds. Here’s what the EliteProspects 2020 NHL Draft Guide had to say about the Finnish defenceman:

Jurmo’s projectable 6-foot-4 frame and smooth-skating lend itself to covering large swaths of ice and carrying the puck from one zone to the next sometimes effortlessly. His speed makes him one of the best puck-rushers in the Finnish U20 league. He accelerates well when he’s already in motion and is a deceptive skater in the neutral zone with crossovers and changes of pace.

Many players found themselves sliding lower than they were expected to be picked, and it appears as though that was the case with Jurmo, as most outlets had him going in the 40-70 range.

Cam Robinson

@Hockey_Robinson

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Joni Jurmo was #57 on my board. A nice pick by VAN at this spot. 6'4 LHD. Really nice skater but the decision-making has plagued him. Likely a 5v5 transitional guy. He's seeing limited minutes in the Liiga early on this year

6:46 PM · Oct 7, 2020

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Jurmo’s greatest strength is his skating, and according to our very own Brett Lee, (who will have an in-depth breakdown on Jurmo with video coming very shortly) Canucks fans have reason to be excited.