Canucks: Draft History and Outcomes

By Brendan Macgranachan
 
The Vancouver Canucks have had a history of picking high in the NHL Entry Draft. Since 1980, the Canucks have had 12 Top 10 picks. Even though the order is not determined yet, the Canucks will get a mid-20′s pick.  Players like Jeff Tambellini, Dan Fritsche, Jeff Carter and Richard Stehlik could be available at that slot.

This year is one of the deepest draft in years. Who ever they take would probably be in the Top 15 in last year’s draft. Last year the Canucks took Kirill Kotslov with their first pick out of Avangard Omsk. Here is a look at the Canucks first picks since 1987.  

Canucks top picks since 1987, with 2003 stats

Name
Year Selected
Round/Overall
Position
Current Club
Games Played
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Kirill Kotslov
2002
2nd Round (49th)
D
Avangard Omsk
42 
4
8
12
52
R.J. Umberger
2001
1st Round (16th)
C
Ohio State
43
26
27
53
16
Nathan Smith
2000
1st Round (23th)
C
Manitoba Moose
53 
9
8
17
30
Daniel Sedin
1999
1st Round (2nd)
LW
Vancouver Canucks
 79 
14
17
31
34
Bryan Allen
1998
1st Round (4th)
D
Vancouver Canucks
48
5
3
8
73
Brad Ference
1997
1st Round (10th)
D
Phoenix Coyotes
75
2
7
9
146
Josh Holden
1996
1st Round (12th)
C
St. John’s Maple Leafs
65
24
29
53
123
Chris McAllister
1995
2nd Round (40th)
D
Colorado Avalanche
14
0
1
1
26
Mattis Ohlund
1994
1st Round (13th)
D
Vancouver Canucks
 59
2
27
29
42
Mike Wilson
1993
1st Round (20th)
D
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 
45
4
5
9
89
Libor Polasek
1992
1st Round (13th)
C
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Alek Stojanov
1991
1st Round (7th)
RW
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Petr Nedved
1990
1st Round (2nd)
C
New York Rangers
 78
27
31
58
68
Jason Herter
1989
1st Round (8th)
D
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Trevor Linden
1988
1st Round (2nd)
RW
Vancouver Canucks
71
19
22
41
30
Rob Murphy
1987
2nd Round (24th)
C
Hanover Scorpions
51
0
15
15
69
NOTE: Stats come from team he played most games with.
N/A: Played in 2002-03 seaon; Stats Unaviliable
 

Five of the 16 top picks by Vancouver are still with the organization.  Some have been traded for other players who are contributing.  Next a look at trades of those picks that have worked out for the better. 

1991 top pick Alek Stojanov never turned out to become much of a NHL player. On March 20, 1996, the Canucks sent the highly regarded prospect for Markus Naslund, a trade which seemed to be in Pittsburgh’s favor at the time. It never turned out that way. Here are both players’ stats in their first and last full seasons with his new club:

Markus Naslund (Vancouver): Naslund turned it on after getting picked up by Vancouver becoming a All-Star and Vancouver’s Captain.

Naslund’s Stats in his first and last full season with the Canucks

Year GP G A P PIM
First Season with VAN 1996-97 78 21 20 41 30
Last Season with VAN 2002-03 82 48 56 104 52

Alek Stojanov (Pittsburgh): The guy who was supposed to be the Pens’ star of the future didn’t turn out too well and played only 45 games with Pittsburgh.

Stojanov’s Stats in his two seasons with the Penguins

Year GP G A P PIM
First Season with PIT 1995-96 10 1 0 1 7
Last Season with PIT 1996-97 35 1 4 5 79

 

In 1983,  Cam Neely was a excellent pick by the Canucks and was immediately expected to be a all-star. Things didn’t work out as quickly as expected, and they sent Neely and their first round choice in 1987 (Glen Wesley) to Boston for Barry Peterson. Here are their stats in their first and last full season with their new club:

Cam Neely (Boston): Like in the Naslund-Stojanov trade, Neely immediately became a star upon his arrival and played in his first All-Star game in 1988. Neely played in five All-Star games and recorded back-to-back 90 point season in 1989-90 and 1990-91. Neely was forced to retire at the conclusion of the 1995-96 season due to an injury-plagued season.

Neely’s Stats in his first and last full season with the Bruins

Year GP G A P PIM
First Season with BOS 1986-87 75 36 36 72 143
Last Season with BOS 1990-91 69 51 40 91 98

1st Round Pick, Glen Wesley (Boston): Wesley was chose to the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 1988 and was chosen to his first and only all-star game the following season. Wesley developed into one of the premier defensemen in the NHL and now patrols the line for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wesley’s Stats in his first and last full season with the Bruins

Year GP G A P PIM
First Season with BOS 1987-88 79 7 30 37 69
Last Season with BOS 1993-94 81 14 44 58 64

Barry Pederson (Vancouver): Upon his arrival, Pederson had three strong seasons in Vancouver before being dealt to Pittsburgh.

Pederson’s Stats in his first and last full season with the Canucks

Year GP G A P PIM
First Season with VAN 1986-87 79 24 52 76 50
Last Season with VAN 1988-89 62 15 26 41 22

*Note: A player must play at least 60 games to consitute a full season