Is this, like, the beginning of something that's gonna be a season-long concern and fascination for Canucks fans checking in on this young man?

Oh, yeah.

He's, he's, he's a thoroughbred, right? We- it's, it's nothing has changed.

Nothing's changed when I talked about him before he was drafted by Vancouver and, um, you know, how we featured him in our guide.

You know, this is a heavy, mature player, good details to his game, a wicked release, has some physical nature to him.

Um, I said it on this show I think a couple weeks ago that I thought that he had a chance to be the OHL MVP this year, that, that, that's the level of talent that he's gonna, he's gonna bring to that league.

Um, so to step out and go a goal a game and two points a game and fire all those shots and, and be physically imposing on the ice, like, Peterborough's gonna be a pretty good team.

Talk to me about, uh, the role that awaits Caleb Malhotra at BU.

Henrik Sedin didn't sound like his, uh, biggest supporter at that president's news conference where he said basically flatly, "It's up to him." What do you make of the approach, the lovey-dovey approach that RJ has employed here with Petey, and whether you think that can help?

Well, the tough love didn't work so well, did it? I mean, y- not everybody learns the same way.

Not everybody responds to adversity the same way, and so you do have to find the right buttons to push.

And, and again, when you're talking about players, some of them have big egos, some of them are quiet and reserved, and you do have to kind of play the fiddle that you're dealt there, too.

So I'm okay with it.

I liked what Henrik S- Sedin said that time, too, because, you know, he went through stretches in his career, especially early on, where, you know, expectations weren't being met, and I'm sure he looked at himself in the mirror and felt the same way.

"It's up to me," right? "It's up to me and my brother to get through this and be the players that we need to be." And, and I think that that's the right message to send.

Uh, make the case for Miroshnichenko as a waiver wire pickup at the end of the month, if he gets there.

Mm-hmm

... you know, just-- When you're drafting near the top of the draft in both of those rounds, and maybe even multiple first-round picks as they had last year, somebody's gonna be capable, Cam.

You know, they, they may, they may want to take a gamble on somebody 'cause we see it.

We see, you know, a 20th overall jump into the league, you know, the Ben Kindls of the world sort of thing.

Um, I, I wonder who that's gonna be.

I'm not saying it's one of these guys that we just mentioned, but sometime in the next couple years, somebody very well might be ready.

A-and, and, and if that's the case, I'll be saying it, too, right? Like, if we're talking about Ivar Stenberg right now, I'd be like, "Yeah, put him in the top six."

Uh, make the case for Moroshnichenko as a waiver wire pickup at the end of the month, if he gets there.

What do you make of the Zibanejad extension?

Not overly surprising.

I think when we were talking about it in the summer and, and even last year, you know, batting around, you know, a number in the eight was kinda where I figured it would land up.

Eight by eight, eight and a half, something like that.

So, you know, he ends up nine-point whatever three.

Um, I said it there in that tweet, like, you know, he's not worth that right now, obviously.

You know, the kid's played, like, 75 games.

... not that long ago.

What do you make of the Zibanejad extension?

Not overly surprising.

I think when we were talking about it in the summer and, and even last year, you know, batting around, you know, a number in the eight was kinda where I figured it would land up.

Eight by eight, eight and a half, something like that.

So, you know, he ends up nine-point whatever three.

Um, I said it there in that tweet, like, you know, he's not worth that right now, obviously.

You know, the kid's played, like, 75 games.

... not that long ago.

Hmm

... players have grown up understanding, you know, "I need to maximize my value early so that I can get eyes on me." Hockey is a sport that you, you have to do that.

Unless you're the ultimate superstar, like you have to almost market yourself.

You know your career is gonna be short.

Winning is difficult.

We've seen it in other sports where teams are, you know, kinda manufactured, those super team styles of things, and I think it's finally gotten to the NHL now too where, where these players know their value.

They, they understand that, hey, like if, if you want me to play for you, what are you gonna do to keep me around here? And it's not just a price tag.

Yeah

Uh, what would you, how would you assess his performance at the Hlinka Gretzky?

