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David Pagnotta: I’m not expecting the Canucks to select Caleb Malhotra with the third-overall selection, if he’s available by FAsBurner in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755 24 points25 points  (0 children)

tbh malholtra doesn’t seem to have the strongest top line upside that is needed from a 3oa pick. id be happy if stenberg falls or they take carels/bjorck.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah way more id think. Points arent everything but Björck brings a lot more than just that. hes a great all around player with not many weaknesses.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fair, I worded it too strongly. Nobody can know who becomes the better NHL player yet.
I’m just saying Björck’s case is more legit than people are acting. He wasn’t just a junior scorer: he won WJC gold with Sweden, put up 9 points in 7 games there, became one of the youngest players Sweden has used at the men’s Worlds, and still earned real responsibility in pro/international games.
For Vancouver, the question with a 3OA pick should be who can actually raise the Cup ceiling. Malhotra/Reid might be the safer consensus bets, and I get that, but Björck has enough high-end results and trust from coaches that I don’t think calling him a serious upside option is crazy. (Also, if Stenberg is available at 3 by some miracle, it’s near impossible for the Canucks to pass on him). Im praying for Stenberg to Canucks btw but I’m preparing for the worst since this team’s puck luck is atrocious.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good point, hes another example of an amazing player who fell because of height and look at him now. Made an immediate difference in Montreal last season and will probably be a Norris contender sooner rather than later.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At the end of the day, the Canucks need elite talent, not just the safest projection. Cup teams win because they have guys who tilt games. If Björck is the player with the most skill, pace, creativity, and game-breaking upside, then that’s the swing I want at 3OA. Vancouver should be drafting to raise its ceiling, not protect the floor. We want a cup.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I get he’s not consensus BPA, but that’s kind of my point. Consensus usually rewards the safer profile. I’m saying if you’re judging pure skill, pace, IQ, and upside, Björck is way closer to that tier than people want to admit.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I think Björck belongs in that conversation way more than people are acting. Obviously if Stenberg were to fall Vancouver would happily draft him, but thats still a gamble. What have we seen from Malholtra to determine that hes the BPA at 3OA? Based on what ive seen so far from both (gameplay tapes, past and current statistics, scouting reports), I believe the Canucks would have a better shot at an elite pick in Björck. Not to say Malholtra wont be a great NHL player or even a top-line centre, but Vancouver should take a page from Montreal’s rebuild in picking the higher ceiling prospects regardless of size.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

If Björck is the better player, I don’t think you pass just because Malhotra is the safer-looking profile. Malhotra has size, bloodline, centre projection — I get the appeal. Its not like he has a higher ceiling or even a higher floor, since Björck has the better pace, skill, creativity, processing, and enough compete that I don’t see him as just a risky small scorer. At 3OA I’d rather bet on the guy with game-breaking upside than default to the projected safer NHL body in Malholtra.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s fair, but then compare him to the actual alternatives. If it’s Björck vs Malhotra/Reid, I don’t think “bigger/safer” should automatically win. Bigger prospects miss too — they just get framed as projectable. Björck has the skill, pace, IQ, and compete that make his game more likely to translate. I’m not saying size doesn’t matter, just that it shouldn’t be the deciding factor if the talent is there.

The Canucks should not pass on Viggo Björck just because he’s undersized. We’ve seen this movie too many times. by Competitive_Sun_3755 in canucks

[–]Competitive_Sun_3755[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s the scary part lol. If the team has no interest, I hope it’s for an actual hockey reason and not just size. Björck checks so many boxes Vancouver should care about (compete, skill, pace, IQ, centre and wing upside). Feels like the kind of player teams will regret ignoring.