Vancouver is 2019 draft central
Canucks to be ‘centre of the hockey universe’ heading into 50th season
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Mayor Gregor Robertson joined Canucks president Trevor Linden at a news conference on Wednesday at Rogers Arena to announce Vancouver will host the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
The 2018 draft will be held June 22-23 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
“It’s an honour to be hosting the future of the game,” Robertson said, noting that Vancouver is also co-hosting the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship and that the 2019-20 season will be the Canucks’ 50th in the league.
“It’s a great statement about Vancouver’s love of the game,” he said.
“As a city we’re interested in attracting big sports events — not just for the fans, but it’s good for business,” he added.
Vancouver last hosted the draft in 2006, the year the St. Louis Blues selected defenceman Erik Johnson first overall ahead of Jordan Staal (No. 2, Pittsburgh), Jonathan Toews (No. 3, Chicago), Nicklas Backstrom (No. 4, Washington) and Phil Kessel (No. 5, Boston).
Linden said hosting the draft leading into the team’s 50th season was a great fit.
“Our prospects and our young players are at the forefront of what our fans are taking about,” he said. “(The draft) will be another opportunity to bring them closer to that.
“Our goal is to build a young, fast team that can compete for a championship,” he said. “There’s a lot of optimism for what’s to come.”
Linden gave credit to Canucks PR head Chris Brumwell, who led the pitch to the league.
“Based on the presentation Trevor and his team put together ... we’re thrilled to be part of this (50th season) celebration,” Bettman said.
“When we come (for the draft), it’s the centre of the hockey universe.
“It’s a celebration of our sport, and to be able to do it in a world-class city like Vancouver ... it’s just going to be great to be here.”
The commissioner said the draft’s economic impact on the city is in the range of $8-$10 million.
At the draft in 2006, the Dave Nonis-led team nabbed Austrian winger Michael Grabner with the 14th pick. The Canucks also acquired Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers in a draft weekend trade that sent Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld and Bryan Allen to the sunshine state.
Vancouver also hosted the draft at B.C. Place Stadium in 1990, the year the Quebec Nordiques chose Owen Nolan first overall ahead of Czech winger Petr Nedved, picked second by the Canucks, and Keith Primeau (No. 3, Detroit), Mike Ricci (No. 4, Philadelphia) and Jaromir Jagr (No. 5, Pittsburgh).
Having Bettman in attendance also led to a series of league-related questions, including whether the league is thinking of other cities to host the NHL Awards. Vancouver hosted the awards in 2006.
“We have a multi-year commitment (to Las Vegas),” he said, leaving the door open to the summer event possibly moving around.
“We should get the awards here, so we should pitch for that,” Linden said in a moment of levity between him and Bettman.
And Bettman, not surprisingly, demurred from commenting on the NHL’s chances of being at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“We are very comfortable with the decision we made with regards to the Olympics,” he said. “It was entertaining and exciting. Based on the overall reaction these games got, we were justified in our decision. I am not in a position to predict what will happen in four years.”
He expected the draft will be held at Rogers Arena, despite B.C. Place having been used in the past.