This weekend’s NHL draft was obviously of utmost importance to the Vancouver Canucks, who hosted the league event.

The team had been threatening to make a splash in the weeks leading up to the affair and they did, making one of the bigger trades of the weekend.

But they also made nine draft picks (and none of them were defencemen!). Here’s who the Canucks selected and, from general manager Jim Benning and director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett.

10th Overall – Vasili Podkolzin, RW, 6’1, 190 lbs., St. Petersburg (KHL)

A lot of ink has been spilled about Podkolzin, who many believe would have been picked higher if it weren’t for the “Russian factor” (he has two more years left on his KHL contract and intends to play them out). But he’s highly skilled and very aggressive, and the Canucks obviously think he can be a top-six factor for them.

“When I try to compare him to a player that’s playing in the league with the same style, I think he has a Timo Meier-style game,” said Benning, comparing the Russian to the San Jose Sharks forward who had a breakout season in 2018-19 with 66 points. “He gets to the net, protects the puck and has the skill to play with good players. That’s what we see in him.”

Benning admitted that the team was likely going to trade down if Podkolzin wasn’t there at number 10.

40th Overall – Nils Hoglander, LW, 5’9, 185 lbs., Rogle BK (SHL)

“I love this guy,” said Benning of Hoglander, who had a strong season playing against men in the Swedish Elite League. He also had a great World Juniors, in which he put up seven points in eight games.

The Canucks feel like they pulled off a coup at number 40: “He’s hard on the puck, has good skill, fast—I think we got a steal there in the second round, taking him.”

Added Brackett: “He doesn’t play with any fear… creative, creative guy. We thought there was a really good chance he’d be gone on Friday [during the first round of the draft].”

122nd Overall – Ethan Keppen, LW, 6’2, 212 lbs., Flint Firebirds (OHL)

The Canucks traded out of the 102nd pick to No.122 (they also added No.175) and Brackett was worried that they’d miss out on the Firebirds winger.

“Risk averted. But it was a chance to add more value,” said Brackett about trading back in the draft. “He was someone we were excited about. Thirty goals, high character, big body, wins a lot of battles. We were really determined to get him.”

Keppen had a strong season on a bad team in Flint and says he models his game after power forwards like Matthew Tkachuk and Jamie Benn.

“There was definitely a desire for us to get a little bigger,” said Brackett.

133rd Overall – Carson Focht, C, 6’0, 179 lbs., Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Focht, was traded to Calgary in January of 2018 (where he joined fellow Canucks prospect Jett Woo) and that’s when Brackett though the Regina native’s game really took off.

“The trade to Calgary seemed to really jumpstart his season,” said Brackett, who noted that Focht was recently invited to the U-20 Team Canada camp, along with Woo. “Plays hard, has a good motor, heavy on the puck where he needs to be. Think he’s going to be a top line guy and push [Calgary] next year.”

156th Overall – Arturs Silovs, G, 6’4, 203 lbs., HK Riga (MHL)

It’s another goalie named Arturs from Latvia, and the main factor for the Canucks was Silovs’s work on the international circuit.

“He was a player that really showed well for us at the World Championships,” said Brackett. “Great length, power, elasticity, things that [goalie coaches] Dan Cloutier and Ian Clark really like and feel are good qualities to develop with.”

Silovs has a big frame and was clearly enjoying himself in Vancouver.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1142554467151126528

175th Overall – Karel Plasek, LW/RW, 5’11, 154 lbs., HC Kometa Brno (Czech)

“He’s been playing against men, captain of the U-18 team a year ago,” said Brackett. “Felt like he continued his progression, still has room to grow. Loved the work rate and hockey sense.”

It’s also worth noting that Plasek’s father (who has the same name) is currently playing in the third division of the Czech League at 45 years old.

180th Overall - Jack Malone, RW, 6’1, 191 lbs., Youngstown (USHL)

The Canucks didn’t say much about Malone, but it should be worth noting that he is referred to by both Jack and John to really confuse people.

195th Overall – Aidan McDonough, LW, 6’3, 190 lbs., Cedar Rapids (USHL)

Brackett revealed that he’s followed McDonough for a few years now and that he’s currently on the exact same path that Adam Gaudette took to the Canucks. McDonough will be playing at Northeastern this season.

“Not to compare the players but it’s a path we’re comfortable with,” said Brackett. “We know the coaching staff at all three places (Northeastern, Cedar Rapids and prep school Thayer Academy in Boston) and he’ll continue to develop. Bigger guy, certainly can get to the net.”

215th Overall – Arvid Costmar, C, 5’11, 181 lbs., Linkoping (SHL)

“The numbers don’t lie on him,” said Brackett referring to Costmar putting up points with Linkoping’s U20 squad. “He’s someone who plays in all situations and had highs and lows in his year but we felt if we could get him back to where he was in November or earlier in the year, he had a good chance to get on an upward trend.”

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