Vancouver Canucks 2017 Draft Review

During his tenure as general manager, Travis Fleming has not been known for acquiring prospects. If anything, he's been know for trading picks and prospects away for star players to get this team closer to a Stanley Cup. 

The Canucks have made it to the conference finals two straight seasons, so one can say the strategy has worked reasonably well. However, with a slew of players becoming UFA's next offseason, including star players Max Pacioretty and Shea Weber, the team could run into trouble. Fleming will need to do his best to start acquiring prospects and youth if he doesn't want his team to completely collapse.

This process started at this years draft, where the Canucks ended up with a whopping nine draft picks. Unfortunately, none of those picks were in the first three rounds, meaning Fleming and his team of scouts would have to find some diamonds in the rough.

So how did they fair? Here's a rundown of all the Canucks' picks at this year's draft.

Pick #97: Andrei Mironov

Considered one of Russia's best young prospects, Mironov suffered a serious hand injury that forced him to miss most of the KHL season this past year. His resume speaks for itself though, with a number of appearances representing Russia on the international stage. Mironov isn't a flashy player, but he does everything well and is known for his extraordinary and consistent hip check. After years of playing in the KHL the Russian defenceman could be ready for NHL duty.

Pick #122: Samuel Blais

After two straight 82 point seasons in the QMJHL, Blais spent last year in the AHL. His rookie season was a huge success, notching 26 goals and 17 assists for 43 points. Blais is seen as having high-end potential and is known his ability to think quickly and make plays. His first season in the AHL is promising, but he'll need to continue to improve if he wants to crack the NHL one day.

Pick #152: Maxim Mamin

Mamin is not you prototypical Russian player. He's known for being physical, his willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice and his solid two-way play. Although not seen as someone with high-end offensive potential, he's coming off an impressive season in the KHL where he recorded 25 points in 42 games. Mamin is heading to North America next season and like Mironov could be ready for NHL duty. He projects as a solid bottom six forward.

Pick #174: Adam Huska

With only two goalies currently under contract, and just one goaltending prospect in the system, Fleming used a sixth round pick to add a much needed netminder. Adam Huska was the USHL's goalie of the year in 2015-16. He carried over his solid play into the 2016-17 season with the Univ. of Connecticut, recording a 2.87 GAA and .916 SVS%. He also impressed scouts at this year's World Junior Championships during Slovakia's 5-0 loss to Canada. Slovakia was outshot 44-6, but Huska kept the game scoreless for more than 25 minutes. He's a ways away from the NHL, but the potential to become an NHL goalie is there if he continues to improve.

Pick #181: Mikhail Vorobyev

The Canucks picked their third KHL player of the draft when they used a sixth round pick to select centre Mikhail Vorobyev. The young Russian is coming off an impressive season that saw him record 11 points in 44 games in the KHL. Those numbers don't exactly leap off the page, but when you factor in his age (he just turned 20 in January) you can appreciate his potential. When Vorobyev was given a chance to play against his peers at the World Junior Championships he didn't disappoint, recording 10 points in 7 games. Some might say he was the benificiary of playing with superstar wing Kirill Kaprizov, but his playmaking skills are undeniable. Like Mironov and Mamin, Vorobyev has committed to playing in North America next season.

Pick #192: Michael Downing

Downing spent last season in the AHL, impressing scouts with his composed play and impressive drive. After a successful three year stint at the University of Michigan, Downing recorded 13 points in 67 games in his first AHL season. Scouts like his puck moving skills and his ability to get into shooting lanes to block shots. He should be a big part of the Comets' defence next season.

Pick #204: Anton Lindholm

The Canucks continued to add to their defence when they picked Anton Lindholm. Like Downing, Lindholm also had a successful first season in the AHL, putting up 13 points in 62 games. Although not overly big, the young Swede's solid defensive play should translate to the NHL and he could become a solid depth option for the Canucks in the near future.

Pick #210: J-C Beaudin

Beaudin is coming off another productive year in the QMJHL, recording 80 points in 65 games.He's impressed scouts with his defensive awareness and good hockey IQ. After playing three seasons in junior, Beaudin is ready to turn pro and fans can expect to see him on the Comets' roster in the near future. 

Pick #215: Deven Sideroff

Like Beaudin, Sideroff is coming off a successful junior career and is ready to turn pro. He recorded 78 points in 67 games in the WHL and will look to see if his skills transfer over to the AHL. Sideroff has some offensive upside, but his energy and work ethic could also make him an excellent NHL grinder, if he makes it to that level.

Zach Parise dealt to Chicago for Peter Cehlarik, Two draft picks and $2,000,000

Vancouver also pulled off a trade during the draft, dealing star left wing Zach Parise to Chicago for Peter Cehlarik, a 6th round pick, a 7th round pick and $2,000,000. This type of move has been expected for some time, as Vancouver will need to fill a lot of roster spots through free agency this offseason and GM Fleming has expressed his desire to clear some cap space to make that easier.

Cehlarik is the main piece coming back, an impressive Slovakian forward who notched 38 points in 49 AHL games last season. The two draft picks were used to select Mikhail Vorobyev and Anton Lindholm. The deal leaves a hole on the Canucks' second line but clears some cap space and gives them some much needed prospects.

GM Fleming had this to say about the trade:

"Unfortunately there just isn't much of a market in this league for UFA's on a year deal. I had hoped to get more in return for a guy like Zach, but we're still happy with the return. I think Cehlarik has the potential to be a top six player, and the draft picks helped us grab a couple extra prospects this year which we're really excited about."

Some thought the Parise trade might mark the start of a rebuild in Vancouver, but Fleming was quick to dismiss that notion.

"We've thought about rebuilding. I've even shopped around some of our higher profile guys that will be UFA's next season, but I like I said the market for those types of players just isn't there right now. There's been virtually no interest which I find shocking. I'm happy with the prospects we picked up during the draft and I think our future is looking a little brighter now, so we're comfortable hanging on to our UFA's. We still feel like we have the horses to compete for a Stanley Cup again so we're going to give it another run this season."

It's questionable whether the Canucks' aging core can still compete against the ever improving teams in the EHE, but never the less it looks like they'll once again be gunning for a championship this season.