NHL Mock Draft 2021: Vancouver Canucks select Brandt Clarke with No. 9 pick

As this year’s NHL Entry Draft nears, our fellow SBN sites gather as we have in past years and conduct a mock draft. And while there has been a lot of talk about the possibility of Canucks GM Jim Benning trading away that pick for some immediate help, we chose instead to live in a world where Daniel and Henrik Sedin slap the phone out of his hands as he tries to make a deal.

There were some interesting choices left on the board after the Winging it In Motown made the Detroit Red Wings pick Mason MacTavish in the number six slot. Two defencemen, and a home grown center that address needs the Canucks have.

To be fair, If there’s a position the Canucks seem to have some depth is, it’s in the middle of the ice. But for a team that is looking to repair a fractured relationship with its fan base, a highly touted prospect who was born and raised in the Vancouver area couldn’t hurt this effort. Sadly, Fear The Fin chose Kent Johnson for the San Jose Sharks seventh overall pick.

So that leaves two pretty good defensive prospects, and if you don’t think the Canucks need to continue drafting on defence in this round, you probably haven’t been paying attention. Simon Edvinsson is a Swedish kid who’s drawing a lot of Victor Hedman comparisons, and not just because of their nationality. He’s a solid defender with size and skill, and so naturally Jewels From The Crown snapped Edvinsson up for the Los Angeles Kings at number eight.

That brings us to the Canucks pick at ninth overall, and if they should be fortunate enough that Brandt Clarke of the OHL’s Barrie Colts is still available at that stage, we could be looking at an absolute steal.

The 6’2” 185 lb rearguard was one of a number of OHL players to head to Europe with the cancellation of the season in Ontario. Clarke ended up playing for Nove Zamky in Slovakia’s top league. He was able to play a few games with his brother Graeme, before the New Jersey Devils assigned Graeme to their AHL affiliate in Binghamton.

Clarke is considered an elite offensive defenceman, but one that is more than competent in his own end and not one to shy away from physical play at all. With the Canucks looking to retool the back end around Quinn Hughes and Jack Rathbone, Clarke seems to be a no-brainer if he’s still available.

We’ll see what goes down on July 23rd. Maybe he’s available, maybe New Jersey snags him at number four. We could always settle for Luke Hughes, I suppose.

The Ottawa Senators and Pierre McGuiahahahahahaha... wheeeeee! Ahem. Sorry. The Senators and Silver Seven Sens are on the clock.