Hate the QMJHL for that, any player with even a modicum of skill has the ability to put up a ppg in that league.

Furthermore, Ehlers is arguably playing on the league's most superior team.

Long story short......this draft is sh!t, as are the chances of any draftee actually having an impact on this team within the next three years
- Whiskey-Tango

QMJHL has less goals per game than the WHL/OHL according to what I've been reading so I'm not so sure. Ehlers presence on the team along with Drouin is basically why the team is so good, and you can't even argue that Drouin is setting up all his production because for the most part they only play together on the PP and not ES. He's quite possibly the fastest player in this draft and had the high skill and even decent defensive game to go along with it. He has the frame to put on more weight as well. I'd be ecstatic if the Canucks somehow land him, he'd arguably move ahead of Horvat as our top prospect.

Just pick a great young player regardless of league they play in. That said the OHL and WHL r good places to start.
- LeftCoaster

If we get 10th pick and Gillis is going for a Defencman Hayden Fleury out of Red Deer.

I hope to hell Gillis takes a pic out of the WHL.
- thundachunk

Why?

If we get 10th pick and Gillis is going for a Defencman Hayden Fleury out of Red Deer.
- thundachunk

He sounds promising, but Gillis seems to prefer taking forwards early(playing the odds).

Why?
- Nucker101

Everyone always skips the W and good players fall through the cracks. Western hockey seems to be under valued at the draft.

I think Lack needs more time under a vet. How about making a run at Hiller or Elliott this summer? Both are UFA's i think...?

Everyone always skips the W and good players fall through the cracks. Western hockey seems to be under valued at the draft.
- thundachunk

Meh, there's been plenty of busts as well. I think as Canucks fans we've just heard more about the guys from the WHL that we've missed on, but there's plenty of OHL, Euro, College, etc players that the Canucks(and other teams) have undervalued and missed on. Go BPA, don't care where they're from.

St Louis won the Art Ross, not the Rocket Richard trophy.

I think Lack needs more time under a vet. How about making a run at Hiller or Elliott this summer? Both are UFA's i think...?
- TBroad

Gonna have to waive Markstrom then(he'd get claimed IMO). Or roll with 3 goalies( )

QMJHL has less goals per game than the WHL/OHL according to what I've been reading so I'm not so sure. Ehlers presence on the team along with Drouin is basically why the team is so good, and you can't even argue that Drouin is setting up all his production because for the most part they only play together on the PP and not ES. He's quite possibly the fastest player in this draft and had the high skill and even decent defensive game to go along with it. He has the frame to put on more weight as well. I'd be ecstatic if the Canucks somehow land him, he'd arguably move ahead of Horvat as our top prospect.
- Nucker101

Outside of the top five sure, it's a safe pick however i'm a little skeptical of the kid seeing as how he has only played a single season in N.A and again, is small. Even if he puts on 20 pounds he will still hover around 180....

Seems as though these are our options at forward.

Ehlers ( if lucky, will most certainly be picked ahead of us)
Virtenan* One dimensional goal scorer.
Ritchie The next power forward "project" player

On a side note, only 2 more Saturdays of Glenn Healy stupidity.
- A_SteamingLombardi

He deserves to be gang raped by Systemtool, Prock, Iggysbff,Gardinerexpressway and the rest of the trolls.

I think Lack needs more time under a vet. How about making a run at Hiller or Elliott this summer? Both are UFA's i think...?
- TBroad

No way Lack is our number 1.

No undersized forwards!! Haven't we had enough of that, Schroeder????

Nikolaj Ehlers is borderline on size but at least not a center.
I saw 5'-10" and 176 pounds... so 20 lbs and he might be ok size for the NHL.

Outside of the top five sure, it's a safe pick however i'm a little skeptical of the kid seeing as how he has only played a single season in N.A and again, is small. Even if he puts on 20 pounds he will still hover around 180....

Seems as though these are our options at forward.

Ehlers ( if lucky, will most certainly be picked ahead of us)
Virtenan* One dimensional goal scorer.
Ritchie The next power forward "project" player
- Whiskey-Tango

The reason why I'm still all in on the Tank is to hopefully land 8th. Everyone knows Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl and Dal Colle is likely the top 5. After that you have the Nylander/Ehlers/Ritchie/Fleury/Virtanen group so there's a chance he could make it to 8th, but he's been rising up draft boards all year so I fully expect him to go top 7.

