Canucks Select Jakob Stukel 154th Overall

With the 154th overall pick, the Canucks have selected Surrey native Jakob Stukel, a winger for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. 

Stukel was ranked 82nd among North American skaters by Central Scouting and 194th by ISS, so his ranking is generally in line with what you’d expect from a sixth-round selection. 

This was Stukel’s second year of eligibility, after being passed over in the 2015 draft following a disappointing season with the Vancouver Giants in which he managed only 16 points in 49 games. After being traded to the Calgary, Stukel’s production exploded to just shy of a point-per-game. He was also a significant power play presence for the Hitmen, leading the WHL in regular season power play goals with 18.  

Stukel is definitely a project, but he has a good shot and possesses a bit of upside. I was able to watch Stukel in person twice this season and he was a standout on both occasions, where he was easily one of the fastest skaters on the ice. His speed, shot, and strong forechecking ability make for an enviable toolkit for a sixth-round pick. If they’re lucky, perhaps the Canucks have a future third-line winger on their hands. 

The Canucks don’t have a great history when it comes to drafting overage players, but when viewed through the lens of pGPS, 12.33% of the 219 statistically similar players went on to play over 200 NHL games, so the selection is entirely defensible.