Tuesday saw one of the most hectic days the NHL has seen in recent memory. With blockbuster trade after blockbuster trade, the trade deadline 2.0 hit like a tidal wave only days before the NHL entry draft.
Although the Vancouver Canucks have not (yet) been a part of the trade frenzy, the rapidly changing NHL landscape is already likely affecting the Canucks immediate plans.
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the front-runners of the trade chaos of the last week. Their big move, trading LW William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the 9th overall pick, guarantees Ivar Stenberg’s future is teal.
And so, with San Jose broadcasting their decision, and Ivar Stenberg likely not being available to the Canucks at number 3, who will Vancouver pivot to?
Chase Reid
One of the top defencemen in this year’s draft, Chase Reid, may very well be the best player on the board at number 3, assuming Steneberg and McKenna are gone.
At 6’2”, 195 lbs, the right-handed defender Reid combines good size with high-end skill to control the ice in ways few players can. Reid is the prototypical offensive defenseman. Big, strong, fast, smart, and skilled.
Nothing is lacking in Reid’s game to make a team hesitant about adding this player to their organization. He is the best bet in this draft at a number 1 offensive defenseman, shades a la Zach Werenski.
The only thing to perhaps make Vancouver hesitate is that Reid is American. Though not an issue of the past, as Canucks fans well know, American-born players are now constantly exercising their power to push themselves to American markets. Can the Canucks make this young American commit to the plan?
Caleb Malhotra
Perhaps the most controversial choice that Vancouver may be presented with. Caleb Malhotra is one of, if not the best, center prospects in this year’s draft. Normally, drafting such a player would never be an issue. However, just weeks prior, the Canucks brought on Caleb’s dad, Manny Malhotra, to head coach the Vancouver Canucks next season.
Caleb himself is a truly complete player. Perhaps the most well-rounded player in the top end of this draft, Malhotra combines size, skating, and strong two way play. Although he may not have the ceiling of a bona fide first-line star center, Caleb Malhotra should develop well into a strong, two-way, penalty-killing, 2nd line centerman at least.
Vancouver’s question will have to be whether drafting a forward they need is outweighed by the potentially poor dynamic of a father-coach, and player son.
Carson Carels
Carson Carels is this year’s top two-way defender, and the most complete all round defencemen in this year’s draft. Similar to Chase Reid, Carels has the size, skating, and hockey IQ of a top-end defender, but combined with a higher level of compete in his own zone.
Though not as gifted as Reid offensively, Carels has been consistent in the development of his offensive game. If Carels continues his steady defensive play into the NHL and combines it with consistent offensive growth, Carels could very well be the best defenceman out of this draft.
Viggo Bjorck
Viggo Bjorck is the next best center prospect after Caleb Malhotra. Bjork would not have been in this conversation of a top 5 pick six months ago, but Bjork may be a player who now goes surprisingly high.
Bjork’s draft stock has continued to rise all throughout the year, leading straight up to the draft. Held back only by his 5’9”, 180lbs frame, Bjork is a highly intelligent and competitive player. He may be a reach to take at 3; however, Bjork feels like a good bet to become the Swedish Zach Benson, with a stronger defensive game.
How badly do the Sedin’s desire a Swedish player? Enough to take Bjork at 3?
T-Minus 1 day till Draft
We’ll know for certain who the Canucks will be taking on Friday, but until then, we can only speculate. General Manager Ryan Johnson continues to keep his cards close to the chest, and has not yet hinted at any direction the Canucks may be leaning. The only guarantee is that by this time next week, Canucks fans will have a new talent to admire for the foreseeable future.
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