Quote:
Originally Posted by highfive
(Post 8879056)
Canucks fans and even media. Probably win the cup and find something to bitch about. Why did they have the parade on THIS STREET!!!
I thought Virtanen was his decision? I thought he wanted Sam Reinhart more.
| https://www.pressreader.com/canada/t...81943130974810 Quote:
Benning drafted future power forward Jake Virtanen, an actual local kid, passing on William Nylander, the player who had the most skill when the Canucks picked at No. 6.
Virtanen said for days he relishes pressure. Don’t worry, you’ll get loads of that, along with comparisons to players like Nylander.
Swedish scout Thomas Gradin thinks the world of Nylander, as many fans do, comparing him favourably to Sam Reinhart.
But Benning wanted size and edge with their first pick. Actually, that’s what they were looking for in just about every major decision they made in Philly. If you haven’t noticed a theme yet, you’re not paying enough attention.
“If you watch the NHL playoffs, you need guys with size and strength,” Benning said. “Guys who can get to the front of the net and deflect pucks and get rebounds.
“We were looking for that type of player.”
Asked about picking those types instead of players with more skill, Benning said:
“We’re going to get back to a meat-and-potatoes style in the trenches. Play hard. So we really didn’t consider that.”
...
The Canucks also drafted Swedish defenceman Gustav Forsling, who Gradin said has a booming shot.
| While the rumour mill was surrounding the Canucks trading up to 1st overall to draft Reinhart, rumour was that Gradin felt Nylander was the best player in the draft.
Nylander's GM was also Markus Naslund, who had a very high opinion of him.
Some in the media speculated that the Canucks should take Ehlers, but I can't ever recall reading anything about anyone in the Canucks organization seriously pushing for him.
Everything I've read has been about Delorme and Benning targeting Reinhart (if they moved up), Virtanen, and Dal Colle in the 2014 draft.
(It should be noted here that Delorme was actually demoted by Gillis in 2012 in favour of Eric Crawford, who took over amateur scouting in addition to pro scouting and director of player personnel duties for the '12-'13 and '13-'14 seasons before Benning re-instated Delorme when he took over in 2014. Speculation was that Gillis was unhappy with Delorme's assessments and track record as the head of amateur scouting. Crawford, along with Henning and Gilman, were fired in the summer of 2015 reportedly because they often disagreed with Benning, with Trevor Linden insinuating as much in the interviews that followed.)
Fortunately, Benning has begun listening more to Gradin recently, who targeted Dahlen in the Burrows trade and Pettersson in this year's draft. | 