They did show improvement this past season and players eichel, reinhart are all showing they are improving. I think they need a goalie. Lehner seems to be always injured.
- manvanfan

If I was them I would have gone lack instead at a way cheaper price. Then could have drafted samsonov with that first they gave up. Im not a Lehner fan though.

If there is one thing i've noticed about JB draft picks is the players that are going to College seem to be showing a lot of promise. Boeser late first rounder ranked 2nd best prospect in College. Demko a second rounder was picked as a goalie for the world championships (no he didn't play), Adam Guadette a 5th rounder managed to get on the list of top 100 college players.
- manvanfan

Its funny because guadette had a terrible start to the year and then played very well after about the first 7-8 games. Next season will be very interesting.

All 29 would have taken Tkachuk? I didn't see that survey of GMs. Could you forward the link?
- bazz

SURE Benning picked him cause he was more of a potion al need case closed. How anyone can be mad we picked Juolevi is mind boggling. Watch a hockey game and realize defense wins championships especially when they get the puck up to the forwards fast. Absolute rock solid pick

Yes, I didn't know anything about Guadette when we drafted him and he is tracking very well...hopefully our "off the board" 3rd progresses well in college
- CanuckDon

Picked him 64 and bob had him at 74 or something and was 108 on central scouting. When you don't have a 4th rounder. I don't think it's off the board he did make the u-18 team. Have to have some sort of promise to make a national team. Nobody really knows about an 18 year old. I think moving the draft to 19 would make it a LOT less of a crap shot. Much better sense of a player abilities. Why JB takes the 19 year olds in the later round.

Its funny because guadette had a terrible start to the year and then played very well after about the first 7-8 games. Next season will be very interesting.
- mauryballstein

He did start very poorly but found some chemistry with someone on that team. Zachary aston-Reese was leading scorer for northeastern last season. Is a FA right now. #90

http://www.sbncollegehock...-100-nhl-prospects-update

Picked him 64 and bob had him at 74 or something and was 108 on central scouting. When you don't have a 4th rounder. I don't think it's off the board he did make the u-18 team. Have to have some sort of promise to make a national team. Nobody really knows about an 18 year old. I think moving the draft to 19 would make it a LOT less of a crap shot. Much better sense of a player abilities. Why JB takes the 19 year olds in the later round.
- manvanfan

You are right, it's not that much of a stretch. Could be worse, Boston and Florida made some awful picks in the first round. Wtf was Florida doing picking an overager? That new Alaytics GM is going to (frank) that franchise.

Interesting that Benning targeted overagers at the end of the draft. I think he was thinking about Utica depth as well

Tkatchuk does nothing to address the hole the sedins will leave.
He is like JV. Defence needed attention.
- dbot

This, no need for a one dimensional forward,

Tkatchuk does nothing to address the hole the sedins will leave.
He is like JV. Defence needed attention.
- dbot

I may have even taken Brown over Tkachuk. You're right we have that spot filled. Dubois would have addressed a need if he would have been available I would have chosen him over Juolevi. Before though I had said I would choose Serge over Juolevi but said I would be fine with either. I have to assume JB knows better than I do.

I may have even taken Brown over Tkachuk. You're right we have that spot filled. Dubois would have addressed a need if he would have been available I would have chosen him over Juolevi. Before though I had said I would choose Serge over Juolevi but said I would be fine with either. I have to assume JB knows better than I do.
- thundachunk

Everyone is pissed that Columbus (frank)ed is by taking Dubois...but we still got a tremendous prospect and hopefully the franchises first #1 dman

SURE Benning picked him cause he was more of a potion al need case closed. How anyone can be mad we picked Juolevi is mind boggling. Watch a hockey game and realize defense wins championships especially when they get the puck up to the forwards fast. Absolute rock solid pick
- The_Kuze

He quarterbacked the Knights to a championship. He did the same at the Worlds. This kid has winner all over him.

You are right, it's not that much of a stretch. Could be worse, Boston and Florida made some awful picks in the first round. Wtf was Florida doing picking an overager? That new Alaytics GM is going to (frank) that franchise.

Interesting that Benning targeted overagers at the end of the draft. I think he was thinking about Utica depth as well
- CanuckDon

I really like the coyotes GM right now. While watching the draft I remembered that I read that this could be the first year a 19 year old is a 1st round pick. Then it happened and I really have no idea who the guy is. I don't really believe in Analytics that much, maybe because it's over my head but to me it's pretty simple to see why or how they come about those stats by just watching them play.

Everyone is pissed that Columbus (frank)ed is by taking Dubois...but we still got a tremendous prospect and hopefully the franchises first #1 dman
- CanuckDon

Bo d man in this draft are projected to be a true number 1. Maybe that's what he becomes but most likely not. He'll look good on the Canucks top 4 for years to come

Everyone is pissed that Columbus (frank)ed is by taking Dubois...but we still got a tremendous prospect and hopefully the franchises first #1 dman
- CanuckDon

I'm not pissed there were a few of us on here that said we would be happy with 4 players at 5th. He was on my list. Dubois Puull Sergechev Juolevi. I was rooting for Edmonton to take Tkachuk but Chirelli at least isn't an idiot.

Carol, it would be interesting to hear your extended analysis on Juolevi (or perhaps you already did this in your Bleacher report? or other media forum?).

