WWYDW: This Protector
6 years ago
Although the Canucks’ season has been over for months, the actual season only came to an end on Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins were crowned as Stanley Cup champions for the second consecutive season. The Penguins are the first team of the salary cap-era to win back-to-back cups.
But enough about the games. This is where the real fun begins. We’ve got the draft coming up next week, and this Sunday each team will be releasing their protected lists for the expansion draft. So, this week we’ll be focusing on expansion. Who’s on your protected list? Who would you like to see Vegas take from the Canucks?
Last week I asked: What players in the 55th overall range do you have your eyes on? Who would you like to see them select?
defenceman factory:
There’s a good chance Mason Shaw could still be available. He would be a great pick at 55. If he isn’t hard to play against the experience is certainly unpleasant.
The 3 D prospects JD proposed at 55 all sound like reasonable picks. The nostalgic value of another hard shooting Salo on the blue line has to be worth something. Hopefully Robin’s durability is better.
Rusty:
Best available defence or centre prospect.
Nuckleston:
Vancouver obviously need the best player available at every draft position.
Having said that,I feel we need a huge haul of smart puck moving defensemen. They seem to take a bit longer to develop, so we should get them earlier in the rebuild; also,a great D can hide the flaws of an ok offense, but not so much the other way around.
Peachy:
At 55th overall, you most likely have combine results. Vertical jump is an excellent proxy for explosive athleticism, and a so a good indication of a player’s skating ceiling. Find the highest skilled player left in the draft, whose red flag is skating issues, but who has a respectable vertical jump score. Draft that player.
Ginner Classic:
Guys I’d be looking at for the 55th pick by position. Common theme is that they should all go before 55, but if they don’t we got a hell of a deal:
G: DiPietro – May fall due to size concerns, but he is the most talented keeper in the draft
LD: Dylan Samberg – Tough S.O.B. d man in the Shane O’Brien mold. There is still room for a guy like this in the modern NHL as long as they have a high IQ and can skate. He has both.
RD: Josh Brook – I think he goes well before 55, but if he’s there, I’d sprint to the podium to get him. Can play well at both ends.
LW: Jonah Gadjovich – A way better player than he appears. Unbelievable in front of the net. Super smart and reliable. Good two way player. Big, tough and a hard worker. Perfect power forward in the Troy Brouwer mold, but even better at the same age. Could play on any line.
C – Alexei Lipanov – Skilled and fast. He probably will go higher, but he had a pretty quiet U-18 and there is always the Russian factor.
RW – Joni Ikonen. Listed as a center, he is a shoot first forward that will probably do better in the NHL on the wing.
G: DiPietro – May fall due to size concerns, but he is the most talented keeper in the draft
LD: Dylan Samberg – Tough S.O.B. d man in the Shane O’Brien mold. There is still room for a guy like this in the modern NHL as long as they have a high IQ and can skate. He has both.
RD: Josh Brook – I think he goes well before 55, but if he’s there, I’d sprint to the podium to get him. Can play well at both ends.
LW: Jonah Gadjovich – A way better player than he appears. Unbelievable in front of the net. Super smart and reliable. Good two way player. Big, tough and a hard worker. Perfect power forward in the Troy Brouwer mold, but even better at the same age. Could play on any line.
C – Alexei Lipanov – Skilled and fast. He probably will go higher, but he had a pretty quiet U-18 and there is always the Russian factor.
RW – Joni Ikonen. Listed as a center, he is a shoot first forward that will probably do better in the NHL on the wing.
HM: Mason Shaw. I’ve been all over the map on him. Next to Makar he is the best high tempo playmaker in the draft. The puck moves so fast off his stick and gets exactly where he wants it. I just really wonder if he can play his game at the next level. There are lots of times I feel like he takes himself out of the play. Maybe he is just way smarter than me and thinking the game on a different level.