You know, he- he's on a higher level than anybody else there.

You know, Schultz was, uh, he- he was electrifying too, but- but DuPont, I would say from tip to tail, was just simply the best player on the sheet, especially in the back half of that tournament when he really started to turn it up.

You know, he scored that gorgeous goal, I believe it was in the semis.

He scored one against Slovakia, but then, you know, four assists in the gold medal game, and he was, he was the engine, right? Like, his ability, like, just the little thing, details in his game.

Puck retrievals, right? He- he gets back and he can shake and break pressure like that.

His gap is super aggressive because he's such an excellent skater, so- so he's just smothering you.

Especially when they're producing players.

Uh, what would you, how would you assess his performance at the Hlinka Gretzky?

You know, he, he's on a higher level than anybody else there.

You know, Schultz was, uh, he, he was electrifying too, but, but DuPont, I would say from tip to tail, was just simply the best player on the sheet, especially in the back half of that tournament, and he really started to turn it up.

You know, he scored that gorgeous goal.

I believe it was in the semis.

He scored one against Slovakia, but then, you know, four assists in the gold medal game, and he was, he was the engine, right? Like, his ability, like, just the little thing, details in his game.

Puck retrievals, right? He, he gets back and he can shake and break pressure like that.

Especially when they're producing players.

Like, are we getting closer and closer to that realization? Is Bill Guerin having to get closer to closer to that realization?

Well, I'll s- uh, you know, I'll say this, is that I asked around and, and you know, kind of the feeling out, coming out of Minnesota in June was, like, nothing but confidence.

We're gonna get this done, you know.

Expectation was it was gonna be a short-term deal, you know, three years to line up with Jack made the most sense.

Um, and it keeps Quinn's options open, right? Like, if, if Minnesota doesn't end up, you know, being able to get over the hump, well, now I can move along and I can go try to find my, my, my championship elsewhere.

Um, and we're seeing that with these guys going shorter on deals, too.

Even young guys going five-year deals.

Are tho- is that just summer stuff, or do you think there are real matters there for the guy who I think was the presumptive [laughs] number two going into this, uh, draft year?

Like, are we getting closer and closer to that realization? Is Bill Guerin having to get closer to closer to that realization?

Well, also, you know, I'll say this, is that I asked around and, and, you know, kind of the feeling out, coming out of Minnesota in June was, like, nothing but confidence.

We're gonna get this done.

You know, expectation was it was gonna be a short-term deal, you know, three years to line up, but Jack made the most sense.

Um, and it keeps Quinn's options open, right? Like, if, if Minnesota doesn't end up, you know, being able to get over the hump, well, now I can move along and I can go try to find my, my, my championship elsewhere.

Um, and we're seeing that with these guys going shorter on deals, too.

Even young guys going five-year deals.

Are tho- is that just summer stuff, or do you think there are real matters there for the guy who I think was the presumptive number two going into this, uh, draft year?

I-- My concern with him is just how much points upside is there? He reminds me a little bit of Zach Benson, who's just so good all around, but is he gonna pop super hard in terms of points and fantasy? What do you think about that, and do you think he's got that?

I mean, I love Viggo.

He's-- Him and Ryan Lin, and there's a couple of kids that, they're my favorite people in this draft.

But there's something special about this kid.

But while he's a great facilitator and he's so smart, he's so strong, and he plays interior hockey, and he does all those things, I think that he'll probably sacrifice some of the top end of his offense to be that well-rounded player.

For my money, he was the best player on that Swedish team at the World Juniors that won gold.

Over Frontell and over Senberg and Eklund and all those guys, and you ask them, they rave about this kid.

How bad is the defensive game, or how much does that have to grow for him to earn enough ice time to really actualize his offense? What do you, what do you think about Villeneuve?

Your take.

Yeah.

I mean, obviously the writing's been on the wall forever for Nils Höglander, that, uh, it j- he just, he just never, he hasn't fit with a coach since he scored 24, right? Or 25, whatever it was that season.