It seems that this has been a fairly polarizing pick (I can't say I'm too thrilled or excited - I was really hoping we would take Tkachuk - yes, we need defence but we also need someone to replace Daniel at Left Wing. I think it would have been a great fit (Calgary must have been salivating when Benning passed on him). And for those saying that we already have a power forward in JV, what is wrong with having another asset like that on the team? Frankly, I would love to have a few more players like Virtanen.

To be fair, I haven't seen too much of Juolevi (it's a bit disconcerting, though, that he was behind several other defenseman with respect to the OHL Awards as someone else mentioned - not quite sure if this should be a relevant factor; however, it seems strange that the number one defensive prospect in the draft wasn't even considered a top OHL d-man (perhaps someone could enlighten me/us on this particular issue - or is it a non-issue in the grand scheme of things?)

If we had taken Tkachuk we could of looked at trade scenarios either way, in order to get that top defenseman. At least we would have the option of keeping a possible elite talent or using him as a quality trade chip in any future deal.

I think another poster summed things up when he said that Benning is either a genius or completely out to lunch. I guess we will see how things pan out but, as mentioned, at this point I'm not overly impressed. Maybe once we see more of this kid in action things will start to make more sense - either way, we won't know for quite a few more years if we hit a home run or essentially wasted a pick.

I really like the coyotes GM right now. While watching the draft I remembered that I read that this could be the first year a 19 year old is a 1st round pick. Then it happened and I really have no idea who the guy is. I don't really believe in Analytics that much, maybe because it's over my head but to me it's pretty simple to see why or how they come about those stats by just watching them play.
- manvanfan

Liking the Coyotes GM is like hating Benning. Means nothing. Right now all the players are empty uniforms and only in 3-5 years and possibly later will we know which picks were good.

Didn't you know we are signing Stamkos?
- Retinalz

This is exactly why the entire fan base isn't up in arms lol

By the time we move on from the sedins those free agents that we'll actually get will be 30-32, so soon after that we'll be looking again for young impact players again

I can't wait till we have a #1 line of McGinn/Sutter/Brouwer after 2 more seasons

Bo d man in this draft are projected to be a true number 1. Maybe that's what he becomes but most likely not. He'll look good on the Canucks top 4 for years to come
- Bigalow

I suspect that at least one D man in this draft will be a number one and there will be quite a few number 2 dmen. Hopefully for our sake, Juolevi is that number 1

He quarterbacked the Knights to a championship. He did the same at the Worlds. This kid has winner all over him.
- thundachunk

Olli won everything this year. He was on good teams.

I am a big believer in sending players back to junior to grow and gain experience. With the season he had. I had a very odd feeling he has nothing left to gain from Juniors. London always has a strong team. Van can send him to the WJC. If he has a good summer and comes into camp 10-15 lbs heavier.

I get to see Ivan Provorov play with Brandon for the past couple of years. He's a great player but even though on a good team is and has been beaten by 19, 20 year old forwards. Olli as an 18 year old was playing top pairing and beating the 19, 20 year olds.

Liking the Coyotes GM is like hating Benning. Means nothing. Right now all the players are empty uniforms and only in 3-5 years and possibly later will we know which picks were good.
- bazz

Okay i'm sorry, i'll say i like what he did in a couple of years.

Bo d man in this draft are projected to be a true number 1. Maybe that's what he becomes but most likely not. He'll look good on the Canucks top 4 for years to come
- Bigalow

From what I've seen the guy just neuteres any kind of forecheck with his skating, passing and smarts. Hutton and tanev have a bit of that element as well while Gubber, Tryamkin, sbisa and edler can all dish out a bit of the physical stuff. I really like the mix. I hope olli can develop into a good PP QB, that's one of the elements the D core is missing!

It's hilarious, Tkachuk and Juolevi played on the same team - and everyone on that team, from the coaches on down, thought Tkachuk was the better player. But, not Canucks fans! We know more than the coaches apparently...

Olli won everything this year. He was on good teams.

I am a big believer in sending players back to junior to grow and gain experience. With the season he had. I had a very odd feeling he has nothing left to gain from Juniors. London always has a strong team. Van can send him to the WJC. If he has a good summer and comes into camp 10-15 lbs heavier.

I get to see Ivan Provorov play with Brandon for the past couple of years. He's a great player but even though on a good team is and has been beaten by 19, 20 year old forwards. Olli as an 18 year old was playing top pairing and beating the 19, 20 year olds.
- manvanfan

Olli really outplayed Provorov in their head to head matchup at the Mem Cup...pretty impressive for a slight 17 year old. The kid just turned 18 and he has a lot of physical maturing to do. Should be 6'3 200 in a years time

It's hilarious, Tkachuk and Juolevi played on the same team - and everyone on that team, from the coaches on down, thought Tkachuk was the better player. But, not Canucks fans! We know more than the coaches apparently...
- stringerbell

Can you please provide a quote from a player or coach on London indicating that they thought Tkachuk was a better player? Thanks in advance

It's hilarious, Tkachuk and Juolevi played on the same team - and everyone on that team, from the coaches on down, thought Tkachuk was the better player. But, not Canucks fans! We know more than the coaches apparently...
- stringerbell

Tkachuks stats were inflated by Marner.

It's hilarious, Tkachuk and Juolevi played on the same team - and everyone on that team, from the coaches on down, thought Tkachuk was the better player. But, not Canucks fans! We know more than the coaches apparently...
- stringerbell

Trolling your own eh? Is that you Nucker?????