WWYDW: Draft Day 2

Draft day is nearly upon us. We’ll get to the top pick next week, but for now, let’s look at the later rounds. Is there anyone that should be available in rounds 2-7 that you would like the Canucks to select?

Last week I asked: Would you trade for Jason Zucker? What would you be willing to give up? 

I don’t see where the Canucks have available players the Wild would want. No to Boeser, Hughes, Horvat or Petterrsson. After watching the playoffs, I want to keep Virtanen unless we get way over value, and a 27 year old 40-50 point guy isn’t it.

I question whether Zucker is an upgrade over Pearson or Leivo, if so is he enough of an upgrade at his age. Zucker won’t put up the same points on the third line.

Zucker would be great to play with Pearson and Horvat, but I would give up Virtanen to do it. It all depends on price, Minne is at 12th in the draft, maybe they want to move up a couple spots?

This is the minimum calibre of player the Canucks should be targeting. Zucker is an immediate upgrade on the top 6. It’s opportunities like this that make it so frustrating the Canucks haven’t acquired a couple more draft picks to use as currency. I am doubtful the Canucks can afford to make the deal.

I can’t see the Wild being interested in more than one of Virtanen, Hutton, Tanev or Sutter. The one of those the Wild like best, swap of 1st round draft positions and the 2019 2nd rd pick would still be a real bargain for the Canucks. Giving up more picks is untenable and I hate the idea of trading away Virtanen or a 2nd rd pick.

Like with virtually every under 30 20+ goal scorer the Canucks just don’t have the assets to swing a trade.

Why are we automatically assuming Virtanen is the one being pitched? Would a trade based around Baertschi work? A little younger, cheaper but less accomplished and more injury prone.

Fenton is blowing up his core and was raked over the coals for his Coyle, Granlund and Niederreiter trades. Apparently, Fenton wants to make up the lost ground by asking high for Zucker.

Zucker is excellent and very much the sort of player we could use. It’s probably faster to name the players I wouldn’t give up: Elias, Bo, Brock, and Quinn Hughes are a given. I’d be reluctant to trade Troy Stecher as well. That’s probably it. Tanev? Hutton? Markstrom? Demko? Virtanen? Gaudette? Juolevi? Any of these guys plus a non-first round pick or a prospect I’d be fine with.

Jason Zucker is just another one of those proposed trade rumour guys swirling around Canuckland recently. Again I cannot see Zucker being a significant upgrade compared to who they have now or worth giving up decent young talent for. Nothing wrong with Zucker as a hockey player at all but I don’t see top six there and I don’t see him helping to lead the franchise out of the wilderness into the post season. A soon-to-be-forgotten trade rumour I’m sure.