Canucks’ draft options at 15th overall: Kashawn Aitcheson

Of course, constantly being on the lookout for your next victim can lead to occasional lapses, and there are moments when he catches himself out of position or out of sorts.

That said, he appears to have gained more control as he matures, and even his penalty minutes are down as a result.

While he does carry the size, he’s also quite mobile and can navigate his way around the ice with relative ease. While his stride may not be the most effective, and there’s still work to be done on his lateral movements, he carries good edgework and relatively good speed once he gets going.

While his physical elements are his bread-and-butter, there’s also some intriguing offensive potential.

He’s a promising transitional defender, able to kick off plays with his first pass or hold the puck and skate it up the ice himself. Given his size, there isn’t much hesitancy in his game, which often leads to poised plays from the backend. All in all, there isn’t a ton of angst in the way he transports the puck.

As you’ll see from his highlight package (below), he’s equally impressive with keeping the puck himself or finding forwards with his first pass.

In his third season with the Barrie Colts (151 games), he more than tripled his career goal totals, finishing third among all OHL rearguards with a whopping 26 tallies. That trailed just Zayne Perehk and Sam Dickinson — ever heard of them?

Six of those goals were game-winners, which led all OHL defenders.

That goal total not only led the Barrie Colts, but also set a franchise record for most goals scored by a defenceman and was higher than both Canucks prospects Riley Pattersson (25) and Anthony Romani (21), who missed the majority of the season with injury.

Overall, his totals are pretty impressive as the leading point-getter among all draft-eligible defenders in the class.

Of course, it’s never wise to expect that type of production as he jumps up the ranks. Instead, expect a secondary scoring defender who can beat netminders with a booming shot or a thoughtful pass within the zone. While not a high-end creative quarterback, Aitcheson’s offensive instincts allow him to join rushes, pinch effectively, and keep plays alive at the blue line.

The real substance of his game stems from his steady and responsible two-way acumen. Aitcheson is a steady defender who blends raw physicality with an extensive toolkit.

Whether you need a big blocked shot, a huge hit, or a penalty killed, he’s the man for the job and should work his way into a top-four role at the NHL level because of it.

The Vancouver Canucks may target a centre with this pick, and rightfully so. However, if a defender is what they are after, you can’t go wrong with taking a swing at another left-shot defender like Kashawn Aitcheson.

Just imagine a blueline that includes Aitcheson and Elias Pettersson (D)…frightening.