Canucks Conversation Mar. 24: Canucks take on Ducks + who's the third best player in the draft? ft. Dave Hall (ep. 987)
Mar 24, 2026
Dave Hall, hockey prospect analyst and writer, breaks down the draft landscape and prospect rankings. He debates who should be the third pick and compares Chase Reidās upside as a puck-moving defenseman to Keaton Verhoffās steadier two-way game. Short takes on Carson Corral, the Ruck brothers, goalies, Mathis Preston, and a 7'1" prospect tease keep the conversation lively.
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Ruck Twins Rise Is Likely Driven By Context
- The Ruck twins' recent scoring surge likely inflates draft placement but concerns about skating and transition could limit top-15 certainty.
- Hall expects Liam late first and Marcus later unless teams overvalue short-term production.
Give Young Goalies Time To Rebound
- Don't overreact to Alexey Medvedev's midseason slump; view it as development noise for an 18-year-old goalie.
- Hall notes Medvedev dominated early then lost the crease and should get a bounce-back role next season as Gatto ages out.
Preston Is Pure Speed Skill While Hemming Is Prototypical Power Forward
- Mathis Preton and Oscar Hemming show contrasting draft profiles: Preston is a small elite speed/skill winger who may slide, while Hemming is a power forward with NHL size who should go in the teens.
- Hall sees Preston as a possible top-10 on skill alone and Hemming as a Protas-style power forward many teams will target in the teens.