My rankings are based on how happy I'd be if the following were announced at #7:
Dahlin
Svechnikov
Zadina
Hughes
Wahlstrom
Kotkaniemi
Boqvist
Dobson
Bouchard
Trading Down into top-15
Tkachuk
Trading down past 15


- WhiteLie

I like this.

I like this.
- Pres.cup

My happiness ranking has some groupings where there would be minimal difference for me if someone lower is chosen. The top 3 I expect won't fall, so they are together, Hughes/Wahlstrom are together, Kotkaniemi/Boqvist/Dobson I'd group together, Bouchard/Top-15/Tkachuk are a group, and I'd be pretty disappointed if they traded out of the top 15 selections

I’m still waiting to hear what Scoobs hairdresser has to say. I can’t make an informed decision without that info. Get your Sh!t together Scooby-Doo.

My happiness ranking has some groupings where there would be minimal difference for me if someone lower is chosen. The top 3 I expect won't fall, so they are together, Hughes/Wahlstrom are together, Kotkaniemi/Boqvist/Dobson I'd group together, Bouchard/Top-15/Tkachuk are a group, and I'd be pretty disappointed if they traded out of the top 15 selections
- WhiteLie

This is kinda true. Even though I don't really like tchunk, if being picked him, I wouldn't be disappointed.
I could see a top line of
Tachuck. Peterson. Boeser
Tearing up the nhl for years to come.

I'd rather a RHd, as the are several ranked in the spot we're due to pick at.

And I'd rather a hometun then a safe pick... add long as the home run works out.

Secondary to that, I want Benning to make don die a little on the inside, even if it means I'll need to watch out for nutmeg lattes.

A lot of Tkachuk haters! The best comparison is his dad and brother, he plays the exact same. Stand in front of the goalie, bang in loose pucks. Has a great cycle game and will take punishment to win. His brother is what 60 points 2-300 hits and draws a lot of penalties? He's the same. Kassian doesn't have net skills like him, never has. Were talking a kid that's been going to the net for scraps since tykes.

A lot of Tkachuk haters! There best comparison is his dad and brother, he plays the exact same. Stand in front of the goalie, bang in loose pucks. Has a great cycle game and will take punishment to win. His brother is what 60 points 2-300 hits and draws a lot of penalties? He's the same. Kassian doesn't have net skills like him, never has. Were talking a kid that's been going to the net for scraps since tykes.
- neem55

He would be fine if we were picking 8th/9th and didn't have greater needs at both D and C

He would be fine if we were picking 8th/9th and didn't have greater needs at both D and C
- NorthNuck

We have need at every single position, don't fool yourself. Tkachuk is one of the few guys that could make the lineup this year.

A lot of Tkachuk haters! The best comparison is his dad and brother, he plays the exact same. Stand in front of the goalie, bang in loose pucks. Has a great cycle game and will take punishment to win. His brother is what 60 points 2-300 hits and draws a lot of penalties? He's the same. Kassian doesn't have net skills like him, never has. Were talking a kid that's been going to the net for scraps since tykes.
- neem55

Yep.

We have need at every single position, don't fool yourself. Tkachuk is one of the few guys that could make the lineup this year.
- neem55

Management talks a lot about building a core and having your top guys in a certain age range to compete for a cup. If we don't start drafting top end Dmen we will have a group of forwards that are several years older than our D corps.

Everyone talks about needing to build through the draft. We are in desperate need of Dmen right now.

Management talks a lot about building a core and having your top guys in a certain age range to compete for a cup. If we don't start drafting top end Dmen we will have a group of forwards that are several years older than our D corps.

Everyone talks about needing to build through the draft. We are in desperate need of Dmen right now.
- NorthNuck

Cool your jets. There are plenty of rounds to draft d-men. There are lots of solid options in round 2 that project to be top 4....

Management talks a lot about building a core and having your top guys in a certain age range to compete for a cup. If we don't start drafting top end Dmen we will have a group of forwards that are several years older than our D corps.

Everyone talks about needing to build through the draft. We are in desperate need of Dmen right now.
- NorthNuck

I agree. We have a good group of forwards. Yes we need a center man but, we need dman way more.

Cool your jets. There are plenty of rounds to draft d-men. There are lots of solid options in round 2 that project to be top 4....
- chompsey

I don't see the point in drafting a winger at 7 if he's not distinctly better than those ranked around him. In my opinion, Hughes and Dobson are better, Bouchard and Boqvist are around the same level. Of course we can draft Dmen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds but I'd like one that for sure has a high floor, the kind you can only get with a high 1st round pick.

Now, if Wahlstrom is available at 7 that's a whole other conversation. I'd probably take him over all the Dmen I listed.

