In a Sportsnet interview before the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery, Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning stated that “in the top six there’ll be one defenseman that we have our eye on; and if he’s there, we’ll take him.” Benning continued saying that even at No. 5, they would pick that defenseman: “we’ve done our homework on this and we feel in the top six there is a defenseman and if we pick five or six, we’ll look to pick that defenseman.”
However, Benning seemingly changed his mind after the lottery, perhaps after talks with his amateur scouting staff.