Canucks top defence prospects
NIKITA TRYAMKIN
Age: 20 Acquired: 66th overall in 2014 draft Comment: The 6-7, 230- pound Russian is considered a late-bloomer and the upside is he’s played 144 games in a professional league (KHL) already. Tryamkin has one year left on his KHL contract and the Canucks’ plan is to get him to North America following next season.
ANDREY PEDAN
Age: 21
Acquired: Via trade with Islanders for Alexandre Mallet and thirdround pick (2016) on Nov. 25, 2014
Comment: Good skater for his size (6-5, 220 pounds) and has a big shot, has already shown his toughness and physicality at the AHL level, but needs to stay healthy. Projects as a third-pairing D-man at the NHL level.
BEN HUTTON
Age: 22
Acquired: 147th overall in 2012
draft
Comment: Mobile and moves the puck well, he’s been an offensive D-man at University of Maine. The Canucks believe he has the potential to be a top-four defenceman in the NHL. He signed after his sophomore year at Maine and was assigned to Utica, but is 10th on the minor-league depth chart so has been sent to Vancouver to work on his training.
JORDAN SUBBAN
Age: 20
Acquired: 115th overall in 2013
draft
Comment: Subban will always have to overcome lack of size (5-9, 185 pounds), but he became a high-end offensive player and power play ace for the OHL’s Belleville Bulls. He’s working on getting stronger to handle NHL forwards.
EVAN MCENENY
Age: 21 Acquired: Signed as a free agent in
2012
Comment: McEneny played as an over-ager for OHL Kingston this past season, putting up nine goals and 45 points, but he projects as a stay-at-home type at the pro level. The Canucks like his tidy game and the way he moves the puck, but acknowledge he needs to get quicker.
ANTON CEDERHOLM
Age: 20 Acquired: 145th overall in 2013
draft
Comment: Another stay-at-home player who makes a good first pass and finishes his checks.
ASHTON SAUTNER
Age: 20
Acquired: Signed as free agent, March 2015
Comment: A two-way D-man who reads the play well and was the defence partner of Griffin Reinhart in 2013-14 when the Edmonton Oil Kings won the Memorial Cup.
NOTE: Patrick McNally, 23, whom the Canucks selected with their top pick (115th overall) in 2010, would normally be on this list, but GM Jim Benning said he’s uncertain whether the team will opt to sign McNally by the Aug. 15 deadline in order to retain his rights.