Canucks Army Monday Mailbag: June 19th – Part Deux

It’s funny you should bring this trade proposal up. Just last week, the masses accused me of hating the Canucks and their prospects because I would, in fact, make a trade similar to the one the Montreal Canadiens made to acquire Jonathan Drouin from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Similar, insofar as I would put Olli Juolevi in Mikhail Sergachyov’s place.

I would still make that trade without a moment’s hesitation. And no, that has nothing to do with how much I do or don’t like Juolevi as a prospect. In fact, I was aghast at the idea that I was a Juolevi “hater” on Twitter, so please don’t bring that here.

I’ve been fairly consistent about Juolevi. He wasn’t the pick I would’ve made in the Canucks shoes, but I’m not going to give them a hard time for it either — taking Juolevi fifth overall was reasonable. I’m high enough on Juolevi that I think he’ll make the team next year. I just prefer Drouin, who’s a 21-year-old who just put up 53 points and has potential to produce so much more.

That’s not a move I would make. I think relatively highly of Brendan Gaunce, but I’m not willing to surrender a future for the privilege of keeping him in tow.

Keep your eyes peeled. There just might be a couple of articles of this ilk in the works. Don’t want to give away any spoilers, but my sources tell me it’s possible.

Unfortunately for the Vegas Golden Knights, they have to take a Canuck player. I’m sure if they had their way, though, they’d just pass on the group.

Probably James Neal, who said very recently how happy he was to be on a team that wanted him there in Nashville. Well, apparently not. The Nashville Predators left Neal exposed for the Expansion Draft. That has to sting. You know, the timing of it all.

It’s not trending in that direction for this front office. Then again, I’ve never seen ownership this patient with a management group, so who knows? Perhaps Canucks general manager Jim Benning can sell ownership on a rebuild, and him as the standard bearer.

I see Ben Hutton as having low-end upside as a second pair defenseman. Someone who can have a negligible impact on possession in either direction, but can chip in 25-30 points like clockwork and contribute on a second unit power play. Basically, I don’t see him growing beyond the role he currently fills.

As for Guillaume Brisebois, I have to admit that I’m not as keen on him as some of my peers. I don’t see Brisebois as having any kind of offensive upside, and I’ve never been as enamoured with him in transition as some. I could see Brisebois developing into a third pair defenceman if he makes the show.

Much of what I said about Brisebois applies to William Lockwood. I have to admit, Lockwood had a relatively good season with Michigan which legitimised himself as an NHL prospect in my eyes. I tend to think we overstate how good Lockwood’s season was, though, because of how low our expectations were. When the Canucks drafted Lockwood, he was the 11th most productive member of the USNTDP. That he played like an actual prospect is like found money. If we look at Lockwood’s season without taking into account our ridiculously low expectations, it’s just not that great. I can foresee a scenario where Lockwood develops into a feisty third liner, but I’m not betting on it. Another bottom of the lineup prospect that I feel is fairly overrated by some.

I think I’ve said on a few occasions that I see either of these teams as a fit. At the very least, Satiar Shah and I have discussed Tampa Bay and Arizona as destinations for Chris Tanev on the Canucks Army Podcast a few time.

If the Canucks approach the Tampa Bay Lightning, I’d like them to target Brayden Point before the other prospects you mentioned. As for the Arizona Coyotes, it’s Dylan Strome that the Canucks should hone in on acquiring.

I lean more towards the latter of those options than the former. If Evan McEneny can carve out a semi-successful career as a seventh defenceman, you have to consider that a victory. So basically, I think he’ll land somewhere in between those two outcomes.

I can see Anton Cederholm being the meanest, slowest third pairing defenceman this side of the AHL. Which is to say, I’m not expecting an awful lot. Maybe he’ll carve out a third pair role, but I’m not certain of even that much given the influx of young talent.

As for a projected Utica Comets lineup, I’m just not the guy to answer that. I’d reach out to @ryanbiech on Twitter for that one.