In all honesty, I'm fairly ambivalent about the choice for the Canucks first round pick, this year. In fact, I'm a bit hesitant.
Juolevi may, and, in fact, probably will become a fine defense-men
However, let's disregard what Juolevi may become, and concentrate on whom the Canucks didn't pick. They didn't pick Tkachuk, who was the consensus number five, overall, on most draft lists.
Whether he'll become a star like his father before him is also unimportant, at this moment.
As of this moment, Tkachuk was the best player available at number five. It's a simple argument. He's a forward, and we can guess at a forward's potential much more easily than we can a defense-man's. He scored metric tonnes in junior. He's a known commodity.
Defense-men, on the other hand, are becoming a bit voodoo in the first round. We may or not get a player who'll play up to his potential. But that's unimportant, right now.
Instead, let us consider the Canucks' philosophy in choosing Juolevi instead of Tkachuk. The Canucks needed defensive prospects. They'd been broadcasting this for some time, now. Teams knew what the Canucks wanted from this draft.
The Canucks wanted a d-man, because they felt they needed one.
But let's be honest, here. The Canucks were in serious need of pretty much everything. They don't actually have the luxury of picking and choosing what they want from a draft. They didn't have any extra first round picks. They didn't have any second round picks.
In all honesty, they don't actually even have any decent young players in their system NHL ready aside from Horvat, and perhaps Virtanen, if he steps up his offense next season. There's holes throughout their lineup, and the players the Canucks have signed to fill them are a ragtag bunch. Over-rated misfits and castoffs from other teams, in many cases which the Canucks oddly enough have paid premium price for.
There's not a whole lot there, right now.
And yet the Canucks entered into this draft clearly intent on spending their pick on a d-man who could have perhaps been had later in the round. It's their highest draft pick in years, and they reached on the consensus pick. And even if Juolevi had gone in the next pick, it was still a reach. There was a clear top five, and the Canucks chose the sixth best prospect.
The Canucks finished third last in the NHL, this past season. They don't have the luxury of picking and choosing at the NHL Entry Draft. They should instead be in desperation mode, drafting as many young players at all positions as possible.
Drafting Tkachuk gives the Canucks options. There's perhaps teams below the Canucks who have vested interest in drafting him, even at the risk of losing an extra pick or two.
However, due to Benning's overt broadcasting of what he was going to do, the teams below the Canucks can afford to gamble that perhaps Tkachuk may fall to them. And even if he doesn't, it should still shake up the draft order.
And even if the Canucks don't trade Tkachuk, they still drafted the best player available at the fifth spot. They could then focus on their next pick, without worrying over the left wing.
In all honesty, a team should be built with flexibility in mind at all positions. That should include the GM.
Juolevi may, and, in fact, probably will become a fine defense-men
However, let's disregard what Juolevi may become, and concentrate on whom the Canucks didn't pick. They didn't pick Tkachuk, who was the consensus number five, overall, on most draft lists.
Whether he'll become a star like his father before him is also unimportant, at this moment.
As of this moment, Tkachuk was the best player available at number five. It's a simple argument. He's a forward, and we can guess at a forward's potential much more easily than we can a defense-man's. He scored metric tonnes in junior. He's a known commodity.
Defense-men, on the other hand, are becoming a bit voodoo in the first round. We may or not get a player who'll play up to his potential. But that's unimportant, right now.
Instead, let us consider the Canucks' philosophy in choosing Juolevi instead of Tkachuk. The Canucks needed defensive prospects. They'd been broadcasting this for some time, now. Teams knew what the Canucks wanted from this draft.
The Canucks wanted a d-man, because they felt they needed one.
But let's be honest, here. The Canucks were in serious need of pretty much everything. They don't actually have the luxury of picking and choosing what they want from a draft. They didn't have any extra first round picks. They didn't have any second round picks.
In all honesty, they don't actually even have any decent young players in their system NHL ready aside from Horvat, and perhaps Virtanen, if he steps up his offense next season. There's holes throughout their lineup, and the players the Canucks have signed to fill them are a ragtag bunch. Over-rated misfits and castoffs from other teams, in many cases which the Canucks oddly enough have paid premium price for.
There's not a whole lot there, right now.
And yet the Canucks entered into this draft clearly intent on spending their pick on a d-man who could have perhaps been had later in the round. It's their highest draft pick in years, and they reached on the consensus pick. And even if Juolevi had gone in the next pick, it was still a reach. There was a clear top five, and the Canucks chose the sixth best prospect.
The Canucks finished third last in the NHL, this past season. They don't have the luxury of picking and choosing at the NHL Entry Draft. They should instead be in desperation mode, drafting as many young players at all positions as possible.
Drafting Tkachuk gives the Canucks options. There's perhaps teams below the Canucks who have vested interest in drafting him, even at the risk of losing an extra pick or two.
However, due to Benning's overt broadcasting of what he was going to do, the teams below the Canucks can afford to gamble that perhaps Tkachuk may fall to them. And even if he doesn't, it should still shake up the draft order.
And even if the Canucks don't trade Tkachuk, they still drafted the best player available at the fifth spot. They could then focus on their next pick, without worrying over the left wing.
In all honesty, a team should be built with flexibility in mind at all positions. That should include the GM.
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