VANCOUVER – After a promising start to their run at the Stanley Cup, the Vancouver Canucks ran into an unexpected roadblock in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks head into next weeks NHL Entry Draft in a rare position of drafting 22nd in the first round. With some key free agents apparently ready to fly the coup, Vancouver will head into this years draft hoping to land a diamond in the rough that will eventually replace some of there of their top end talent. This season the Canucks were solid on both ends of the ice. They were ranked 11th on offense and 7th in defense. The major free agents that might be leaving Vancouver are the possible exile of the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, the always impending retirement of Mats Sundin, and the Canucks best defenseman, Matthias Ohlund. The Canucks would also like to resign Roberto Loungo to a long term contract since he will be a free agent after next season. The good news for the Canucks is, if Sundin and Loungo bolt for greener pastures, they have two of the top prospects not currently playing in the NHL: Center Cody Hodgson and goaltender Cory Schneider . Hodgson looks like he will earn a roster spot regardless of what Sundin does. The Sedins are have said to be on Brian Burke’s radar in Toronto. If Sundin AND the Sedin twins all leave at once it will be a huge blow to the offense. Oddly enough Ohlund might be the teams most valuable free agent. The Canucks lack offensive defenseman in their system so that is one thing the Canucks will target at the draft. The Canucks have a solid crop of wingers on both sides of the ice so going after a winger might not be in the cards for the Canucks come draft day, but Vancouver needs as much offense as possible since it looks as though the big three on offense look like they will bolt. If Vancouver feels they can resign Loungo they could dangle Schneider to a team like the Flyers who are sitting one spot ahead of them at the draft. The Flyers have offense to give up and would love for a crack at Schneider to not only challenge Ray Emery, but they would finally get the quality young goaltender they are sorely lacking. Still, our mock draft does not take trades into account so our gut feeling is the Canucks will go with offense at # 22. Still, if someone like defenseman David Rundblad is still sitting there he might be a tough one to pass up.
Center Peter Holland
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