Draft Preview | Potential options with the 15th-overall pick

For the first time under new leadership, the Canucks' amateur scouting staff convened to iron out its draft rankings. In the introduction, Patrick Allvin addressed the group and laid out his philosophy for how the scouting department will influence the direction of his team saying, "I'm a big believer that if we are going to have success as an organization, this department is going to contribute to the success. In order to get better, everything starts here."
Heading into Montreal, they currently own the 15th overall selection and if they keep the pick, will have a chance to add a young piece that may well contribute to the team's bid for a championship.
Here are 5 players the Canucks could take at 15th overall.

For the first time under new leadership, the Canucks' amateur scouting staff convened to iron out its draft rankings. In the introduction, Patrick Allvin addressed the group and laid out his philosophy for how the scouting department will influence the direction of his team saying, "I'm a big believer that if we are going to have success as an organization, this department is going to contribute to the success. In order to get better, everything starts here."
Heading into Montreal, they currently own the 15th overall selection and if they keep the pick, will have a chance to add a young piece that may well contribute to the team's bid for a championship.
Here are 5 players the Canucks could take at 15th overall.
\Editor's note: We've noted where three industry draft lists (Sportsnet, Bob McKenzie, and Elite Prospects' consolidated rankings) have ranked each player for reference outside of our organization.*
Frank Nazar
C/RW | 5'10" 181lbs | US National U18 Team (USHL) | 56GP 28G 42A | SN: 14 / McKenzie: 15 / EP: 8
Predicting where Frank Nazar will land in the draft is no easy feat as some outlets have him as high as their 4th-rated prospect whereas others, like NHL Central Scouting, have him 21st out of all North American skaters. But make no mistake, the University of Michigan commit would add enormous amounts of speed and skill to any prospect pool.
One can assess speed by looking at the pace at which a player skates or thinks the game, but also the pace at which a player executes skills. The fluidity and speed of a player to successfully link one skill to the next is known as shouldering speed - coined by Patrick Kane's skills coach, Darryl Belfry. Nazar's shouldering speed is high-end.
At Nazar's base is his skating, he utilizes linear crossovers to build speed and heel turns and punch turns to maneuver to favourable ice that wouldn't otherwise be available, all while maintaining a dynamic posture that allows him to execute his next move with control. Whether that is performing a puck handling skill to improve the condition of the puck, using his vision to thread a pass, or leveraging good wrist shot mechanics to get a shot off. Combine shouldering speed, vision, puck handling, and skating ability together and you have a player that excels in transition as well as in tightly contested spaces. Sprinkle in an extremely high compete rate and Nazar is one of the best offensive upside bets in this draft class.
Matthew Savoie
C | 5'9" 179lbs | Winnipeg Ice (WHL) | 65GP 35G 55A | SN: 6 / McKenzie: 9 / EP: 7
Speaking of shouldering speed, Matthew Savoie brings a lightning-quick and fluid skill set to create offence off the rush. He has the ability to receive a pass from awkward angles without needing to slowdown and lose momentum. This makes him an incredibly dangerous player in transition as the puck just needs to be in his vicinity for him to scoop it up and launch through the neutral zone. He supports his teammates effectively as the third man high in the offensive zone helping to stop oncoming rushes often utilizing his gifts as a speedy puck handler to quickly launch counter-attacks.
Savoie is a puppeteer below the goal line and in the corners, manipulating defenders with subtle misdirection in body language. His 35 goals this season speak to his good shooting mechanics and footwork, allowing him to transfer his weight quickly and efficiently after catching a pass or shooting off the rush.
Denton Mateychuk
D | 5'11" 194lbs | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) | 65GP 13G 51A | SN: 16 / McKenzie: 24 / EP: 15
Imagine a Ferrari playing hockey - that is Denton Mateychuk. The left-handed defenceman has the need for speed and is constantly trying to push the pace and create offence in transition. Mateychuk frequently leverages this speed to create zone exits and join the rush as the fourth skater.
While his edge work is high-end, his dynamic posture coming out of stops and tight turns enables him to handle the puck with control. He is just as comfortable skating backward as he is forward which gives him confidence and an ability to problem-solve on the fly. Under pressure, if he needs to escape by shifting momentum backward, he is more than confident to do so with the puck, all in the name of keeping the pace up and transporting the puck to advantageous areas around the ice. His skating ability also makes him a good defender against the rush, denying controlled zone entries, and racing for retrievals.
In the offensive zone, Mateychuk loves to attack down the boards with the puck, looking for a passing option or a lane to the net. His off-puck play is unique for a defender as oftentimes he will end up at the net-front looking for loose pucks. In every sense, he is a rover. He isn't afraid to be the fourth skater in the rush - allowing him to fill a lane and become an option.
Marco Kasper
C | 6'2" 187lbs | Rögle BK (SHL) | 46GP 7G 4A | SN: 8 / McKenzie: 10 / EP: 16
Watching Marco Kasper at the beginning of his season and comparing it to how he finished saw a leap in confidence. Kasper worked his way up from the bottom of the lineup in the SHL to being entrusted with power-play time and a standout player for Austria at the World Championships.
At the heart of his game is a relentless motor that propels him into the forecheck, constantly racing to pucks and contesting opponents at every chance he gets. It's a trait that helped him keep offensive zone time alive and drive possession for much of his offence. Where he gained massive utility though was in his improved skating ability. Kasper began the year with some flaws in his skating which didn't allow him to be a confident puck carrier through the neutral zone. As his season wore on though, his linear crossovers became a strength and he consistently made rushes up the ice attacking defenders with built-up speed. His posture also developed over the season allowing him to execute more complicated puck-handling maneuvers while attacking at an angle.
The fact that he has the tools to be a puck retriever for skilled players and use his size to win battles in the crease and along the boards on top of his improvements as a puck carrier potentially makes him a very versatile piece in a forward group. The Austrian can be a valuable complementary piece to skilled teammates and if his skating continues to improve and he can add a shot off the rush, he could be relied upon to drive a secondary line.
Conor Geekie
C | 6'4" 205lbs | Winnipeg Ice (WHL) | 63GP 24G 46A | SN: 11 / McKenzie: 13 / EP: 18
The traits that will cause NHL GMs to clamour for Conor Geekie are his size and playmaking ability. His large frame and long reach make it hard for opponents at the WHL level to strip the puck away from Geekie when he is in control. It also allows him to be strong coming out of the corners or bully his way to the net; this in tandem with his quick hands and good vision has him frequently setting up his teammates with cross-crease passes.
At his best, he is battling through contact to get to the most dangerous areas of the offensive zone. He can be active on the rush by pulling defenders toward him off the puck to open up space for his teammates or by carrying the puck down the wings, dropping his shoulder to shield the puck, and willing his way to the net.
The intrigue of this year's draft comes from the divergent ranking of prospects after the top 5. For example, Bob McKenzie noted that one scout he polled had Marco Kasper as their 5th best player and another had him down at 21. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that this draft class has had to deal with a global pandemic resulting in a draft that is shaping up like no other. There are sure to be some surprises on the draft floor.
Be sure to follow along with all the excitement of draft weekend by checking out the Canucks' official social media channels.