It caught many people by surprise when the Vancouver Canucks elected to not draft a single defenceman at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Aside from Quinn Hughes, the team’s defence prospects weren’t nearly as impressive as what the team boasted at the forward positions, so it was interesting to see them elect to not draft any blueliners.
The Canucks made some NCAA free agent signings last March, acquiring goaltender Jake Kielly, and defencemen Josh Teves and Brogan Rafferty. Kielly is in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, while Teves and Rafferty are currently honing their craft with the Utica Comets in the AHL.