The famous BPA is seen differently around the league. Hughes fell cuz teams picked need eg Hayton. Instead of the word luck i use opportunistic. As for deeper round picks like a Datsyuk i give credit to scouting for hard work. It’s a crapshoot picking kids outside of the obvious elite talent.
- Nighthawk

Hughes never fell, his consensus ranking was 7. He was picked where he was projected to go.

ISS - 7th
NHL central scouting - 6th NA skater
Dobber Prospects - 8th
B. McKenzie - 9th (polls scouting)
Button - 6th
McKeen’s - 6th

His consensus ranking was 7th, and earlier in that season he was ranked as low as 20th. Everyone at the time believed the canucks reached to take petey over glass.

It was long afterwards we hear the stories of "Many teams had him ranked higher", which in some cases is believable but for the most part nobody thought he would go as high as 5th
- NorthNuck

Again, the point is that The Canucks "felt" lucky, because the player they ranked higher was there when it was their turn. I'd still like to have Glass, not instead of Pete, but as well as

Benning is still creating a team like Boston that you draft a core, keep drafting well, able to sell off parts and replace them with the same quality thanks to good drafting. That probably takes 8 years of drafting very well to happen though. Year 6 here we come. "we are relentless"
- manvanfan

8 years for state we were left with sounds pretty good. 👍

I get all the Benning is an idiot references from fans that perceive they are more knowledgeable about the industry, player negotiating, talent structure etc, I’m not one of those fans.

I think with minimal injuries (hopefully no key players injured) this team will be pushing for a wild card spot next year. Year after they will make the playoffs, mini can document this fans prediction to ridicule me if he wants.

I also know I’m setting myself up to be flamed, so there it is, flame away.
- Makita

Injuries will be the key and if Marky can repeat that performance...still not sure if he is for real or not.

I think we will finish 17-20 next year somewhere in there up around 3-5 spots realistically.

It's the year after that Playoffs will be for sure expected by Ownership MNGT and coaching alike.

I think they are further away than that, but as idiotic as Benning is/had been, he has managed to draft some pretty impressive players, who will anchor the team for years to come. Not a fan of his Veteran additions, or guys like Pearson, who he keeps name checking as having chemistry with Bo. From watching these playoffs, I think they are still three years away from truly competing, which means that players being selected this year, and possibly next will be crucial for that transition.
- 1970vintage

Competing and making the PO's are two very different things.

Agree we are far away from 'competing' but we are not as far away from making the PO's as some may suggest.

Hughes never fell, his consensus ranking was 7. He was picked where he was projected to go.
- Pacificgem

He was not consensus 7, he was all over the map (3-10) and most had him top 6.

Please refer to this repository of draft rankings for the 2018 draft:

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2018-nhl-draft-rankings

Botchford (RIP) said Linden told him Makar and Pettersson were their top two guys. If they’d have won the lottery they wouldn’t have picked Hischer or Patrick.
- Pacificgem

If true & TL has never come & said that i didn’t want Patrick at all. Hischier rocketed up the charts & deservedly so. I wanted Makar cuz of skill & need. Fallback was Mittlestadt oops. We got EP WOW. Classic case if we 1oa a trade down would have been an incredible trade if we still got EP. I stand out here as suggesting trading down is an option every draft until it either makes no sense or no good deal is to be had. We almost got a 2nd from McPhee. Woulda coulda stuff but still we almost LUCKED out 😜

Competing and making the PO's are two very different things.

Agree we are far away from 'competing' but we are not as far away from making the PO's as some may suggest.
- LordHumungous

I think a 12 point improvement in the standings is unrealistic. Every team will be trying to improve next year, do you think the Canucks will be able to improve that much more than their rivals?

He was not consensus 7, he was all over the map (3-10) and most had him top 6.

Please refer to this repository of draft rankings for the 2018 draft:

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2018-nhl-draft-rankings
- chompsey

Yeah, I thought he would go 4-6 range.

He was not consensus 7, he was all over the map (3-10) and most had him top 6.

Please refer to this repository of draft rankings for the 2018 draft:

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2018-nhl-draft-rankings
- chompsey

He was definitely a no brainer at 7. I give JB a lot more credit for Petey and Brock than for Hughes

He was not consensus 7, he was all over the map (3-10) and most had him top 6.

Please refer to this repository of draft rankings for the 2018 draft:

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2018-nhl-draft-rankings
- chompsey

He was consensus 7th unless you take a bunch of writers as professional scouts, which they aren’t. See above.

