This is where the highly suspect 'measuring stick' comes in to play now. What makes a certain pick the greatest? In my review I tried not to make note of games played just for Vancouver but across the NHL for a career as a traded player who has success elsewhere is still a good pick. It comes down to the fact that Vancouver has drafted a lot of good players but many of them found success elsewhere instead of Vancouver.

Here are my top 5 picks in no order.

Igor Larinov- the Russian Gretzky as he once called. A player who seemed ageless and managed 921 NHL games after a career in Russia

Cam Neely- a hometown kid who became the mold for which the term 'power forward' is applied 20 years ago and today

Pavel Bure- the Russian Rocket may have had a chance at 80 goals or more if he played in the league today, the first true superstar to shine in Vancouver

Trevor Linden- the lanky kid from Medicine Hat became the face of the Canucks organization for over 10 years. Can anyone forget his 2 goal performance in game 7 in 1994?

Tie Harold Snepts and Stan Smyl both these guys are throw backs to a different era of the Canucks but both were key parts in one of the few successes in this troubled club's history- the 1982 SC Finals. They are still the only two players whose names still ring out from the cheap seats, "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarooooooooooooooooold" "Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr"

Of the 6 players mentioned only 2 are in the Hockey Hall of fame, Igor Larionov and Cam Neely. Bure may get there but he will need time- he was the flashiest most skilled player ever drafted by Vancouver. No one player was more devoted to the team and city than Trevor Linden but his career will never be noted for points or goals, particularly when he played in Montreal, NYI and Washington. Stan Smyl is still with the organization and had he buried that break-away in '89 I might have him at the top- simply for preventing Calgary from getting a shot at the Stanley Cup they ultimately won. However Steamer's career is only noteworthy in numbers because he played for Vancouver not despite. Harold Snepts is more of a pick for the fact that he faithfully served the Canucks and did a lot of dirty work and remained immensely popular throughout his time in Vancouver.

Some would say that by nature of their Hall of Fame induction Neely and Larionov should be 1 and 2 but I disagree, Bure was far more dynamic than either. Bure had his best seasons in Vancouver but continued his domination in Florida and for a brief time on the Rangers too. In fact if Bure had a true center after Larionov left there is no telling what he could have done. Scoring 40-50 was almost automatic for him. So here is my order...

#6- Harold Snepts
#5 Stan Smyl
#4 Trevor Linden
#3 Cam Neely
#2 Igor Larionov
#1 Pavel Bure

Although Bure's career was cut short and Larionov achieved greatness elsewhere Bure is the player that the NHL talked about for many years. He was a top star and people wanted to see him play. The fact that he spent more time in Vancouver than either Larinov or Neely is hardly a factor as only Neely ever scored 50 goals almost as fast as Gretzky did, albeit not from the start of the season. Bure was a gamble of a pick that paid off, his skills and speed were known but no one really knew if he would ever come to North America.

Larionov was incredible but without his two former linemates of Krutov and Makarov we never got to see the true genius that was seen so often on the Red Army team. His ability to still play well at age 42 is more than most players will ever have at age 32 and his contributions throughout his career to so many teams makes him an incredible pick in 1985.

What are your thoughts and if we make this list again in 5 years does it change significantly. Obviously I have a soft spot for Snepts but his spot could be filled by 5 other players drafted by Vancouver.

Now to this draft...

I listened again to the Gillis interview over at CDC. He makes some very interesting points and we should not be surprised if he takes some one not predicted to be in the mid to low 20s. Gillis mentioned that he want's to know what the 'player's plan' is. What is the player trying to do to become an NHL calibre player. He states the Canucks have 'set the bar very high for players to be on this team' as he wants to bring out the best and have the best playing for Vancouver.

All this says to me is that stats, and scouting reports mean a lot but if a kid's head is not screwed on right he may not be picked by Vancouver. I think that's a savvy move. There have been more than a few draft picks who had all the talent and then some *cough Fedor Federov cough* who have no business being picked because they don't have the desire to perform. Furthermore it means draftees should be prepared to work and excel in Vancouver knowing they have the team's support. At no point in this franchises history has more money and resources been devoted to player development, for those on the team and down to players being considered. It's a huge paradigm shift in thinking and an important one. It will take a few years but we should see the results of this change and if good picks have been made I expect some pretty good results.

More to come on the draft and who we can expect the Canucks to take.

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