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CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag: The Sedins, Draft and Seattle Expansion
Vancouver Canucks mailbag
Photo credit: Matthew Henderson
J.D. Burke
Apr 3, 2018, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 3, 2018, 15:10 EDT
Comments
Great question. Yeah, I tend to think that situations like the one you’ve put forward separate scouts and draft analysts concerning quality. Usually, I won’t give a general manager a hard time if they make a reasonable pick — it doesn’t even have to be the pick that I would make, like Olli Juolevi in 2016 for example. With the benefit of time, the best talent evaluators of the lot have their convictions proven.
If the Canucks are picking anywhere between fifth and ninth overall, it’s going to be a great test for Canucks general manager Jim Benning and co. There are a couple of players I really like in that spot, barring a surprise earlier in the draft, and some of them have elite potential in my estimation. It’s up to the Canucks to find one.
One has to think that the Seattle “Team Name YTD” have a good chance to be better than the Canucks in the wake of the Vegas Golden Knights success, no? Seattle’s team is going to build itself with the same expansion draft rules as the Knights, with the benefit of getting to follow their example and learn what worked and what didn’t.
As for whether they can get to contention before the Canucks, again, it seems possible. I doubt there are many who see a brighter future in Vancouver than Vegas right now.
Here’s the scary thing: I thought the Golden Knights let a lot of teams off the hook. If Seattle goes cutthroat for draft picks and futures, I feel like they could set themselves well up exceedingly well for the future.
For starters, Quinn Hughes is a far better skater than both of Evan Bouchard and Adam Boqvist — especially Bouchard, who is a laborious skater if there ever was one. Hell, Hughes might be one of the best skaters in this year’s draft period. Hughes is a far more creative offensive talent, too; he can beat a team in so many different ways.
It’s unfortunate, certainly. The worst part of it is that I want the winning to continue now so the Sedins can go out on a high note. Couldn’t the Canucks have saved those wins for after the Sedins’ announcement?
I couldn’t tell you. That said, I’m all for the Stick in Rink logo.
Thatcher Demko: no clue, sorry, I’m not a goalie expert, and I feel like I’d just sound like an idiot even if I tried to come up with a comparison.
Jonathan Dahlen: I’ve heard Filip Forsberg’s name before as a player comparison. I don’t hate it from a stylistic perspective. Let’s go with that.
Kole Lind: I’m struggling with this one. Lind’s game is just so well-rounded.
For whatever it’s worth, the longer I do this draft analysis thing, the less value I find in player comparisons. I’m often loathed to use them. So, my apologies if my answer has left you wanting.
I’d like to think that Sven Baertschi could fetch the Canucks either a low first round pick or a high second round pick. And if the Canucks only drafted for positional need in the first round, they’d find a way to get five draft picks. Seriously though, probably a defenceman.
Expect me to post the rost of those in due time. Sorry they’re slow going — I’ve just got so much on my plate. I’m doing my best.
As for the draft, I’ll keep you posted.
  1. Evander Kane
  2. Tyler Bozak
  3. James Neal
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In general, it sucks that the Canucks are such an irredeemably bad team. Everyone is feeling it. Numbers are down across the city, regardless the medium. From a creative perspective, it’s especially awful. Sometimes it feels like the stories stay the same and the names just change slightly year over year. It’s like Groundhog Day.
Want a trade secret? We all want this team to do well, and it’s killing us that we can’t write about a turnaround or more than two or three storylines a season.
I assume that the Canucks will sign Matt Brassard at some point, yes.
As for Ben Hutton, I think he’s played his last game as a Vancouver Canuck in all likelihood.
I wouldn’t say I’m worried so much as disappointed.
Anything short of a first-round pick for Bobby Ryan’s salary is too little. That contract is just a little too rich to justify putting on the books, even for the Canucks who are still a long ways away from a turnaround.
As of yesterday, Daniel and Henrik Sedin are now a no. I suspect that Hutton is out. Chris Tanev potentially, too. Jussi Jokinen, Nic Dowd and Sven Baertschi seem like candidates for a change of scenery, too.
Is it possible that Lukas Jasek could be a regular NHL’er? Yes. Is that the likely outcome? Nope.
I suspect Jasek will play with the Utica Comets right to the end of their season. Hopefully, that means a good long while.
It’s too early to tell. I lean towards no, though.
Nope.
I’d zero in on Damon Severson in New Jersey and Julius Honka in Dallas if I were the Canucks. Those two fit the bill. They’d probably cost something in the middle of your two proposed options, too.
They had better do that.
This isn’t what many are going to want to hear, but I think the Canucks need to slow it down a bit. Playing a run and gun style with as little talent as the Canucks have isn’t going to portend good results. I feel like they’re already making some adjustments to that end these last few weeks, so let’s hope it carries through to next season.
Probably a winger.

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