It's just, he's found himself in the doghouse continually.

Yeah, injuries are a problem, but it's too bad, 'cause he's, like, one of these, like, uniquely tenacious, skilled players that can fit up and down a lineup when he's going.

It's just been so long since he's been going.

Um, so to get a third-round pick, yeah, it's in 100 years from now, but it's still a third-round pick.

Give me your, uh, grade and assessment of the nine players they selected in the draft.

Your take.

Yeah, I mean, obviously the writing's been on the wall forever for Nils Höglander, that, uh, it j- he just, he just never, he hasn't fit with a coach since he scored 24, right? Or 25, whatever it was that season.

It's just he's found himself in the doghouse continually.

Yeah, injuries are a problem.

But it's too bad, 'cause he's, like, one of these, like, uniquely tenacious, skilled players that can fit up and down a lineup when he's going.

It's just been so long since he's been going.

Um, so to get a third-round pick, yeah, it's in 100 years from now, but it's still a third-round pick.

Give me your, uh, grade and assessment of the nine players they selected in the draft.

... is there enough high-end offense here with Aram Olsson?

Oh, oh yeah, there, th- there's your swing, boys.

There's your swing.

The kid's a shooter.

He's a shooter through and through.

Um, [clears throat] you know, it was difficult for him, I think, this year.

He wasn't, like, the offensive catalyst on his club team.

That's a good value

What kind of a player is he? Describe his game.

I'd say he's a two-way guy, but he definitely has offense.

Um, 6'2", he skates above average, I would say.

He's not, not a speedster, but he definitely have above average skating.

I think he, a- across the board, above average hands, play making.

I like his shot.

I think the big thing that really took his game to a new level, probably right around Christmas this year, was he started to use his speed and, and try to push outside more to beat, you know, defenders off the rush, rather than slowing things down and playing more of a, a slower pace game.

But as you sit here and now, is this a one-year college player, is this a two-year college player before he signs in the NHL?

Yeah.

Super high upside.

You know, a lot of...

There's a boom or bust sitting there for him.

Um, you know, if you want a big center, Brooks Rakowski, 6'6", probably more destined for, like, a, uh, like a third line role maybe.

Maybe fourth line role.

We'll see how the skill hands- handles him, but he's, but he's big, and he can, and he can handle a little bit, and he can skate, and he's got some offense.

Yeah

Yeah

... what he did at World Juniors, I mean, statistically speaking, the kid knows how to generate offense.

He's not a complete player, and that's just, that's just how it is.

He's not, you know, he's not a physical player.

He's not an interior-driven player.

Um, he's gonna probably feast on the power play and, and maybe get boxed out a little bit, especially early in his career when things get tight and the whistles go away in the spring.

And so I think that that just needs to be accepted.

Mm-hmm.

[laughs]

I hope so.

I put it as one of my five bold predictions, and I feel like it was the least bold.

I, I had it written in there before trading Tuesday, you know, took over.

That was incredible stuff.

But I mean, yeah, we've seen some big names.

We've seen a lot of big names move.

What was your initial response, uh, seeing that deal come down the pipe yesterday?

Okay.

I think that they were taking a defenseman.

I think that they were hoping for Chase Reid, and if that fell through, I think that they were gonna strongly look at Keaton Berhoff.

And that is what predicated them, Kyle Davidson, to be like, "Okay.

Chase Reid or Keaton Berhoff probably not making an impact for three years," like an actual impact.

Maybe they're playing games.

They're playing games before that, but like actually maybe moving the needle a little bit.

What move for you over the past three days is kind of stuck in your head where you're still trying to wrap your brain around why? Like, trying to understand, like, why a team might have done this and, and still trying to get the justification in your head of what, what are we thinking here?

Mm-hmm

... slowed down considerably for Frölunda.

So, like, he was an engine.

He was one of the engines on that team.

You don't see that from draft minus ones.

Yes, he's a September '07 birthday, so he's, you know, nearly a full year younger, or older than a kid like Savanto.

Um, but what he did at the worlds against NHL level talent at times, I think certainly that last impression tends to, to stick.

