June 26, 2026: NHL DRAFT SPECIAL (round 1): Canucks rebuild begins!
episodePreviously titled “June 26, 2026: NHL DRAFT SPECIAL: Canucks rebuild begins!” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 4, 2026
Transcript
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How did the Canucks accumulate two first-round picks and why does it signal a rebuild?
So here's some price for Friday, June 26th, 2026 presentation of bet. Three, six, five at bet. Three, six, five boring games. A thing of the past that now there's always a reason to tune in. Even if the score isn't one of them, download the app today. A must be 19 plus please play responsibly. Matt's a carrots back with Blake price, four time June award winner, two time basketball champion. world log rolling champion, Mike Rogerson, hitting switches. Trying to give him extra championships. And conducting, he's got all the championships. And we are here with you, a little pre-draft NHL talk before the proceedings get going in Buffalo. Well, about 20 minutes or so, there's probably a little preamble before the picks get started.
And of course, the Vancouver Canucks with two first round picks for the first time since 2014 when they selected Jake Vertanen and Jared McCann in Philadelphia. First time with a pick in the top three since they selected Daniel and Henrik Sedin second and third overall 27 years ago in Boston. We have waited, Canucks fans have waited an awfully long time for this day because let's face it, in November, I was joking about this with Jeff Merrick today on... He was like, you guys were so early on Caleb Melhalter, all that Caleb Melhalter talk we were doing at the beginning of the season. I said, Jeff, it's because the team was out of it by Remembrance Day. We had moved on to the NHL draft by Remembrance Day.
Of course, the trade of Quinn Hughes in December, it became clear at that point the rebuild was on. And so here we are on NHL draft day, the first round. with the Vancouver Canucks holding pick number three and pick number 24, at least for the moment. You do wonder if and when Ryan Johnson feels like it's time to get involved in this red hot trade market. I know that has been a big point of discussion with Canucks fans over the last 48 hours or so. In fact, J-Pat had a tweet from earlier today, and I believe this is still up to date because it came after the The final trade of today, and there's been a lot of trades today, actually, when you consider it. But yeah, I guess the last trade today was about noon.
Yeah, 21 of the 32 teams in the National Hockey League have been involved in some sort of trade activity over the past week. The Vancouver Canucks, one of 11 teams thus far, that have sat out the trade market.
And why wouldn't a rebuilding team with infinite moves needed want to get involved in this?
Now, I'm of two minds of this, because we did say Herman Dial is ringing in my ears from about a month, six weeks ago when we had him on the show, and we were talking about the summer ahead. He said, you know, I do have to remind myself, and he's right that, you know, They do have time here, right? You were on the front end of a rebuild. A lot of these players, in fact, pretty much all of these players have either full no trade clauses or no move clauses, which means you've got to work with them, right? They are not going to say, oh yeah, trade me anywhere and everywhere. So you are limited in your marketplace by that. I guess Drew O'Connor would be the only one that has... some degree of a significant mark.
He's got a 12-team no-trade list, so conceivably, what, 20 teams, 19 teams you could send O'Connor to without his permission. But Philip Roenick, Marcus Pettersson, Jake DeBrus, Brock Besser, Elias Pettersson, all with no move clauses. Now, Thatcher Demko, no trade protection right now, Blake, but, and we have the visuals here as well, Ryan Johnson yesterday saying not being able to commit to Thatcher Demko being ready for training camp. That's the bad news. The good news is that Thatcher Demko reported personally via his social channels that he is back on the ice. Been a long road to this point, he says, but wants to celebrate each and every victory and absolutely getting back on the ice is a victory for Thatcher Demko.
So, They have time. They're working with no move and no trade clauses. I get it. At the same time, just did a little quick math here before the show.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did the Canucks accumulate two first-round picks and why does it signal a rebuild?
0:21–11:02
2
What trade market changes and player protections are shaping Canucks' trade strategy?
11:02–1:40:44
3
Why are scouts debating Caleb Malhotra vs Braden Kutz and locker-room concerns about drafting a coach’s son?
1:40:44–1:50:16
4
Which notable trades and early-round surprises reshaped the draft board (McTavish trade, Gustafson, Hemming, Belches)?
1:50:16–2:25:28
5
Could the Canucks get a local defenseman at 24 and who else might fall to them?
2:25:28–3:07:14
6
Which defensemen and trade scenarios are being debated as the draft continues?
3:07:14–3:13:08
7
Why did the Canucks pick Adam Novotny at 24 and what is his projected NHL role?
3:13:08–3:15:15
8
How do trades late in Round 1 change the Canucks' draft strategy and what's next for their picks?
3:15:15–4:27:52
Speakers
7 identifiedMore from Sekeres & Price Show
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July 20, 2026: New Canucks game times; New staffs with new names
Frank Corrado: A return home for Alex Edler. New home for EP40? A path home for Connor Bedard?
Pat Byrne M.D: Breaking down Canucks 2026-27 schedule, and a look at how timing changes affect younger players