Vancouver Canucks Armchair GM: Round 2

In Round 1 I covered who the Canucks should take in round one of the 2016 NHL entry draft. So I’ll let you guess what I’m going to do in Round 2. That’s right, I’m going to go over the second round pick. This one is going to be a bit different however. Predicting exactly who will and who won’t be available seems like a waste of time because if Bob McKenzie and Craig Button aren’t able to do it then who am I to say that I can? Instead, I’m going to list five players from five to one in order of who I would pick if they are available when the Canucks pick at 35th overall.

Number 5: Kale Clague

Kale Clague finished his second full season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The most notable thing about Clague is his floating ability. Clague is able to jump up in the play with ease. His offensive game will be an asset. Clague had a very strong Ivan Hlinka summer showcase in the summer of 2015. That being said, he will have a hard time on the defensive side of the game at the NHL. He is an offensive defensemen who is still a little raw in the defensive zone. This isn’t helped by his size at 6'0, 195lbs. Click on the link below to find a deeper scouting report on Clague.

Number 4: Lucas Johansen

Lucas Johansen’s claim to fame at the moment is being Ryan’s brother but not for long. Have you ever heard the idea that a defensemen is having a good game if you don’t notice him out there? Well that’s Johansen. He is one of the quietest defensemen in recent memory. No flash but all cash (my lame attempt at a joke). In all seriousness, Johansen makes the right play consistently. His defensive positioning is always on point. He isn’t the type to go coast-to-coast but he is not the type to cost his team due to a poor play. Click on the link below to take a look at Lucas Johansen’s statistics so far.

Number 3: Tyler Benson

Tyler Benson is a name people in Vancouver are pretty familiar with. The former 1st overall WHL bantam draft pick and Vancouver Giants captain has had an injury-riddled draft season. After playing 62 games in his previous season, Benson managed to only play 30 games this season. It has really hurt his draft stock and many are viewing him as a possible steal for the 2016 draft. In terms of skill, the most obvious thing is Benson’s combination of size and speed. This overshadows his vision and passing which is also very good. For a deeper scouting analysis on Tyler Benson click on the link below.

Number 2: Alex DeBrincat

Depending on who you talk to or where you’re reading, Alex DeBrincat could go 10–20 or 50–60 overall. If he is available, the Canucks should take a long look. Listed at 5'7, 163lbs, DeBrincat’s tiny stature is very present. That scares many hockey minds. I got two words for those people, “Johnny Gaudreau.” The NHL has changed in the last 10 years and the fact that people are still writing off anyone listed under 5'10 shows how much of an old boys club the NHL still is. DeBrincat scored 104 points in 68 games as a 16-year-old last season playing on a line with Connor McDavid. Many people thought he would fall off in his 17-year-old season considering he no longer had McDavid as a line mate but that hasn’t stopped DeBrincat. He had 101 points in 60 games this season. DeBrincat brings speed, hands, goal-scoring, and a tenacious effort in a pint sized body. Linked below is a deeper scouting analysis on Alex DeBrincat.

Number 1: Dante Fabbro

If Dante Fabbro is available when the Canucks pick at 35th, the team should absolutely without a doubt take him. He will really need to fall down the draft. Crazier things have happened (*cough Oliver Kylington). First thing is that Fabbro played in the BCHL this season. Not necessarily a bad thing, but BCHL players are generally not close to NHL ready on draft day. This is a reason I could see him slidding down. Also, he is a little undersized at 6'0, 183lbs. He is also committed to play for Boston University next season. That being said, Fabbro made the BCHL look silly. The strongest part of his game is the ability to transition and join the rush. His offensive game is polished with 67 points in 45 games as a defensemen. For a deeper scouting report on Dante Fabbro click on the link below.