Now that the Vancouver Canucks Officially holding the eleventh overall selection In the 2023 NHL Draft, we can really dive into who they could be targeting in the first round on June 28th. The only other time they made the 11th pick was in 1982 when they drafted Michelle Petit. He went on to have a long and tortuous NHL career fitting in 10 teams and playing 827 games. Historically, the eleventh pick has been known to produce a few superstars as well, such as Jarome Iginla and Anze Kopitar. So, hopefully the Canucks will get lucky and snag someone like that in 2023.
Before the clock starts ticking on the June draft, the Canucks coverage team is here at hockey book Potential targets will be named eleventh overall. After profiling Sweden’s right-handed defenseman Axel Sanden-Belica, I’ll switch gears to forward and talk about University of Connecticut’s Matthew Wood.
Player Overview – Matthew Wood
2022-23 Player Stats:
- University of Connecticut (NCAA): 35 GP – 11 G – 23 A – 34 PTS
- Canada (U18 WC): 7 GP – 7 G – 6 A – 13 PTS
Wood has been my favorite all season (and not just because he has the same first name as me – though that’s a bonus). From his dominance as an 18-year-old in college hockey to leading Team Canada to bronze at the 2023 Under-18s, he’s been one of the most exciting prospects to watch this year. While Adam Fantelli didn’t lead the NCAA with an insane 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games, he did hold his own to 34 points in 35 games — which isn’t bad by any means.
Without a doubt, the most impressive part of Wood’s game is his deadly shot and the number of times he uses it. By scoring at least a shot on goal in all but two games this season and hitting five or more in six of them, he doesn’t seem to be averse to the puck. He’s also been remarkably consistent, never going more than two games without a point – and that’s only happened twice. That’s pretty good for an 18-year-old in a league dominated by players over the age of 20.
Related: Matthew Wood – 2023 NHL Draft Profile
Latest news and highlights
Wood also has the size, quick hands in front of the net, and great hockey smarts. Snow skating is perhaps its biggest weakness as it lacks acceleration. Once it reaches top speed it seems to be fast, but it takes a while to get there. He should also work on his two-way game and learn how to use his size more effectively in the defensive zone. At this point, despite being 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds, he’s lost puck fights he should have won just because of his size alone.
All in all, Wood would be an interesting opportunity to watch the development, even if the Canucks didn’t ultimately choose him. He already has an NHL-caliber wrist shot that would probably defeat most goaltenders and his maturity is surprising at the professional level despite his age on his driver’s license. The fact that he decided He took his services to the NCAA Instead of taking the easier route and playing in the United States Hockey League or the Western Hockey League, he often talks about wanting to challenge himself and improve his game.
NHL ready
Wood is a bit raw prospect at this point in its development. He will likely need a few more years in the NCAA to hone his physical game and learn how to use his large frame to his advantage. Having said that, his maturity, hockey IQ, and shooting might accelerate that plan and get him to the NHL much sooner. But realistically, he’s likely to follow a similar path as Tage Thompson. Just hope It doesn’t take a deal and four seasons of mediocrity to bring Wood to the 35-50 goal potential that Thompson now displays at the age of 25.
Wood fit with the Canucks
The Canucks’ biggest needs are right and center defense. Wood is not a natural center, although he has shown the ability to play the position. In the NCAA, he played left wing most of the time, so this will likely be where he will stay once he makes it to the NHL. Unless he plays his two-way game, coaches probably won’t feel comfortable deploying him in the middle.
So, positionally speaking, Wood doesn’t really fit the Canucks’ needs at this point. However, it fills another need, and that is the Natural Scorer. Does the pipeline have any? Not real. Jonathan Lecrimäki could probably be described as a scorer, but I wouldn’t call him a one-shot killer threat – not like Wood anyway. Looking at the prospect depth graph on Elite Prospects, the Canucks have Aidan McDonough, Josh Bloom, Archdeep Baines and Lucas Forssell listed as lefties. I would argue that Wood will turn out to be a better scorer than all of them. I expect maybe two of them – McDonough and Bloom – to score 20 goals in the NHL someday, but never more than 40 or 50, which is what I see Wood beating at some point in his career.
What do others say
Wood is 6-foot-3, so his ability to play tight on his skates at speed while maintaining control is impressive for his size. His real calling card, however, is his shot which ranks first in the draft class in terms of deception And strength. He could use a little more speed (who couldn’t), but he’s shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. Only time will tell if they can do the same for him as a pro, though I think He will be a great professional.” – Logan Horn, The Hockey Book
“Wood is a very talented attacking player. He has excellent individual skills and attacking intelligence. He has the ability to hold on to balls for an extra second and knows how to beat defenders with skill. He also has an excellent wrist shot and one-timer, which makes him a major asset in the power play. Wood is a great winger too So the size/skill combo has a lot of upsides” – Corey Brunman, The Athlete (from ‘2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Conor Bedard tops Corey Brunman’s 142-best prospects’), the athlete30/5/23).
“Wood’s skating isn’t at a professional level yet, but the improvement over the past two years has been noticeable. He’s good in bursts, but doesn’t have the real game-changing, cutting speed that would allow him to stand out in the NHL.” – Stephen Ellis, Daily Vesuv
Does it have to be a draft wood canucks?
If the Canucks keep their 11th pick overall And Sandin-Pellikka and David Reinbacher off the board should look long and hard in choosing Wood. In my opinion, although there will be other prospects available at that point in Nate Danielson, Riley Haidt, Oliver Moore and others, there will likely not be another natural one-shot scorer like Wood.
Related: 2023 THW NHL Draft Guide
And speaking of trading the Canucks their 11th overall pick, even if they end up moving down and swapping picks with a team like the Chicago Blackhawks or Detroit Red Wings, Wood could still be available 15-20 later. With the depth of talent in this draft, it could definitely happen. No matter the case, Wood should be in the Canucks’ sights when they take to the podium on June 28.