At last—an opportunity to believe in the power of pure luck.
After all the bad karma that has surrounded the Vancouver Canucks this year, perhaps their fortunes turn when their ping pong ball gets pulled at today's draft lottery, which airs at 5 p.m. PT today on TSN.
Is it a sign?
Assuming for a moment that the Canucks can get the win and pick first overall, the natural choice to me seems like Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice. He's a center with decent size, great skill and a solid two-way approach. He's also currently leading the WHL playoffs with 23 points in 12 games.
The Ice play Game 7 against the Medicine Hat Tigers tomorrow for a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.
Reinhart's a local boy who grew up in West Van and has a great hockey pedigree. He's believed to be the most talented of his three brothers and has a chance to be the Canucks' first legacy player (unless Cole Cassels can beat him to the NHL). Don't pick him just because his father played with Trevor Linden and the Canucks for two years—and was an important veteran presence in helping to develop the young team. Pick Reinhart because he projects as the best prospect.
He might not be so far away from being NHL-ready, either. After watching Nathan MacKinnon's strong play for the Avalanche last week, I fantasize that Reinhart might also be able to make a quick jump.
But yes—I'm also probably fantasizing that we'll get a shot at the kid. Sixth pick is much more likely, but that's not so bad either. The last three players to go at No. 6 have been Sean Monahan, Hampus Lindholm and Mike Zibanejad—all solid players who are contributing at the big-league level. Lindholm also really impressed me when the Ducks were in town last week.
The last time the Canucks missed the playoffs, in 2008, they only fell as far as the No. 10 spot, where they chose Cody Hodgson. They missed out on Jordan Eberle, who went 22nd, and Erik Karlsson, who was taken 15th, but managed to avoid centers like Kyle Beach and Anton Gustafsson, both first-rounders who haven't played a minute in the NHL.
We'll have two months to speculate on who the Canucks should pick. For today, all we need to worry about is draft order.
End of Season Get-Together:
The Canucks' core probably won't be scattering for the summer too soon as most of them now have kids who will need to finish out their school year. A few of the guys were spotted last night at Local in Kits. It is a relief to see Daniel enjoying a meal like nothing happened on Sunday.
For me, this image brings back memories of the late 90s. It was common to see the guys out and about at the end of the year during those four seasons when the Canucks missed the playoffs from 1997-2000.
After reaching the final in '94, it took three years for that team to fall out of playoff contention. The current group of Canucks are on the exact same timeline. Fingers crossed that this isn't the first of four years out of the playoffs again!
Strombone Will Speak
I'm thrilled by TSN's announcement that Roberto Luongo will be added to their playoff panel now that his season is over.
The @strombone1 Twitter account has bubbled back to life since Luongo's season with the Panthers wrapped up; he should be highly entertaining.
Action in Abbotsford
The clock has struck midnight for the Abbotsford Heat, who have announced that they'll be moving to a new home next season. Attendance has been bleak and the deal has turned out to be a drain on local taxpayers.
According to
this story from
The Province, the Canucks say they have no interest in moving at this time; they signed a five-year deal with Utica last season.
Travel is always an issue for a team on the west coast, but there would also be some terrific advantages to bringing the farm team closer. Call-ups would be dramatically simplified, and Canucks management would have more of an opportunity to keep an eye on our prospects—players who should be key to the evolution of the team over the next couple of years.
They'd be able to start building hype for the up-n-comers while still in the minor leagues, and have a chance to market an Abbotsford team as an affordable, grassroots entertainment alternative.
I don't know all the numbers, but there might be enough upside to justify breaking that lease in Utica.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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