Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks position any pick as a good pick as Draft Lottery looms The Vancouver Canucks are insisting they'll be happy with whatever pick they get as Saturday's draft lottery looms large in determining the franchise's future.

Thank you Carol
Tomorrow is a big day.

A top 2 pick is essentially winning the lottery.
A 3rd overall would be great
A 4th or 5th should be expected

Wait, didn't Benning 'know we were going to get a good player' with Virtanen too?...

Thanks Carol for the lottery spreadsheet and great insight each article. Much appreciated. I come here for reading that most.

Four years for Green

Is there a way we could lose our pick all together tomorrow?

https://www.youtube.com/w...cUnEzBXA&feature=youtu.be

If anyone is interested....my take is he has Nico @1

Nico
Patrick
Mittle
Heiskanen
?

That's how I interpreted the interview but others may see it differently

He spoke more highly of Patrick.

He spoke more highly of Patrick.
- manvanfan

If Patrick never had any injuries or surgeries over the last couple years, I don't think there is even a debate.

From an NHL GM perspective the ideal spot to get is really #2. since it's one player or the other pretty much split down the middle by NHL scouts according to Bob McKenzie. Hischier has picked up so much attention just this year, whereas Patrick has been at the top of the list for a couple of years. My wishlist:

1. Nolan Patrick - Comparisons to Eric Staal are hard to ignore. That would be a great 1-2 punch down the middle with Horvat for years to come.

2. Nico Hischier - Very close call to 1st, happy either way. Speed to burn and defensively responsible. This is closer than the Matthews/Laine debate from last year.

3. Cale Makar - An Erik Karlsson type defensemen that can run a power play. Hard to pass that up.

4. Cody Glass - Good speed, soft hands and a pure centre. Higher ceiling than other centre options.

5. Gabriel Vilardi - Big frame perfect for the Western Conference style game.

Bottom line: we're going to get a good player, but we really need 1st or 2nd to speed up the rebuild.

Wait, didn't Benning 'know we were going to get a good player' with Virtanen too?...
- stringerbell

I always look forward to your posts Stringer

He spoke more highly of Patrick.
- manvanfan

ya, I disagree. I think the quote "Nico is built for todays NHL" is pretty telling. But as I mentioned, everyone will interpret his words differently.

Is there a way we could lose our pick all together tomorrow?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Bettman walks up to the podium .....

"I'd like to announce a trade ....."

Lefty jumps ...

ya, I disagree. I think the quote "Nico is built for todays NHL" is pretty telling. But as I mentioned, everyone will interpret his words differently.
- CanuckDon

Yeah, his enthusiasm for Nico seemed higher but Patrick fits more with what I'd guess he likes. Bigger body with a better shot.

Couldn't tell much from that. Need a professional poker player to analyze this poop.

Yeah, his enthusiasm for Nico seemed higher but Patrick fits more with what I'd guess he likes. Bigger body with a better shot.

Couldn't tell much from that. Need a professional poker player to analyze this poop.
- Nucker101

His eyes light up when he talks about Nico....but you are right, trying to analyze Benning's words is probably pointless as he is likely confused anyways

From an NHL GM perspective the ideal spot to get is really #2. since it's one player or the other pretty much split down the middle by NHL scouts according to Bob McKenzie. Hischier has picked up so much attention just this year, whereas Patrick has been at the top of the list for a couple of years. My wishlist:

1. Nolan Patrick - Comparisons to Eric Staal are hard to ignore. That would be a great 1-2 punch down the middle with Horvat for years to come.

2. Nico Hischier - Very close call to 1st, happy either way. Speed to burn and defensively responsible. This is closer than the Matthews/Laine debate from last year.

3. Cale Makar - An Erik Karlsson type defensemen that can run a power play. Hard to pass that up.

4. Cody Glass - Good speed, soft hands and a pure centre. Higher ceiling than other centre options.

5. Gabriel Vilardi - Big frame perfect for the Western Conference style game.

Bottom line: we're going to get a good player, but we really need 1st or 2nd to speed up the rebuild.
- we_are_all_canucks

You want to speed up the rebuild. Need a Matthews, Laine, McDavid type.

The next 2 drafts in 18, 19 look to have those types of prospects. I want to win but I also don't want to win too much. Drafting top 10 in 18, 19 look like you can end up with a Marner or Werenski type player still.

ya, I disagree. I think the quote "Nico is built for todays NHL" is pretty telling. But as I mentioned, everyone will interpret his words differently.
- CanuckDon

"Patrick is the complete package"

Yeah, his enthusiasm for Nico seemed higher but Patrick fits more with what I'd guess he likes. Bigger body with a better shot.

Couldn't tell much from that. Need a professional poker player to analyze this poop.
- Nucker101

Only thing I got from that is that he does have a defensemen in his top 5. I'm guess at 3.

Bettman walks up to the podium .....

"I'd like to announce a trade ....."

Lefty jumps ...
- Redmile247

I love how every commissioner gets boo'ed.

"Patrick is the complete package"
- manvanfan

He is a complete package of broken bones and ligaments

Nice...Bonino can come back to van for 5X5 on a line with LE.

He is a complete package of broken bones and ligaments
- CanuckDon

Reminds you too much of yourself, you old bag of bones.

Yeah, his enthusiasm for Nico seemed higher but Patrick fits more with what I'd guess he likes. Bigger body with a better shot.

Couldn't tell much from that. Need a professional poker player to analyze this poop.
- Nucker101

Enthusiasm for Nico was pretty obvious, especially when he could recall specific moments from the WJC tournament, whereas Patrick was just "the total package".

I do think though that Nico probably fits what he likes. Speed has been a common go-to comment on the prospects acquired at the deadline, but I doubt we will really know as the odds of picking first are much smaller than the rest of the positions

Reminds you too much of yourself, you old bag of bones.
- manvanfan

Enthusiasm for Nico was pretty obvious, especially when he could recall specific moments from the WJC tournament, whereas Patrick was just "the total package".

I do think though that Nico probably fits what he likes. Speed has been a common go-to comment on the prospects acquired at the deadline, but I doubt we will really know as the odds of picking first are much smaller than the rest of the positions
- WhiteLie

is the winking face mean your post is sarcastic? If it isn't I agree 100% If it was sarcastic, well go frank yourself