Canucks made a steal in the third round: Adding first-round value
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Canucks were quiet at this year's NHL Amateur Draft; after selection Swedes like Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander in 2022 and 2023, they weren't going to change their strategy in 2024.
Patrik Allvin used his first selection, the 93rd, to select the forward Melvin Fernstrom. Since the day the team made the pick, everyone has been praising the team's selection claiming he'd be giving the Canucks first-round value. Despite being selected in the third round, Fernström had some strong supporters in the scouting community. Craig Button ranked him as a second-round talent, placing him 58th in his draft ranking. TSN's Bob McKenzie also mentioned that Fernström received «first-round consideration» from at least one of the ten NHL scouts he interviewed.
The Vancouver Canucks share this high regard for the Swedish winger. Scouting director Todd Harvey stated that they had ranked all their picks higher than where they were selected.
«We like the way he plays a good two-way game. He goes to the spots to score goals. He's the kind of kid with a good brain, and you can see how he gets to the dirty areas. He is very detailed with his approach in the offensive zone.»
Fernström's offensive skills are immediately noticeable on the ice. During the Canucks' summer development camp, he stood out as a step above most other players. At times, he resembled a former Major Junior player dominating a beer league, consistently setting up his teammates for goals.
Credit: Vancouver is Awesome
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