Despite saying Friday that drafting a defensemen was a top priority, Mike Gillis waited until the third round to pick one up on the second day of the NHL entry draft.
With the 83rd overall pick, the Canucks drafted Edmonton native Kevin Connauton, who played for Western Michigan of the CCHA last season.
The 6'1", 185 lbs blueliner is a smooth-skating offensive defensemen, who sees plenty of time on the powerplay.
"We're going to look at a defensemen," said Gillis right after the first round. "If we have an opportunity to select a right player at the right time, we'll do it."
With their second round pick, Vancouver took Swedish winger Anton Rodin.
The Stockholm product is known for scoring spectacular goals and his biggest upside -like many of his countrymen- is his speed and puck handling ability.
For their fourth pick, the Canucks went with another offensive defensemen, Jeremy Price from Milton, Ontario.
Playing for Nepean of the CJHL last year, Price recorded 41 points in 55 games. Next season he'll most likely be skating for Colgate University.
Sticking with the same position, the Canucks drafted another blueliner, and another Swede in the fifth round.
Peter Andersson is a 6'3", 194 lbs defensemen who played for Frolunda Jr. last season, scoring 8 points in 36 games.
With their sixth pick, Vancouver went with a goaltender, Joe Cannata, who plays for Merrimack University.
The Canucks had no more picks but then traded Shaun Heska to Phoenix for their seventh round pick, which they used to select Steven Anthony, a left winger from Halifax.