I agree. We have a good group of forwards. Yes we need a center man but, we need dman way more.
- 93Nucks

Totally, and that is a need that can be addressed next year. Forwards take less development time and for the time being it is an easier hole to plug with Sutter than defense where we have 3 big empty spaces

I don't see the point in drafting a winger at 7 if he's not distinctly better than those ranked around him. In my opinion, Hughes and Dobson are better, Bouchard and Boqvist are around the same level. Of course we can draft Dmen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds but I'd like one that for sure has a high floor, the kind you can only get with a high 1st round pick.

Now, if Wahlstrom is available at 7 that's a whole other conversation. I'd probably take him over all the Dmen I listed.
- NorthNuck

Youre really just stating your opinion on who is better, the consensus would say otherwise and who knows what the Canucks ranking is...

Thanks God the Vancouver Canucks have started to produce some draft coverage.

They were incredibly quiet during the combine and all things draft just a week ago.

Drafting for position is crazy. The objective should be to identify & stockpile special talent IMO.

Youre really just stating your opinion on who is better, the consensus would say otherwise and who knows what the Canucks ranking is...
- chompsey

Well...Yeah. Obviously.

I personally think Tkachuk gets a little bump for his last name. I don't think he is a bad player, I just think he isn't necessarily better than any of the Dmen available where we pick and our greater organizational need is at D.

We have need at every single position, don't fool yourself. Tkachuk is one of the few guys that could make the lineup this year.
- neem55

Wingers barely (frank)ing matter though. Unless they're elite then they don't move the needle. If you build strong at C and D, you can fill in the blanks with centers turned wingers, or value buys on the wing.

And making the lineup this year is the kind of thought process that gets you Luke Schenn picked 5th overall.

Thanks God the Vancouver Canucks have started to produce some draft coverage.

They were incredibly quiet during the combine and all things draft just a week ago.
- classic321

The NHL combine is one of the most useless combines out there. The guys show off in drills that show general athleticism and conditioning, but have limited correlation to on ice ability and reflection of development.

Tkachuk isn't my first choice of who I want at 7 but I don't think that is a fair comparison.

Jake relied on putting up points primarily by skating fast down the wing and shoot from the circles and for the most part that is his go to offensive contribution still.

I think Tkachuk is actually an underrated play-maker and if he gets held back in the NHL it will because of his inability to keep up with the play. He's good in front of the net and obviously he likes to be a pest.

I take Wahlstrom and a few D before Tkachuk but at 7 I don't think its a bad pick.
- belcherbd

Yep. They say Tkachuk's skill set is higher than his jack ass brother that plays for the Flames but if the younger Tkachuk has antics like his brother we don't need that here,

Dobson or Bouchard it most likely will be.

I don't see the point in drafting a winger at 7 if he's not distinctly better than those ranked around him. In my opinion, Hughes and Dobson are better, Bouchard and Boqvist are around the same level. Of course we can draft Dmen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds but I'd like one that for sure has a high floor, the kind you can only get with a high 1st round pick.

Now, if Wahlstrom is available at 7 that's a whole other conversation. I'd probably take him over all the Dmen I listed.
- NorthNuck

Dobson and wahlstrom aren't rated as highly as tchunk for a reason.

I'd say bouchard is best but hehas a muffin of a shot...

The NHL combine is one of the most useless combines out there. The guys show off in drills that show general athleticism and conditioning, but have limited correlation to on ice ability and reflection of development.
- Lindenis#1

So what, you still show the interviews, and stuff like that.
Every other organization did.

Yep. They say Tkachuk's skill set is higher than his jack ass brother that plays for the Flames but if the younger Tkachuk has antics like his brother we don't need that here,

Dobson or Bouchard it most likely will be.
- LordHumungous

Well I disagree. We were very successful when we had Kesler and Burrows. Those type of players help. Look at Tom Wilson from Washington.

Now he wouldn't be my first pick but I wouldn't be upset if we had him. Besides Tkachuk in Calgary was able to draw a lot of penalties because the other teams hated him.

Yep. They say Tkachuk's skill set is higher than his jack ass brother that plays for the Flames but if the younger Tkachuk has antics like his brother we don't need that here,

Dobson or Bouchard it most likely will be.
- LordHumungous

If his skillset was higher, I'd like to have seen that proven somewhere. Brady is a late birthday to the draft by a single day. If you compare him to guys that are weeks older than him but got drafted in the NCAA, you're finding a lot of late first rounders and dudes in the second round.

Analytics aren't everything, but when you're comparing the public draft models that have been used (to relative effectiveness) you see a guy who isn't as close to his brother as people seem to think. A whole lot of "old school" hockey jizzing covering up some deficiencies.

He rode shotgun on Middlestadts line at the WJC and beyond size and "effort" doesn't seem to have any plus skills.

There is nothing wrong with having a poophead. Every good team has a few. But spending a 7th overall on a poophead for your middle 6 is a bit bananas.

So what, you still show the interviews, and stuff like that.
Every other organization did.
- classic321

Do you mean the fluff interview where a player says "yes, i would like to be drafted. it is my goal in life. playing for your city would be awesome."?

who the (frank) needs those?