He's only 17 and could still grow and someone who's 5'11 should be able to get to around 180+ with the right conditioning(you'd think teams would ask him to get stronger and add mass). The guy plays at such a high speed and had the hands and IQ to keep up with his feet, he's a promising talent. Drouin came out of nowhere as well, he had a great finish to his underage year but was still not expected to be a lottery pick until he kept it going during his draft season.

Etem and otts 1st would be magical

Etem, Horvat, Jensen and Shink our prospects look pretty damn good now. Plus whoever we draft with our piocks this year

Maybe package our 2 first plus something for the 1st or second and get Ekblad or Reinhart

No undersized forwards!! Haven't we had enough of that, Schroeder????

Nikolaj Ehlers is borderline on size but at least not a center.
I saw 5'-10" and 176 pounds... so 20 lbs and he might be ok size for the NHL.
- SMP8719

Schroeder plays center and is barely 5'8. Ehlers is now listed at 5'-11" or even 6'-0" at some updated sites and already at 176 pounds like you said.

No undersized forwards!! Haven't we had enough of that, Schroeder????

Nikolaj Ehlers is borderline on size but at least not a center.
I saw 5'-10" and 176 pounds... so 20 lbs and he might be ok size for the NHL.
- SMP8719

Go big.

If we get 10th pick and Gillis is going for a Defencman Hayden Fleury out of Red Deer.
- thundachunk

He is the second rated Dman... would be a solid pick. Wouldn't help the team for at least 2-3 yrs though. Can never have enough quality Dmen though.

He is the second rated Dman... would be a solid pick. Wouldn't help the team for at least 2-3 yrs though. Can never have enough quality Dmen though.
- SMP8719

Right now I think that is all we can hope for out of this draft.

Go big.
- thundachunk

Kyle Beach or Hugh Jessiman? Taylor Pyatt? I can play the Schroeder game too


Just under 6 feet with amazing speed and pretty good skill is just as difficult to play against. Schroeder was also a play maker, Ehlers can score and pass and I'd say is more of a explosive skater(Grabner, Gaborik) while Schroeder is just smooth and quick.

He is the second rated Dman... would be a solid pick. Wouldn't help the team for at least 2-3 yrs though. Can never have enough quality Dmen though.
- SMP8719

Gillis is not picking a d in the first unless Ekbald falls in his lap. He already said that Centers are what they need to focus on drafting. You cannot trade for top 9 centers anymore. He will go for the best available center however small they are. We will either have another Gaunce or Shroeder on our hands at draft day.

Kyle Beach or Hugh Jessiman? Taylor Pyatt? I can play the Schroeder game too


Just under 6 feet with amazing speed and pretty good skill is just as difficult to play against. Schroeder was also a play maker, Ehlers can score and pass and I'd say is more of a explosive skater(Grabner, Gaborik) while Schroeder is just smooth and quick.
- Nucker101

If Ehlers falls into our lap, he's a no brainer. If not, I'd still take Kempe over anyone else in that 2nd tier of the 1st round.

Gillis is not picking a d in the first unless Ekbald falls in his lap. He already said that Centers are what they need to focus on drafting. You cannot trade for top 9 centers anymore. He will go for the best available center however small they are. We will either have another Gaunce or Shroeder on our hands at draft day.
- Linden_4_Capt

If we're going center then I'm on DCT's Kempe train. The scouting report on that guy is too promising. Speed, size, skill, physical, smart, center/wing, etc.

Kyle Beach or Hugh Jessiman? Taylor Pyatt? I can play the Schroeder game too


Just under 6 feet with amazing speed and pretty good skill is just as difficult to play against.
- Nucker101

Smaller players haven't seemed to work out for us and in all fairness to Schroeder he came out of a pretty deep draft class. I don't have anything against smaller players. I am 5'10 my brother is 6'4 I was always 10 times the hockey player he was but teams wanted him and he sucked balls. Only size was his advantage. If he had the skill I did he would be in the NHL no doubt. Size should not be underestimated whether big or small.

If Ehlers falls into our lap, he's a no brainer. If not, I'd still take Kempe over anyone else in that 2nd tier of the 1st round.
- DrChristianTroy

I don't know enough of Kempe. Interesting though. Does Gillis like the Sweds?