The first defenceman off the board went to the Vancouver Canucks, selecting Olli Juolevi of the London Knights 5th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Excitement was evident on the 18 year old’s face.
“It’s awesome to go to Vancouver,” said Juolevi, who visited the city when he played in the Top Prospect game in January.
Defense was a glaring hole for the Canucks last year, and they hope Juolevi can be that star defenceman they desperately need for years to come.
“He has a high hockey IQ,” said Canucks GM Jim Benning.
Juolevi stands 6’2″, and weighs 183-pounds hailing from Finland. He starred for the Memorial Cup champion London Knights last season, scoring 42 points (9-33-42) in 57 games.
Leading up to the draft it seemed like the Canucks had locked in on centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, but was selected surprisingly 3rd overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Juolevi is projected to be a top 4 defenceman, and his style of play is exactly what the Vancouver Canucks need. He may not be flashy or physical, but his puck possession skills are second to none.
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