Scott Wheeler and Jeremy Davis

I think a 12 point improvement in the standings is unrealistic. Every team will be trying to improve next year, do you think the Canucks will be able to improve that much more than their rivals?
- 1970vintage

I don't disagree totally but it's close.

29th to 26th to 23rd in three successive seasons no reason to think that trend won't continue especially with Hughes in and he will be a game changer.

I still think we just miss the PO's next season but the improvements will be evident.

He was consensus 7th unless you take a bunch of writers as professional scouts, which they aren’t. See above.
- Pacificgem

I'm starting to get the impression that youre arguing for the sake of arguing.....

So Cam Robinson, a scout, had him at #3.....but that doesn't matter because he also writes for a Prospects website? is that what youre saying?

Hughes never fell, his consensus ranking was 7. He was picked where he was projected to go.
- Pacificgem

Consensus of the pundits but none of the GM’s that we are privy to. Most drafts a winger has to be exceptional to be taken before a dynamic D man. Zadina is good but not OV or Kane or Laine. Top C’s & D’s are always in demand at the top of the draft leaving wingers to fall. I'm fully onboard with finding D in rounds 2 & later is the mark of great scouting & drafting.

I'm starting to get the impression that youre arguing for the sake of arguing.....
- chompsey

Because you don’t like the truth? Jeremy Davis is not a professional scout, neither is Scott Wheeler. You might as well tell me Vantel had him at four so his consensus ranking was four.

His consensus ranking was 7th, and earlier in that season he was ranked as low as 20th. Everyone at the time believed the canucks reached to take petey over glass.

It was long afterwards we hear the stories of "Many teams had him ranked higher", which in some cases is believable but for the most part nobody thought he would go as high as 5th
- NorthNuck

I wanted him in late December of that year It's in my book, I date stuff. He was my choice for Van to take.

I think too many are too afraid to go outside consensus. Pronman has always but he seems to swing and miss more than crush bombs. All the big TSN, Sportsnet guys generally aren't too far away from consensus with little modification.

I see guys like Cam Robinson and Steve Kournaious have very different rankings from consensus.

Drafting is not an exact science, I feel when I look back at previous drafts and players picked to me, it's remembering the player and thinking how did a player of his calibre fall this far.

Because you don’t like the truth?
- Pacificgem

Thats a pretty ridiculous statement. You said consensus #7 with absolutely NOTHING to back that claim. I provided you an extensive list of draft rankings from scouts and hockey people that refutes that claim......you deny it and I have trouble with the truth? Go on.....

I'm starting to get the impression that youre arguing for the sake of arguing.....

So Cam Robinson, a scout, had him at #3.....but that doesn't matter because he also writes for a Prospects website? is that what youre saying?
- chompsey

Sure, add him to the 7-8-9’s, he still comes out around 7.

Because you don’t like the truth? Jeremy Davis is not a professional scout, neither is Scott Wheeler. You might as well tell me Vantel had him at four so his consensus ranking was four.
- Pacificgem

Pick and choose, thats fine.....again Cam Robinson? Corey Pronman? Guys who actually scout....had him quite high....

Sure, add him to the 7-8-9’s, he still comes out around 7.
- Pacificgem

Thats average, not consensus......you went to school right?

He was not consensus 7, he was all over the map (3-10) and most had him top 6.

Please refer to this repository of draft rankings for the 2018 draft:

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2018-nhl-draft-rankings
- chompsey

I do like

http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

as my preffered rankings list as a guide. I change the order up a bit though. It shows Caulfield dropping to us but i’m more than sure we will get someone else.

Fixing our top 6 is the goal like many teams have to do. When it gets to the 3rd line it’s as good as the top 6 allows them to be. Lockwood if he makes the team would be OK at 30-35 pts given TOI. Imo our D is where our offense dies & will continue til it’s better & deeper.
- Nighthawk

Between Boston and Stl all D point this year, they had 154 and 156 points. Vancouver I think was 135. Van does need a bit more scoring from their defence, they also need players that are better defensively.

Pick and choose, thats fine.....again Cam Robinson? Corey Pronman? Guys who actually scout....had him quite high....
- chompsey

I went with respected hockey people and professional organizations. Pronman in my opinion is a flake, but each to their own. He admits to why he was wrong more than why he was right.

Thats average, not consensus......you went to school right?
- chompsey

I got half my grade twelve?

I went with respected hockey people and professional organizations. Pronman in my opinion is a flake, but each to their own. He admits to why he was wrong more than why he was right.
- Pacificgem

Tell ya what, agree to disagree......moving on.....