Canucks Hold Picks in All Seven Rounds in '09 Draft

(Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)

Despite being only one year later, the 2008 NHL Entry Draft has already been heralded as one of the most successful Canucks drafts in recent history due to the selection of Cody Hodgson at 10th overall.

At the time of the draft, some scouts described Hodgson's hockey smarts and skill are as good as that of first overall pick Steven Stamkos, but his skating was not quite there for him to be a slam dunk NHL impact player.

Hodgson was ranked ninth amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting which was lower than local boy Kyle Beach, who was ranked at seventh.

Many expected when then-Canucks assistant general manager Steve Tambellini went up to the podium to announce the Canucks selection to say, "The Vancouver Canucks are very proud to select from the Everett Silvertips, Kyle Beach." 

Instead, the Canucks announced Cody Hodgson as their pick.

"The Vancouver Canucks are very proud to select from the Brampton Battalion, Cody Hodgson." 

There was immediate uproar in Vancouver and people began calling for Ron Delorme's head once again. But now that we look back on it, probably the best selection ever in Canucks history.

Now, this year at 22nd overall, the Canucks hope they can find themselves another gem. This year also marks the first time since 1998 the Canucks have held at least one draft pick in each round of the NHL Entry Draft. In 1998, they held twelve picks in nine rounds and three NHLers came out of that draft—Bryan Allen, Artem Chubarov, and Jarkko Ruutu.

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The "overall" position is subject to change with the inclusion of compensatory picks. But in the first round, the Canucks will be picking 22nd overall, unless there is a trade by the Canucks.

The Canucks picks are as followed:

• Vancouver's first round, 22nd overall
• Vancouver's second round, 53rd overall
• Vancouver's third round, 83rd overall
• Vancouver's fourth round, 113th overall
• Vancouver's fifth round, 142nd overall
• Vancouver's sixth round, 172nd overall
• Chicago's seventh round, 208th overall (acquired from Chicago for Jim Sharrow)

The following picks have been traded away by the Canucks:

• Los Angeles' third round, 66th overall (traded with 2010 2nd round pick for Steve Bernier)
• Vancouver's seventh round, 202nd overall (traded to Los Angeles for Jason Labarbera)

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