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Vancouver Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
NHL Draft Lottery: Five players the Canucks could target if they retain the 15th pick
In an often fractured history of projecting prospect potential, the Vancouver Canucks have made just one NHL Draft selection in the No. 15 position. It may prove prudent. Scouts and management were in agreement at the 2022 selection process that winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki had the attributes — a shot that packs velocity and accuracy combined with a high hockey IQ — to eventually punch his ticket to 'The Show' as a roster regular. It could happen next fall. And because Lekkerimaki looks like a gifted and dedicated player who could reach the true measurement of a wise draft play with 200 career NHL games, it's not a stretch to suggest the Canucks hope to double up on that promise in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 to 28 in Los Angeles. In the live NHL Draft Lottery draw held Monday, the Canucks had a 97.9 per cent chance of choosing 15th overall and remained in that spot. The San Jose Sharks had the best shot at picking first (23.5 per cent) but the New York Islanders leapt up to claim it. The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, but could only move up 10 spots to No. 4. It meant the Sharks got the second pick. The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery results What the Canucks must weigh is the value of their pick in the draft-and-develop process. Or, perhaps, put it in play for a trade package to acquire a proven centre and prop up a position of great concern. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. NHL prospects scout Shane Malloy authored The Art Of Scouting. He appears on Hockey Prospects Radio via the Sirius-XM NHL Network and is working toward a PhD in interdisciplinary studies. He labels draft picks from No. 23 to 32 'the death zone' because history shows only 40 per cent of players picked in that range actually hit the career 200-game mark. Conversely, the 15th overall selection is in the 75 to 80 per cent category of making the NHL and sticking a long time. Malloy believes the Canucks have a legitimate shot at landing a good player. He expects this class will produce 19 players that will either be a No. 3 defenceman or better, or a second-line player or better. So, there's an argument for keeping the pick and one for packaging it. 'Trading that pick really depends on what you're getting back,' Malloy told Postmedia News on Monday. 'I wouldn't accept anything less than an elite No. 2 centre. And for a guy like Dylan Larkin, you would have to give up the 15th pick and something else. The Canucks' window is now and they don't have a push from below.' Malloy gets annoyed by the annual clamour for a consensus on draft rating, and pecking order for top prospects, because they often miss the mark. 'I don't follow the consensus because that's really dangerous and it goes against logical and practical decision-making,' stressed Malloy. 'But from my perspective, I would say this overall draft in terms of quantity is below average and the quality is average. An average is 59 players who will play 200 games or more in the NHL. 'Part of the reason is Finland has no players coming out this year and the U.S. National Team Development Program is the weakest team I've seen in 25 years. Russia isn't as strong as normal, and when you add that up, it's probably another eight to 10 players in this draft. 'It could just be a cycle like 1999 with just 21 players playing 200 NHL games and I'm not sure if COVID affected this group with development time.' It could be why Ontario Hockey League prospects are expected to go in the top three in 2025 and have five products taken in the top 10. Malloy reasons it's because other geographical location of leagues not having a strong crop of draft prospects. Here are prospects the Canucks could consider with their first pick. According to Malloy, they have a high floor and probability of playing 200 games. 'The Canucks can't swing for the fences, they need players who can just play. They have to stop getting heroes, that's their problem.' Scout says: 'Top-end goal-scorer with a quick and accurate release. Has the hockey sense to find time and space between the offensive faceoff dots. Very competitive and willing to take hits to make plays in the slot, and he wears down defencemen with his ability to protect the puck.' Scout says: 'An athletic skating hybrid power forward who can play a north-south playoff style game and possesses the skills to be a dual threat offensively. Shows he can make plays in the small-area game and will be a threat on the forecheck and down low around the net.' Scout says: ' A two-way defenceman with four-way mobility and enough hockey sense to contribute on a second pairing. His playing style is similar to Philip Broberg (St. Louis Blues) and his defensive game is predicated on taking away time and space.' Scout says: 'Tough and mean competitive defender who makes you pay for every inch in defensive zone and goes out of his way to intimidate opponents. Could be insulating defender on second pairing when he remains disciplined in defensive habits.' Scout says: 'Steady, consistent two-way defenceman who doesn't do anything flashy, yet dependable, and doesn't make many mistakes. Has defensive hockey sense, size and skating ability to eat up minutes and be safety blanket for coaching staff.' OVERTIME: Canucks prospect defenceman Tom Willander wasn't included in Sweden's roster for the world championship tournament that opens Friday. Marcus Pettersson is on the team. Blueliner Filip Hronek will play for his native Czechia. bkuzma@
National Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
NHL Draft Lottery: Five players the Canucks could target if they retain the 15th pick
In an often fractured history of projecting prospect potential, the Vancouver Canucks have made just one NHL Draft selection in the No. 15 position. It may prove prudent. Article content Article content Scouts and management were in agreement at the 2022 selection process that winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki had the attributes — a shot that packs velocity and accuracy combined with a high hockey IQ — to eventually punch his ticket to 'The Show' as a roster regular. It could happen next fall. Article content And because Lekkerimaki looks like a gifted and dedicated player who could reach the true measurement of a wise draft play with 200 career NHL games, it's not a stretch to suggest the Canucks hope to double up on that promise in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 to 28 in Los Angeles. Article content In the live NHL Draft Lottery draw held Monday, the Canucks had a 97.9 per cent chance of choosing 15th overall and remained in that spot. The San Jose Sharks had the best shot at picking first (23.5 per cent) but the New York Islanders leapt up to claim it. The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, but could only move up 10 spots to No. 4. It meant the Sharks got the second pick. Article content The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery results — Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 5, 2025 Article content What the Canucks must weigh is the value of their pick in the draft-and-develop process. Or, perhaps, put it in play for a trade package to acquire a proven centre and prop up a position of great concern. Article content NHL prospects scout Shane Malloy authored The Art Of Scouting. He appears on Hockey Prospects Radio via the Sirius-XM NHL Network and is working toward a PhD in interdisciplinary studies. He labels draft picks from No. 23 to 32 'the death zone' because history shows only 40 per cent of players picked in that range actually hit the career 200-game mark. Article content Conversely, the 15th overall selection is in the 75 to 80 per cent category of making the NHL and sticking a long time. Malloy believes the Canucks have a legitimate shot at landing a good player. He expects this class will produce 19 players that will either be a No. 3 defenceman or better, or a second-line player or better. Article content So, there's an argument for keeping the pick and one for packaging it. Article content 'Trading that pick really depends on what you're getting back,' Malloy told Postmedia News on Monday. 'I wouldn't accept anything less than an elite No. 2 centre. And for a guy like Dylan Larkin, you would have to give up the 15th pick and something else. The Canucks' window is now and they don't have a push from below.' Article content Article content Malloy gets annoyed by the annual clamour for a consensus on draft rating, and pecking order for top prospects, because they often miss the mark. Article content Article content 'I don't follow the consensus because that's really dangerous and it goes against logical and practical decision-making,' stressed Malloy. 'But from my perspective, I would say this overall draft in terms of quantity is below average and the quality is average. An average is 59 players who will play 200 games or more in the NHL. Article content 'Part of the reason is Finland has no players coming out this year and the U.S. National Team Development Program is the weakest team I've seen in 25 years. Russia isn't as strong as normal, and when you add that up, it's probably another eight to 10 players in this draft.
Edmonton Journal
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
NHL Draft Lottery: Five players the Canucks could target if they retain the 15th pick
Article content The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery results — Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 5, 2025 What the Canucks must weigh is the value of their pick in the draft-and-develop process. Or, perhaps, put it in play for a trade package to acquire a proven centre and prop up a position of great concern. NHL prospects scout Shane Malloy authored The Art Of Scouting. He appears on Hockey Prospects Radio via the Sirius-XM NHL Network and is working toward a PhD in interdisciplinary studies. He labels draft picks from No. 23 to 32 'the death zone' because history shows only 40 per cent of players picked in that range actually hit the career 200-game mark. Conversely, the 15th overall selection is in the 75 to 80 per cent category of making the NHL and sticking a long time. Malloy believes the Canucks have a legitimate shot at landing a good player. He expects this class will produce 19 players that will either be a No. 3 defenceman or better, or a second-line player or better. So, there's an argument for keeping the pick and one for packaging it. 'Trading that pick really depends on what you're getting back,' Malloy told Postmedia News on Monday. 'I wouldn't accept anything less than an elite No. 2 centre. And for a guy like Dylan Larkin, you would have to give up the 15th pick and something else. The Canucks' window is now and they don't have a push from below.'
