The 2022 NHL Draft is just days away and the Canucks’ new regime is kicking into high gear. More than two bombs were dropped over the Canada Day long weekend, and it looks like there are more to come.
With a lot of buzz around Vancouver, here are three predictions for what will happen on draft day.
Not the riskiest of predictions here. After waiting out the trade deadline, trade discussions intensified tenfold around the Canucks’ top trade chip. Coming off a 32-goal, 99-point campaign, Miller remains a sought-after commodity as the draft approaches.
Could the #NJDevils 2nd overall pick or Jesper Bratt be on the table in exchange for JT Miller?@frank_seravalli joined #Canucks Central with @danriccio_ and @SatiarShah to talk the latest on Miller & more.
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— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) July 5, 2022
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There were a lot of teams being thrown around by all sorts of insiders. The New Jersey Devils are probably the most specifically linked, with the 2nd overall pick in the mix. Additionally, Carolina is rumored to want Miller in exchange for some of their expiring RFAs, such as Martin Nekas. The Rangers also remain interested after a surprising playoff run.
Whatever the case, the list of teams interested in Miller is long. Contract negotiations may still be ongoing, but there’s a really good chance the Canucks can take advantage of Miller’s value to trade him on draft day.
In the first round, teams must select based on the best player available. While there are some intriguing defense prospects like Owen Pickering and Pavel Mintyukov, the Canucks have yet to prioritize positional needs. In fact, there’s a better chance they’ll select a forward prospect with their own first-round pick.
There is a bit of a chaotic element to this draft. Most of these prospects have missed a key season of development thanks to the pandemic, which has led to quite a bit of shuffling, especially at the top of the draft. Shane Wright no longer looks like a safe number one with the surging Juraj Slafkowski hot on his tail.
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What that means for the Canucks is that there are plenty of throws and possible drops to take advantage of. Last season, fans saw Finnish phenom Aatu Rati slide all the way to the second round. Maybe that will happen again when Vancouver can find a blue-chip forward right in the middle of the first round.
And there is plenty of talent that can hover around the 15th overall pick range. Swedish dynamo Jonathan Lekerimäki is at the top end of this side, showing elite scoring ability that has him pegged as a top-10 pick in some mock drafts. On Bob McKenzie’s list, he goes anywhere from 6th to 15th.
Hattrick for Jonathan Lekerimaki (2022) #J20Nationell pic.twitter.com/b04PNRmBaB
— NHL Draft Watch (@DraftWatchNHL) September 17, 2021
Two other Swedish forwards who could be caught in that range are Noah Østlund and Liam Ogren. Both performed well in the Swedish U20 league featuring Djurgårdens IF. Jogren scored 58 points in 30 games and Jostlund scored 42 in 32. Either of these players would be good choices for the lockers.
That doesn’t even go as far as Frank Nazar or Isaac Howard. The two Americans lit up the USHL, with Nazar scoring 70 points in 56 games and Howard scoring 82 points in 60 games. The fast, quick Howard is headed to Minnesota Duluth, while the dazzling Nazar is for Michigan. Both players have been mocked as high as the top 10 and as low as the 20s.
This piece by Frank Nazar III should be fun… @EPrinkside pic.twitter.com/hgx01tRZMa
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) March 10, 2022
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Other potential picks could be boom or bust Brad Lambert, or a Russian sliding down the order like Danila Yurov. Whichever the pick, there is a much larger pool of offensive talent available to the Canucks at 15, and one of them will be selected.
The Canucks do not currently own their 2nd round pick. This was packaged in the OEL-Garland trade last season. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t pick in the second round. Vancouver could very well move back in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
A 2nd round pick can be thrown into a big trade gain like the one for JT Miller. Another name also floating around in trade rumors is Tanner Pearson. The 29-year-old winger is coming off a 34-point season and could be moved forward if the price is right.
Management likely already has several second-round targets in mind. If a first-round talent sneaks through day one, the Canucks could very well pull the trigger on a move to move back into the second round. Players like Filip Bystedt or Ty Nelson would go a long way in filling out the prospect.
Great game by Ty Nelson last night on the powerplay. No assist on the play, but a great backcheck and subsequent fast break led to a Battalion goal. pic.twitter.com/L328lKoT3e
— Brock Otten (@BrockOtten) November 13, 2021
It never hurts to have another lottery ticket in the first two rounds of the draft.
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Draft day represents the realization of a lifetime of work for many of these prospects, as well as diverse opportunities for all NHL franchises. Vancouver’s management may have finished the season quietly, but make no mistake: the fireworks are coming.
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