Just before the NHL Draft Lottery, Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning seemingly revealed the club’s draft strategy in a Sportsnet interview. Especially interesting was his statement on one defenseman the Canucks were going to select if they fell to fifth or sixth in the lottery. That scenario is now reality, but the strategy might have changed already.
During a Monday morning appearance on TSN 1040 radio, Benning let fans know that he does not think there is a No. 1 defenseman in this year’s draft and that picking a forward “sounds more realistic.”
“Defense is so hard to come by now in the league.