Sports

The Canucks repeatedly went off the board at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft

Published

1 year ago

June 30, 2023

It was an interesting two days at the NHL draft for the Vancouver Canucks. For the first time in four years, the Canucks made seven selections at the draft, albeit not with the original seven picks they were given.

The focus on the day was clearly on restocking the prospect pool on defence, particularly on the right side. Four of their seven picks were defencemen, three of them right-side defencemen, including top pick Tom Willander at 11th overall.

“Defencemen? Yeah, we got a few,” quipped Todd Harvey, the Canucks director of amateur scouting, but he insisted that their approach at the draft was not to pick for need: “We’re taking the best player on our list.”

That means the Canucks’ list was very different from anyone else’s list. That in itself isn’t surprising. The draft boards put together by NHL teams seldom resemble those of other teams, particularly after the first ten picks or so, and rarely match the draft rankings put together by those in the public sphere.

Betting on over-agers and a late-blooming behemoth

What stands out about the Canucks draft, however, is just how far afield most of their picks were compared to the public consensus.

Few outlets saw fit to rank Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Sawyer Mynio and those that did thought he’d be a sixth or seventh-round pick. The Canucks took him 89th overall in the third round.

Ty Mueller wasn’t ranked by anyone as a 20-year-old centre in his third year of draft eligibility when the Canucks used the 105th pick in the fourth round to select him. You have to wonder if he even wanted to be drafted — he could have signed anywhere as a free agent after next season if he decided to leave college but now he’s part of the Canucks system.

Matthew Perkins was similarly unranked as a 19-year-old centre in his second year of eligibility. He was well under a point-per-game in the USHL but the Canucks liked him enough to take him 119th overall in the fourth round.

Vilmer Alriksson landed on just one public draft ranking — FC Hockey had him 193rd — but the Canucks took a chance on the 6’6” winger taking a big step in his development in the years to come and drafted him 107th overall in the fourth round.

Aiden Celebrini, drafted 171st overall in the sixth round, only made two public draft rankings, landing 235th on FC Hockey’s list and 223rd with Draft Prospects. The draft is notably only 224 picks long.

“We like everything about him.”

Even Willander was a reach at 11th overall according to most outlets. Only TSN’s Craig Button had Willander in his top ten, ranking him eighth overall, while most rankings had him in the back half of the first round. It’s not that those scouts were low on Willander but that they were higher on other players, such as Zach Benson, Colby Barlow, or Oliver Moore, all of whom the Canucks passed up to draft Willander.

To the Canucks, however, Willander wasn’t a reach at all. He was the best player available.

“Tommy [Willander], we think very, very highly of him,” said Harvey. “We like everything about him: the compete, the character as a person is phenomenal — he doesn’t give you the old hockey player answers. I think he’s a really intriguing person to start with and he’s going to be a heck of a player for us.”

The Canucks felt the same way about all of their picks and firmly said that they focused on the best player on their board throughout the draft, even if it just so happened that they filled needs in their system in the process.

And, if they took players that scouts in the public sphere weren’t high on? So be it.

Disagreeing with the consensus isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A lot of successful teams became successful by going against the grain. But it is a gamble. When you break with consensus, you’re betting that you know something the others don’t. Maybe you do and you end up looking like a genius.

Or maybe you don’t.

Maybe the scouts in the public realm that looked at Mynio, Mueller, Alriksson, Perkins, and Celebrini and didn’t see a prospect worth picking were right. Maybe future Canucks fans will look back at the 2023 draft and see it as a massive missed opportunity to not take Benson or Moore or some other star player taken in the picks after the Canucks selected.

But the Canucks believe they got it right.

“We’re happy we got him where we got him.”

Scouts stake their reputation on these picks, sticking their neck out for prospects they believe in during draft meetings in order to get them on the board. The stakes are higher for an NHL team than they are for public scouting services and content creators. If an NHL team gets a draft board right, they come away with the future of their organization. If they get it wrong, they could lose their jobs.

The Canucks’ most off-the-board picks came in the fourth round, which is where the odds of finding an NHL player are already exceedingly low. With that in mind, it’s understandable that the Canucks took chances on prospects in their second or third year of draft eligibility or gambled on a 6’6” prospect being a late bloomer.

Reaching for Willander will look like a brilliant move if he develops into a top-pairing, right-side defenceman. Going off the board to take Mynio will pay off if he becomes an NHL regular down the line. And the scouts that pushed for those picks will make — or potentially break — their reputations based on those calls.

Not all of the Canucks’ picks were off the board, of course. Hunter Brzustewicz, taken 75th overall in the third round, was projected to go much higher in the draft, with almost every public draft ranking seeing him as a second-round pick. On that, the Canucks and the public sphere agree.

“We feel we got good, second-round value there,” said Harvey. “Solid player, moves pucks very well. Smart, smart player and we’re happy we got him where we got him.”

If the Canucks and draft experts are both right about Brzustewicz and assuming Willander becomes the top-four defenceman he’s projected to be, then the Canucks will get at least two NHL players out of the 2023 draft, which is about what you expect.

If that’s the case, going off the board with their other picks may not matter much. And if one of those off-the-board picks hits, then the Canucks could look brilliant in retrospect.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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