Should the Canucks Take Chase Reid at No. 3

Last season was a loss for the Vancouver Canucks. In total, it was one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history. Second, they also traded their captain, Quinn Hughes, one of the franchise’s most important players. As Andrew Forbes of The Hockey Writers suggested, drafting Chase Reid at No. 3 is the kind of move that could get Vancouver back on track sooner rather than later.

Reid isn’t just another big body on the blue line; he’s got the size, reach, and — more importantly — the skating and instincts to actually drive play. He moves the puck cleanly, sees seams in the neutral zone, and can make outlet passes that turn defensive zone exits into quick attack chances. For a Canucks roster that’s felt a step slow and a touch disjointed in transition, that kind of play-driving defenseman is exactly what you want.

Reid is a blueliner who can impact the game all over the ice.

What really sells Reid is the total package. He’s 6-foot-something, projects physically to handle heavy minutes, and plays with a calmness that hides his youth. That calm translates into smart choices under pressure: he doesn’t panic when forecheckers come, he uses his edges to escape trouble, and once he gets moving, he has the burst to join the rush and the stick to pick out a pass.

If he lands with the Canucks, coaches will love that kind of two-way reliability — someone who won’t hurt the team defensively while still adding offence. He’s not just a point-shot guy; his vision in the offensive zone leads to high-danger chances and second-wave opportunities.

Reid will have to build some bulk, but that’s just a part of maturing.

He’ll need to get stronger to handle NHL net-front battles and heavier forechecks, and his defensive reads can wobble at times against elite speed. But those are fixable with strength training and smarter gap control, and NHL reps will help iron things out. Compared to taking another forward at three, Reid fills a hole that no single forward pick can solve: a top-pairing, play-driving defenseman who can stabilize minutes one through four and turbocharge the transition game. If the Canucks plan to move past a one-line reliance, a defender who creates offence off the rush and from controlled exits is a huge asset.

Long-term, Chase Reid projects as the kind of number-one or high-end number-two defenseman teams build around. He’s the type of player who changes matchups, lets your forwards play faster, and takes pressure off your goaltender by cutting down sustained zone time against.

If the Canucks go with a defenseman at No. 3, Reid is the clear fit.

Passing on him because you’re sold on a forward might feel exciting, but drafting Reid is the safer, smarter bet to restore structure and spark. In short, he’s big, mobile, calm, and creative. And Vancouver would be doing itself a favour by making him the pick at three.