When Hunter Shinkaruk entered the NHL Draft in 2013, there was little concern about his scoring abilities. The problem was rather his defensive game, and at 5’11” and 175 lbs, some thought he might be too small. Still, the Vancouver Canucks liked what they saw, and they can be happy with what they got with their 24th-overall pick.
Shinkaruk is now in his second full pro season and he is doing admirably as a forward for the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets. He finished the 2015-16 campaign with 16 goals and 31 points, and is producing at a point-per-game pace this year.