Who Goes #2? 2020-10-18 With 2020 draft being so deep a lot of teams will have some tough choices to make when it’s their turn to pick. Perhaps the toughest decision will fall to Vancouver when they step up to the podium to make the 2nd overall pick. It’s pretty much a given the Alexis Lafreniere will be taken number one. The QMJHL star has been touted for several years as the best in his draft class, and this last season only reinforced that opinion. But after the 1st overall pick, things get very interesting. Both Quinton Byfield and Tim Stutzle had exceptional seasons and have every right to hear their name called when it’s Vancouver’s turn to pick. Many across the hockey world are torn on who’s the better player, including Canucks scouts according to several inside sources. Word has it Vancouver scouts have spent the last few weeks debating who to take, with some arguing for Byfield and others insisting Stutzle is the better pick. “It’s not going to be an easy pick to make,” said Canucks GM Travis Fleming. “There are going to be a lot of great players available. Luckily I don’t think there’s a bad choice. Obviously, you want to try to indentify who’s going to be better long term, but I think whoever we take will be a great player for us for years to come.” While both players in question have exceptional skills they play a different type of game. Byfield is a hulking centre at 6’4” and weighing in at 214 pounds. He put up an impressive 82 points in just 45 games, giving him one of the best points per game in the league. He achieved all of this as one of the youngest players in the draft. Stutzle doesn’t have Byfield’s size and strength, but he does have some of the slickest hands in the draft. The left wing impressed scouts by registering 34 points in 41 games in the DEL, Germany’s top league. The fact that he was able to excel playing against men says a lot about is his readiness to jump straight into the EHE. So, just how much is the decision weighing on Fleming? Apparently, the Canucks GM approached the Panthers about actually trading down to the 3rd pick just so he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Sources say GM Shean Gardiner swiftly turned him down though, as he didn’t want to be forced to choose either. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess who will actually be taken 2nd overall. With three straight losing seasons the pressure’s on to get it right, as whoever is selected will likely play a big role in getting this team back into contention.