Fansided

Re-Drafting the 2006 NHL Draft

By David Rouben

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 24: (L-R) Second overall pick Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues, and third overall pick Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for a portrait together backstage during the 2006 NHL Draft held at General Motors Place on June 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images for NHL)
VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 24: (L-R) Second overall pick Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues, and third overall pick Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for a portrait together backstage during the 2006 NHL Draft held at General Motors Place on June 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images for NHL) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 31
Next
Apr 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) in action during game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won the game 4-3 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) in action during game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won the game 4-3 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Artem Anisimov. 14. player. 104. . Center. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Original pick: Michael Grabner

The Vancouver Canucks went from missing the playoffs to winning the division in the span of one year. A lot of that had to do with acquiring Roberto Luongo at the 2006 Draft, but their offense played a role too.

The Canucks were very much a top-heavy offense with the Sedins and Markus Naslund accounting for nearly a third of their goals scored. As a result, it’s no surprise that they drafted Michael Grabner as a means of providing offensive depth, but Anisimov might have been better served for that purpose.

That’s not to say that Anisimov is a better player, necessarily, but he probably would’ve been a better fit in the Canucks’ scheme. Despite winning the division, only the last place Edmonton Oilers scored less goals than them, but that’s because they didn’t need to score a lot with Roberto Luongo and Rory Fitzpatrick, the original John Scott, on defense. As a result, the Canucks didn’t see much need in Grabner, and were content to keep him in the AHL.

After Henrik Sedin, Vancouver’s center depth consisted of a 36-year old Trevor Linden and a 22-year old Ryan Kesler. Anisimov spent a season in Russia before coming to North America, and was in the NHL by his third season. He’s never had more than 44 points in a season, but he’s got outstanding two-way play and is a great passer of the puck. Grabner, meanwhile, has tailed off in production after posting a 52-point season with the Islanders. He’s got great speed, but not much else.

The Canucks had already planted the seeds of being a great team, but having Henrik Sedin, Kesler, and Anisimov down the middle would’ve made them practically untouchable. At the very least, they wouldn’t have gotten punked by the Bruins.

Next: 15. Tampa Bay Lightning

Home/NHL Draft