Remember Brendan Gaunce was selected last year with the 26th pick overall in the draft
Centre - VAN Height: 6' 2" Weight: 207 Shoots: Left Born: 25 Mar 1994 (Age 19) Birthplace: Sudbury, ON, Canada
We was also one of the best players available at that position, in the draft Henrik Samuelsson too would have been interesting. But I was happy with Guance. Think Guance, Horvat and Jensen could all be mainstays of the Canucks for years to come.. and that's not just blowing smoke. The kid I'm really happy to see them get is Hunter Shinkaruk at #24. Like that kid for a very long time. The got andrew Cassels son Cole Cassels C Oshawa Generals, OHL
Valeri Nichuskin may decide stay in Russia as he has 2 more years in a deal with Dynamo Moscow just signed in May. However he can leave the KHL for the NHL he has an out in the contract. If he doesn't make the NHL team he can return to the KHL on his open ended contract. he is very talented. I like Horvat though and I have to really admit that. #9 in the draft.. yes I could have seen him going anywhere from #7-#10 actually. Curtis Lazar is a very good player but he went at 17 to Ottawa, didn't quite think he was in the top 10..??? sort of player. Time will tell though
The guy whom I liked at #20 Detroit Red Wings - Anthony Mantha 6'4 /190 lbs. Why does Detroit always seem to be gifted with luck at drafts..lol. This kid is going to be good, he played in Val D'or popped in 50.
I didn't like any deal from the oilers. I'm not a trade inter division guy. Especially with a goalie.. Edmonton is going to be a great team. do you want to fuel that by giving them decent goaltending.. no thanks..lol
Ya Yakupov, Gagne, Eberle, hall, Nugent- hopkins, MPS, klefbom or justin Schultz. None of those guys would have in the deal so stop kidding yourself.
Philadelphia let Joacim Eriksson walk, they bought out Ilya "Breeze by Glove". Steve Mason is their guy going forward. They do have Adam Morrison (kid from Whiterock), Heeter and Hovenin. Philadelphia's pick was at 11. Maybe they felt the devils at #9/ or Dallas at #10 would have grabbed Horvat.. They probably already had the deal done prior to the draft we'll send you Cory Schneider if at your #9 pick the player we want is still on the board. Maybe Dallas was big on Horvat you never know. Canucks jumped ahead of Dallas and a lot of other teams and targeted a deal with the devils because they wanted this player. No picks no other prospect lost just a future good NHl starting goalie the Canucks cupboard is full of them. Luongo, Lack, Canata, Hoznik and now Eriksson. for a future very promising young player in Bo Horvat. The upside is high, Sure it cost us given time we will see if it was worth it..
Philly at #11 and the islanders at #15 both could have used Schneider hell even Tampa. But I can't imagine Tampa bay giving up a shot at Drouin or Seth jones at #3 for a goaltender. Even if that goalie is Schnieder.
Joacim Eriksson - The 6’1”, 189-pound goalie posted a record of 21-9-0, a 1.67 GAA, a save percentage of .931 and 5 shutouts through 30 games, guiding Skelleftea to the top of Sweden’s Elitserien in the 2012.13 season. In 10 playoff appearances, Eriksson recorded a 1.06 GAA and a .952 save percentage helping Skelleftea capture the 2012.13 Elitserien Championship.
The Gavle, Sweden native was originally selected by Philadelphia in the seventh round, 196th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. he's now a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
I think Shinkaruk is a good pick, a great pick if he reaches his top end which I understand to be a Phil Kessel/Zach Parise type player. I think the concern is that he turns into a guy like Chuck Kobasew. I am also a little concerned as to why he fell so far, as I understand their are rumours that he gave a poor interview but it could have just been his size, I'm not sure how his frame projects in terms of adding bulk. Although this draft is supposed to be a deepest since 2003 so a number of teams could have different rankings, I think this draft was basically the top 4 and then everyone else. A lot of the second rounders had first round talent and would likely have been first rounders any other year.
My issue is that both Gaunce and Horvat project as the same type of player, this isn't a huge concern for me but I would have liked the Canucks to add more top end skill, but I understand Gillis and co are big on character and work ethic.
I didn't like Mantha as a pick, I believe there was questions about his physical play, his compete level and defensive sense and I understand only the 3rd one can be fixed through coaching. I'd be concerned if he turned into a Taylor Pyatt or even an Eric Daze type player, who I remember being productive but soft. Detroit has some of the best scouts in the league though so I will give them the benefit of the doubt there.
Of the Edmonton players, I think Gagner and MPS would have been available, Gagner because he is a RFA now I think and due for a raise and MPS because although he may not be a true bust, he doesn't seem like he will reach the potential of where he was drafted. RNH, Yakupov, Hall and Eberle are going nowhere, but I think Eberle would have been a great fit and RNH would have been a dream. Jesse Schultz can just be signed next year when he is a UFA again.
I can't think Holmgren, and more importantly Snider, are confident in Steve Mason as he self-destructed in Columbus when he was handed the job there and I think they will try to make a run at Miller or at least Halak and if that fails sign Emery. A number of good players would still have been available at 11 and I would not have minded if they took Lazar or Pulock there, or even if the Canucks got Matt Read and Sean Couturier, that would have been a fine return.
As for a trade for Tampa, I would have been perfectly happy if the Canucks couldn't pry the 3rd overall out of them, if they had gotten some kind of combination of Brett Connelly, a 2nd round pick and Teddy Purcell (with salary retained by Tampa).
For the Islanders, I would have been okay with Frans Nielsen/Nino and the 15th, and again taken Lazar or Pulock.
Lack, Cannata and the rest might be great prospects, but I think goalie is the hardest positions to project and you never know what you are going to get until they get to the NHL and try to shoulder a starters load. I think Luongo has a few good years left in him but I am concerned about the number of groin injuries he has been getting, particularly since I hear his style can exacerbate them.
Overall, I like this draft for the Canucks, I think Horvat, Shinkaruk and Subban were great picks especially considering their overall talent with where they were taken. My disappointment is that Gillis did not get anything to improve the team today or get enough cap room to take a serious run at UFAs. I think the Canucks biggest needs are a top 6 scoring winger (or even a playmaker for Kesler), a right hand shot PP quarterback and a 3rd line centre, the first 2 are way too hard to fill but they might have made a better effort through moving assets to attempt to improve today. Other successful teams also have young players stepping up and playing big, or at least competent, roles on the 3rd and 4th line like Bickell and Saad this year. Maybe Shinkaruk and Horvat can step in right away and have Jeff Skinner and Dave Bolland like impacts, but I think that is a lot to expect and too much pressure for young players. Maybe someone like Jensen or Schroeder can step up, but only Jensen has the size and compete to step in a 3rd line checking or 4th line energy role as I think Schroeder is top 6 or bust and I do not think he can play wing very well.
I really don't think a lot happened with this trade to improve the Canucks for next season and that's my problem with the trade, they did not get a roster player for Schneider.