The Top 20 Canucks Prospects: An Update (Part I)

David Honzik is a mammoth goaltender from the Czech Republic who Gillis selected with a third round pick in the 2011 draft (the highest Gillis has ever selected a goaltender). Honzik’s physical tools are beyond doubt, however, his technique is (and remains) very raw and his development appears to have stalled over the past twelve months. Entering his "contract year" (under the current CBA, if the Canucks choose not to sign Honzik before June 1st 2013, he’ll re-enter the draft) Honzik looks like the definition of a "boom or bust" prospect.

NHL scouts have long been impressed by Archibald’s skill with the puck, but his skating has always been a concern. Like 2012 draft pick Alex Mallet, Archibald is a different skater with the puck than without and both players have difficulty pulling away from defenders while they are carrying the puck. It’s a challenge Archibald will have to overcome if he’s going to make the NHL. To make it to the NHL level, scouts generally believe that a player can take no more than four strides to get up to top speed, while being pressured and at the moment Archibald falls short of that standard.

While Price’s promising development over the past few years has gone largely unnoticed in Vancouver, you can bet that Canucks management and the coaching staff have been paying close attention. As we see each season, you can never have enough quality defensemen. Especially defensemen who are reliable in their own zone, and appear capable of moving the puck up the ice.

One area to watch will be Polasek’s offensive game. While Polasek’s offensive skills are never going to be "the reason" he makes it to the show, he’s got solid offensive instincts and in his Major Junior days, he featured heavily on PEI’s powerplay. Polasek would regularly jump up into the rush and he occasionally flashed some finish too, recording 20 goals and 80 points in his two years with the Rocket.

Since Mike Gillis selected Yann Sauve with the club’s second round pick in the 2008 NHL draft – a draft that featured one of the deepest talent pools of defenseman in recent memory – Sauve has dealt with an awful lot of instability and some excruciating bad luck. Following a concussion which, Sauve suffered when he was struck by a car during training camp in the fall of 2010, the former Saint John Sea Dog spent time in three professional leagues during the 2010-11 season (the ECHL, AHL and a three game NHL stint). That has to be difficult, and certainly it’s exceedingly rare.