The Hockey News staff selects Czech winger Eduard Sale 11th overall for Vancouver Canucks
With the 11th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks select Eduard Sale, LW, Brno Kometa, Czechia
Why pick him? The Vancouver Canucks need size and skill and in Sale they find both. Listed at 6' 2" and 174 pounds and likely still to fill out his 18-year-old frame, the left-shot left winger possesses the ability to score blended nicely with strong playmaking abilities. A somewhat polarizing prospect in this year's crop, Sale is the fourth ranked skater among European prospects according to NHL Central Scouting. As a teen, he scored seven goals and recorded 14 points in 43 games with Brno in the Czech League this season. Against age group competition, Sale had a strong World Junior championship with a goal and five assists in seven games for Team Czechia. He also led his Czech team in scoring at the U-18 Championship with four goals and six points in five games. If he reaches his potential as a professional, Sale is projected to be a Valeri Nichushkin-type player.
Scouts say: "Sale's an easy skater and an easy shooter. If he adds compete to that, you've have a special player."
Who are the other options? While THN Mock Draft opted for a winger with the 11th pick, in reality the Canucks are likely to use the selection on either a centre or a defenseman. The club needs help down the middle and on the blueline and has spent recent high-end draft capital on wingers in Vasili Podkolzin, Nils Hoglander, Danila Klimovich and last year selected Jonathan Lekkerimaki with the 15th overall pick. That's why the Canucks will likely hope centres Ryan Leonard and Nate Danielson or defensemen Axel Sandin-Pellikka or Dmitri Simashev are still available when they head to the podium to make their selection.
What else is on the agenda? The Canucks possess a bit of a wildcard factor heading into this draft. Prior to buying out Oliver Ekman-Larsson last week, the Canucks seemed like contenders to entertain the notion of trading back in the draft to reap assets. That still remains a possibility although the team also needs high-end prospects so it's most likely the Canucks will hold onto the 11th selection and make the pick drafting the best player available, but combining that with organizational need. Beyond the first round selection, the Canucks will likely look to be active on the trade front in Nashville as they look to reduce their stockpile of wingers. The names Conor Garland and Brock Boeser remain front and centre as the most-likely pieces to find new NHL homes.