Canucks should target a goalie at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft

The Vancouver Canucks and their fan base let out a collective sigh of relief just a few short weeks ago when Thatcher Demko was signed to an entry-level contract, closing the door to a loophole in the CBA that would afford the college standout a chance at unrestricted free agency. That move provides a significant boost to the long-term health of the Canucks crease, if for no other reason than Demko is the sole remaining goalie in the Canucks organization that qualifies as a prospect.

Then again, based on Demko’s success at the college level, this isn’t the worst problem to have. The San Diego, California native is well on his way to developing into an NHL goalie and in all likelihood a very good one at that. It’s been proven time and time again though that one should never place all their eggs in one basket. There always needs to be a push from within the organization and succession plan in the background, mapped out in pencil.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning took a step in the right direction, signing Quinnipiac goaltender, Michael Garteig, to an entry-level contract last week. Those who followed the club closely deemed it a curious move, given the aforementioned Demko’s spot in the organizational depth chart – which is totally fair. There are about four years between the two, though – Garteig is 24 to Demko’s 20.

Throwing Garteig into the prospect pool gives the Canucks another roll of the dice and you can never have too many of those. The Prince George native just put together an excellent season too, so he’s well worth the trouble. I would expect that the Canucks start Garteig in the ECHL or as part of a rotation in Utica, before moving up permanently to support Demko.

It’s clear there is a plan there to try and build depth in a part of the organization that only a few weeks ago was looking a little barren.

This brings us to this draft and why the Canucks need to take a goalie. The organization has only taken two goalies in the last five drafts combined. One of which is Demko and the other was David Honzik. Given this, the Canucks don’t have a young goaltender playing in the CHL so, the 2016 NHL Entry Draft is the perfect time to change this. 

Selecting an 18-year-old goalie now would allow them two years to further develop in the CHL (or any other league) before the need to join the professional ranks within the Canucks organization. At that time, Demko will have two years as a pro under his belt and if he hasn’t already seized the back-up job in Vancouver, would be able to mentor the incoming tender.

GM Jim Benning mentioned in an interview with The Province earlier this month that the Canucks will look to take a goalie at some point on June 24 or 25. So this thought process is obviously on their mind.

It’s a perfect succession plan to ensure that there is a constant push. So let’s take a look at some of the goalies who have caught my eye and might be available when the Canucks make their picks

Both played at the CHL Top Prospects game here in Vancouver in January and are currently ranked one and two in the CSS North American goaltender rankings.

Carter Hart is the smaller of the two measuring in at 6’1″ and 170 lbs but is an extremely technical goalie who his working extremely hard to perfect his craft. Greg Balloch over at InGoal Magazine did a fantastic breakdown of some of the Eye-Training that Hart has been working on. It is the same regiment that Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby uses. As Greg also mentioned in the piece, Hart has been compared to Winnipeg Jets prospect Eric Comrie who had a fantastic first pro season in the AHL.

Fitzpatrick measures in at 6’2″ and 223 lbs, and aside from the gold medal game, had a good showing at the U18 in North Dakota. He is a teammate of current Canucks prospect Carl Neill.

Lastly, I know that GM Jim Benning played close attention to Hart at the CHL Top Prospects testing which was done the day before the game.

Both should be available at the 33rd overall pick, but the Canucks need an influx of talent in the skater ranks so I would highly recommend that they use this pick to select a forward or defenceman. 

Carter Hart will crack our Top 60 rankings, so expect a more in-depth breakdown of him in the coming weeks.

Gustavsson is the number one ranked European goaltender and Sawchenko is currently the sixth-ranked North American netminder.

If a team is very high on him, Gustavsson could go somewhere in the second round but there is some belief that he will be available at 63rd when the Canucks take the mic with their third round pick. He isn’t particularly big at 6’2″ and 185 lbs, but may be worth the gamble. His 2015-16 stats are below:

Zach Sawchenko was the third-ranked North American goaltender at the mid-rank but fell to sixth in the final season rankings. He appeared in the BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects game and posted a respectable 0.916 SV% for the Moose Jaw Warriors this season. 63rd may be a bit of a reach, but he will likely go somewhere in the third round.

Tyler Parsons of the London Knights is the third-ranked North American goalie after posting a 0.921 SV% in the regular season and continues to play well in the OHL playoffs. He may go before Sawchenko but he could also be available at 63rd overall. The question is Parsons showing well because of the team he is playing behind, or is he a bonafide NHL goaltending prospect.

Committed to Boston College, Woll will look to seize the starting job there with Canucks prospect Thatcher Demko turning pro. He showed very well at the U18 for the U.S.A., posting 1.34 GAA and 0.947 SV% in three appearances. He is currently ranked 5th for North American goalies, so if the Canucks don’t want to take a goalie with their 63rd pick, then he may very well be available in the early fourth round with their 93rd overall pick.

Given his size of 6’3″ and 193 lbs, he appears to be someone worth the risk.

We could continue to list all the goalies available in this draft class but that isn’t the point here. It’s just to point out that the Canucks should continue to stock their prospect pool and selecting a high end 18-year-old goaltender could pay dividends in the long run.

This draft class appears to have depth in the goaltenders available. If you miss out on Hart or Fitzpatrick, there are still quite a few options who are intriguing. So with that being said, taking a goaltender at 33rd is probably too early, but it should, at the very least be considered in the 3rd or 4th round.

I am not advocating for the Canucks to use a high pick, as they could use the injection of talent in other places, but once we get past the second round, then they need to strongly consider it. 

Demko continues to look like a good bet to be a part of the Canucks for a long time – maybe the Canucks take another goalie in the 2016 NHL Entry draft and set themselves up in the crease for the next 10 years.