Canucks happy to get Luc Bourdon
Canadian Press
7/30/2005 7:23:02 PM
OTTAWA (CP) - Dave Nonis feels the Vancouver Canucks were two-time lucky with the 2005 NHL entry draft.
''We were fortunate to get the 10th pick in the lottery and we were fortunate again today,'' the Canucks GM said Saturday after selecting defenceman Luc Bourdon in the first round. ''He's a guy we had our eye on, we didn't know if he'd be available at 10.''
The six-foot-two, 199-pound Bourdon was named the top defenceman at the IIHF world under-18 championship in April and was the third-ranked defenceman among North American prospects.
''If you look at the way the game is going to be played now, a guy like him who can get around the ice, agile and mobile, and size on top of that, it made him a pretty enticing package,'' Nonis said. ''He does have very good foot speed. He can take away ice and make a very good first pass.''
The French-Canadian native of Shippagan, N.B., had 32 points (13-19) in 70 games with Val D'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season and also added 117 penalty minutes, a testimony to his complete game. He'll likely be on Canada's national junior team come Christmas at the world junior hockey championship in Vancouver.
He was surprised to go to Vancouver.
''There were a couple of surprise picks and I really didn't expect to be taken by Vancouver at all. But I'm very happy with that,'' said Bourdon, who wears No. 2 in honour of fellow Maritimer Al MacInnis. ''In the back of my mind I certainly hoped to be taken by a Canadian team. It's real special that I'll be able to play in my own country. This is our country where hockey was born so it's great.''
Nonis sniffed around the higher picks but couldn't pull off a deal.
''We did try,'' Nonis said. ''We made offers to three teams that were ahead of us. We weren't about to take away some big parts of our team in order to move up because we knew we had a good pick at 10.''
He even tried to swing a deal for the No. 2 pick owned by his former Canucks boss Brian Burke, but the new Anaheim GM was asking way too much.
''I talked to Burkey but I've grown quite attached to my first-born and that's what it would have taken,'' Nonis said with a laugh.
The NHL's Central Scouting Report describes Bourdon as ''an excellent skater with a smooth, effortless stride. He has outstanding balance and lateral movement ... turns quickly and reaches top speed easily ... good hands, he passes the puck up quickly both forehand and backhand ... protects the puck well with his body ... has good anticipation ... effective puck carrier, plays both the power play and penalty kill ... possesses a very good slapshot from the point and has an accurate, low wrist shot ideal for tip-ins ... finishes his checks with authority.''
Said Bourdon himself: ''I'm a physical guy and like hitting a lot. I think I have a great shot and pass well.''
His resume is already stocked with highlights:
- Third overall pick in the 2003 Quebec League draft
- Played in 2005 CHL Top Prospects Game
- Played on QMJHL all-star team in the 2004 Canada-Russia challenge.
In the second round Vancouver selected winger Mason Raymond, a native of Calgary who played Tier II hockey in Camrose, Alta., last year. The six-foot, 165-pound sparkplug scored 41 goals and added 41 assists in only 55 games last season.
''We had him rated at the bottom of the first round,'' Nonis said, obviously surprised he was still available with the 51st overall pick. ''He's a type of player that because of his speed, has an opportunity to hopefully develop into a good NHL player. Again talking about the way the game is going to be played going forward (with more onus on offence in the NHL), he's got outstanding speed, the puck doesn't slow him down when he's carrying it, he's got decent hands.
''He's going to take time to develop, but his offensive ability and his foot speed is real impressive.''
In the meantime, Nonis has his eye on his current roster as well. He qualified all of his restricted free agents Friday and continues to have talks with Mike Gillis, the agent for star captain Markus Naslund - set to become an unrestricted free agent Monday at noon ET.
''At this point, Mike and I will continue to talk,'' Nonis said. ''There's really nothing new to report there at this time.''
On a more positive note, Nonis will finally get closure on the Todd Bertuzzi front when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces his decision sometime this week on whether to reinstate the star winger or further punish him.
It's a relief for the entire Canucks organization.
''Yes, I think everyone was cognizant of the fact that the league had a lot to do in the last couple of months,'' Nonis said. ''And I know that Todd understood that. The commissioner made it clear that Todd was the top of the list once we got some things put to bed. It'll be nice to move forward and at that point we'll know what we're dealing with.''
Cheers,
Aquaman