Keeping An Eye On Canucks' 2012 Draft Picks

The NHL draft can be a crap shoot at times, as prospects can stand out at the time of being picked and then either disappear off the map or maintain a blossoming process. I figured I would give you a quick heads up on how Mike Gillis and staffs' 2012 picks are doing because we tend to overlook these guys until years later. So here we go, from last to first:

MATTHEW BEATTIE

The Canucks selected Beattie in the 7th round (207th overall). The 20 year-old left winger was born in Morristown, New Jersey. He is listed as 6'3", 173 pounds and a center / right winger.

His current stats:

To quote the Yale University Athletics page:

Played one year at Phillips Exeter and had 39 goals and 73 points in 26 games… First-team All-New England… Team MVP… Skated four seasons for The Pingry School in New Jersey… Scored 100 goals and had 230 points in 100 career games… Two-time team MVP… Courier News Player of Year… Star Ledger Central Jersey Player of Year… Led team to Skylander Conference Championship in 2011… Skylander Conference Scholar-Athlete… Advanced math student.

Beattie's feature at Hockey's Future.

Some Beattie footage from Yale:

Terrible play by play there. Anyway. Beattie is a long shot.

Matthew Beattie on Twitter: @UnBeatable_13

WESLEY MYRON

Photo credit: http://grizzroar.blogspot.ca/

A 6'2" 182 -pound left winger from Victoria, BC. The 20-year-old was selected 177th overall in the 6th round.

Myron's stats:

Hockey's Future gives Myron's chance at success a "D".

Recently left Boston College and currently playing for the Kalamazoo Wings. His coach had this to say about him recently:

"He’s a kid you can see the potential in," Bootland said. "He needs to get stronger, but at the same time, he’s 20 years old and he’s come in here and he’s made an impact. He keeps things simple. He’s a natural centerman, but he’s going to play a little bit of wing and center here. He’s done a pretty good job so far, being thrown into the fire."

This I believe is Myron's first goal with the Wings:

That's how I score the majority of my goals on NHL 13.

Wesley Myron on Twitter: @Mysie9

BEN HUTTON

The 19 year-old defenceman from Brockville, Ontario is currently playing for the University of Maine. He was drafted in the 5th round by the Canucks (147th overall). His statistics:

The 6'2" 183-pounder is a left-handed shot. Hutton was captain of the Kemptville team for 38 games. Was a CCHL all star in 2009-10. He led his next team, the Nepean Raiders to the CCHL Championship and the Bogart Cup.

He was recently called a "bright spot" on his current University of Maine team, with a senior defenceman (his D partner) on the team saying:

"I’ve been really impressed with him. He’s going to end up the best of all of us. He has a really, really high ceiling as to what he can become. Right now, he’s only scratching the surface of where he’ll be. He’s naturally gifted."

"He has a goofy laid-back personality and he’s really poised with the puck. He’s heady. He’s a smooth, silky player. It’s a pleasure to play with him."

More on that here. Good to hear praises like that.

Hutton's page at Hockey's Future here.

Ben Hutton on Twitter: @bhutt10

Woa, watch Hutton do most of the work on this beauty goal:

ALEXANDRE MALLET

Image is from The Province. The ladies drool.

The 21-year-old Mallet was passed over for 2 years in a row at the NHL draft. He persevered and a huge season with the Rimouski Oceanic in 2011-12 and impressed the Canucks enough to select him 57th overall.

Check out his stats:

Mallet is a tough kid. The native of Amqui, Quebec is a right-handed center. Listed as 6'1" 195 pounds. This season he got a shot with the Chicago Wolves, but registered only 1 assist and had 7 penalty minutes in 18 games. He was sent down to Kalamazoo in December, where he is getting a lot more ice time and doing pretty well. A lot of goals get scored in the QMJHL, so remember that when looking at his Rimouski stats.

Mallet's page at Hockey's Future here.

Nice: A one-punch knockdown by Mallet:

I like how he holds his hand up (block) as if to say: "Hold on a sec." WHAMMO!

Mallet lowers the boom:

He can score too:

He's just gonna need more time, maybe a lot more before we see him in a Canucks uni.

Alexandre Mallet on Twitter: @LaMalletos_21

BRENDAN GAUNCE

Photo from OHL Photos

Selected 26th overall by the Canucks. First round picks get a lot of attention and it's no exception for Gaunce. The Sudbury, Ontario native is listed as 6'2" and 215 pounds. The 18-year-old Gaunce, who is a left shot and plays center, is still playing with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL and is still scoring at a point-per game pace. He is the team captain.

He has represented Canada at the Under-18 Championships fared well there (winning bronze), as you can see below. He won gold at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.

The talent analysis on Gaunce's page at Hockey's Future states:

If Gaunce were a better skater, he would be considered top-6 material. As it stands, his attention to the defensive side of the game and ability on face-offs makes him a definite candidate for role as a third-line checking center. Gaunce has the size to battle with most players but doesn't always have the speed to keep up. But he'll pay attention to the defensive zone and win most of the puck battles along the boards, making him a potentially valuable player when a team is looking to preserve a lead.

You are working on that, right Brendan? On a more positive note, you have to love his size and leadership ability for such a young age. I've read on more than one occasion that he is often compared to Jordan Staal.

Gillis loves drafting and acquiring character doesn't he? On draft day he said:

"Everything about him is good," Gillis said. "Good parents, good potential, good leadership. Captain material. Lots of character and a hard worker. There's a really good foundation, and if we can do something with it, we think we'll have a player."

How about some Gaunce highlights?

Hey wait, I can see some speed there. Hell of a wrist shot, that's for sure!

Gaunce on Twitter: @BrendanGaunce16

Hope you enjoyed the update on our prospects that were selected in 2012.