Canucks face questions ahead of 2023 NHL Draft

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The 2023 NHL Draft will take place on Wednesday.

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For many fans, it’s a time of hope, of seeing their team’s optimistic future.

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Saturday is the opening of free agency, which in many cities is another day of hope, but in Vancouver, after nearly a decade of free agency signings turning out to be mediocre more often than not , Canucks fans are understandably cynical about the potential. roll and process.

With that in mind, here are some fan questions posed to Postmedia News:

If one of the three highest-rated defensive prospects is available at 11th, will they pick one? —Syd Blackwell via Facebook

David Reinbacher is the name everyone is talking about as the best defender in this draft range, but it would be a big surprise if he’s still available at 11th overall. Axel Sandin Pellikkabut the Canucks seem to be leaning towards another Swedish defenseman: Tom Willander.

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If Dimitri Simashev, who has gone unnoticed for much of the year, is available, he could also draw interest from the Canucks.

Is it true they’re not drugged by Zach Benson? — Pasted by BlueSky

Zach Benson is a player that many are crazy about, but it’s unclear how much interest the Canucks have in him.

His profile resembles that of Frank Nazar, 13th in the general classification last year. The Canucks weren’t very interested in Nazar, but have they changed their mind on a player who grew up in their own backyard?

It’s hard to say. Reports through much of the season have not linked Benson to the Canucks, but it appears the Canucks took him to dinner in Buffalo during the NHL scouting campaign earlier this month .

Will the Canucks make a trade of any type during the draft? —Jordan Spinks via Twitter

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In two of the three drafts led by Judd Brackett, the Canucks made trades during the draft to add picks.

In general, having more picks – especially near the top of the draft, in the first two rounds – is wise.

In the 2017 draft, the Canucks had a second pick in the second round, while in 2019 they added three in the final two rounds of the draft.

Regardless, the Canucks currently don’t have a second-round pick; the second through seventh rounds will take place on Thursday.

They could get one by making a trade in the first round. There had been rumors that they might make a deal with Chicago to move back to No. 19, perhaps packing Conor Garland alongside them, but the Blackhawks traded for a much better winger in Taylor Hall on Tuesday.

Could the Nashville Predators, who are ranked 15th overall, be a trade target? New general manager Barry Trotz likes his team’s cap space, so would he view Garland’s deal as a solution? Or would he be willing to just move a second round pick to move up to the 11th.

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It’s almost certain the Canucks could find a player they like at No. 15, although you’d think they’d like to free up a little more cap space before free agency opens Saturday.

In your opinion, what is management’s vision for building the blue line? Is it size, speed, skill, or are their options limited because they don’t have much choice? —Ernest via Twitter

General manager Patrik Allvin said last week that he was very excited about the team’s young defensemen – Akito Hirose, Cole McWard, Jett Woo and Filip Johansson – but the acquisition of Olivier Ekman-Larssonmore the injury of Ethan Bear leaves the Canucks very thin on the blue line.

Two pending free agents are of obvious appeal to the Canucks, sources suggest: Ian Cole, 34, whom Allvin and his management colleagues who worked for the Pittsburgh Penguins know well from Cole’s victory in the Stanley Cup in Steeltown, and Carson Soucy, 28, who was with the Seattle Kraken and is big and strong.

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Both would fill short-term needs on the Canucks blue line, but fans should be wary of long-term commitments to either.

Are the Canucks serious bidders for Ryan O’Reilly or is this just window dressing? — Andrew Bauer via Facebook

It’s hard to imagine putting two defensemen and a center of O’Reilly’s pedigree under the cap unless the Canucks are able to pull off something else. They need to find a third-line center, but that’s also been an issue here for years, except, ironically, early last season when the Canucks’ center depth was about as good as it gets never was.

(Sedin/Kesler/Malhotra/Lapierre are obviously the best.)

Allvin and his team are really hoping to make some big moves at the trade deadline and there’s no reason to think they aren’t interested in making some big moves in the coming days.

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That said, O’Reilly will have a few options in front of him and if the Canucks make a serious offer, it would be far from an obvious choice.

This is a team that believes it can make the playoffs next year – but not necessarily a contender.

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