Sekeres and Price: Rick Daliwal on who the Vancouver Canucks could be interested in with their #11 pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
** Copy NHLRumors.com
Daliwal: “I think they show a lot of love for Swede right-hander Tom Wilander. If he’s there in the 11, I’ve talked to some people who wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks picked him up.
Now, I always come back to this one. We always do this every draft year. Are you signing up for a position or are you drafting the best available player?
The Canucks have not taken a defenseman in the first two rounds in the last four consecutive years, and 2019 has taken no defensemen. It’s one of the reasons why you don’t have a lot of hot prospects ready for the NHL in Abbotsford.
Anyway, show a lot of love to Tom Wallender. Zac Benson, Matthew Wood, two domestic children. Show lots of love for them too.
I also heard the Canucks really liked that center Nate Danielson out of Brandon. Six-foot-two, 185 (pounds). They ranked him very high. They ranked him very high. Higher than I’ve been told by most teams. Connor Bedard said in an interview that Danielson was the toughest player he ever played against in the Western Hockey League. That is, when Conor Bedard said that, and Conor Bedard did not mention a young man of 19 or 20, he mentioned a potential teammate. He’s the same age and he’s going to be recruiting.
Also, listen to the Canucks like this center Dalibor Dvorsky from Sweden, the Slovak kid. But I think he might be a top 10 guy.”
Matt Seekers: “Hey Rick, one of the things I’ve heard is that the Canucks may also prioritize size in this draft. Bigger players on their draft list and going with a bigger body ranked 11th.”
Daliwall: “Nate Danielson, six-two 185. He falls for it. Matthew Wood is huge. Zach Benson is nothing but out-of-this-world Zach Benson hockey sensation. He’s a Chilliwack kid and he’s just a cool kid. And you know what? Zach Benson skill, driving the play He is the difference maker offensively.
So, Valinder is very big. Matthew Wood is so big. Nate Danielson is so big. So, maybe you are there dead.”