[laughs]

And if that carries over and those two guys are playing together, all of a sudden that means there's gonna be a bit of a extra spotlight, I think, on McKenna's defensive game because he's just gonna be playing other really good players and not necessarily getting eased into the, uh, NHL flow of things.

things.I would absolutely try to find ways to insulate him as much as possible, especially in his first year, because there will be deficiencies that will be exposed as [laughs] when you're matching up against other teams' top lines.

So you're right, that double-edged sword is, is very-- it's gonna be very prevalent in the discussion around him, and again, like all, and, and, and Chris mentioned, all under the bubble of the Toronto market, right? Which is thrilled ahead of this pick, and will be thrilled on draft day.

But, you know, first signs of him coughing up a pucker, an egregious turnover here, or missing an assignment, like, uh, th- he's gonna be feeling it.

Um, but as far as him complementing a player like Auston Matthews, absolutely, right? He's, he's those three names that I mentioned, Panarin, Kucherov, Kane.

The rare, highly skilled, play-making first wingers, right? And, and Auston Matthews is one of the more rare, big power shoot first centers.

One of the, the greatest shooters of a generation.

Cam, you're up.

Are nerd GMs gonna be a thing? Will Canucks fans look back on this decision of Ryan Johnson over Evan Gold and went, "Mm, we missed the trend"?

Ah, I don't think so.

I think that, I think Ryan Johnson is a very, like ...

I don't know.

[clears throat] I don't know RJ personally.

Um, the people I've spoken to, like, speak o- you know, that he's an intelligent guy.

But he also has, like, that high EQ as well too.

Tell us about Villeneuve, Cam.

What was your draft process like? Where did you expect to go? And what pick, or like what round? Did you expect to go, were you planning to go first round?

Hell no, man, I thought I was, boy, you read that checklist off, didn't you? You remember that checklist you read? Nick, I'm thinking.

Because I'm thinking I'm top 10, top 15.

You know what I'm saying? But I had some off the field.

I had gotten like a little trouble before my junior year.

So I kind of had some off the field stuff too.

And I think a lot of teams didn't really know my character.

How tough was that? How challenging was it dealing with the ACL and then finding your way back and having 14 starts that next season?

But, uh, talk to me because, uh, he seems to have some fans here.

I was high on him at the beginning of the year, more so at the end of last year I should say.

After that draft minus one where he looked so good in Spokane, um, you know, he's got blazing speed.

He always looked great for Canada internationally.

A wicked release.

He's got good handles.

Um, it was a struggle this year though, I would say.

... what do you think he's gonna add to that room? Do, do you know him well, and, and, and what's, uh, what's he bring to the table here in, in particular around this draft?

How much do the collegiates and the European SHL guys-Have a leg up on the CHL guys now who i- it's a bit nebulous as to how difficult and how great a league the CHL is compared to the rest.

It's certainly opened up some discussions on, on how to assess these players in a historical context.

So can we accurately compare statistical profiles from even five years ago in the CHL? Even two years ago in the CHL, right? How are we now comparing statistical analysis on NCAA kids? Doing what Keaton Verhaeghe did last year as a 17-year-old at Nodak versus what Zach Werenski did 10 years ago when he was playing at Michigan, right? Like, college hockey has never been better either.

And, and conversely, you could look over in Sweden and you could say that perhaps the SHL isn't as strong as it once was either too, so for some of those young guys.

So it's, it's really a, it's an ever-moving book.

It's very fluid, I would say, on how teams value that, and then you're also gonna get biases among groups where some like that throwback Western Hockey League style that still is prevalent at times, and especially a kid like Carson Carls, who, by the way, uh, among the 10 teams I, I spoke to, he was one of the most consistently ranked players, that he was top five for nine teams and number six for the 10th team.

Um, so it, that certainly didn't impact his.

Uh, your thoughts there, and is that a miss here [laughs] in Vancouver with bringing Judd home and promoting him to AGM, but a move you could have got behind or the Canucks and this new management group should have thought about?