The 2017 NHL Entry Draft may turn out to be the best one in Jim Benning’s tenure so far as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. In fact, a re-grading by The Athletic pegged Vancouver’s haul as the best of the draft.
In the first round he nabbed superstar center Elias Pettersson. He followed that pick up in the second round by choosing Kole Lind and Jonah Gadjovich. He then added goalie Michael DiPietro in the third round and stud college defenceman Jack Rathbone in the fourth round.