Vancouver Canucks fans dreaming of drafting Ruck twins just got some bad news
In a season full of darkness, the possibility of drafting twins may have been a dream scenario for many Vancouver Canucks fans.
But that dream might be fading fast.
Back in January, the Ruck twins were beginning to climb draft rankings as they led the Medicine Hat Tigers on a 19-game winning streak. At the time, Liam Ruck was widely seen as a late first-round pick, while his twin brother, Markus Ruck, was viewed as more of a mid-second-round selection.
That left the Canucks in a perfect spot to snag them in the draft after the trades of Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood, which gave them extra draft picks right in that range.
However, the Ruck twins may be ascending out of the Canucks’ grasp.
Liam and Markus finished their regular seasons with over 100 points each. Not only did they lead the WHL in scoring, but they led the entire CHL.
Marcus was the overall scoring leader with 108 points in 68 games. Liam finished second with 104 points in 68 contests.
Their recent success bodes well for their NHL futures. However, it might derail their chances of becoming Canucks.
Two of the most recently updated draft rankings have both of the Ruck twins as first-round picks, which may put them out of range for the Canucks.
Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala had Liam as the 19th-best prospect in his latest rankings. Marcus wasn’t far behind at 24th.
TSN’s Craig Button is more bullish on them than anyone else. He now has Liam ranked as the 10th-best prospect, while Marcus was 12th.
Of course, the further they climb up draft boards, the tougher it might be for teams to acquire them.
And those who have watched them all year understand that it makes more sense for them to stick together at the next level.
“If any team wants the Rucks… you have to go get both,” James Tubb of the Medicine Hat News said on the Locked On Canucks podcast.
“They are just better together. Why would anyone want to separate that? It’s chemistry that can’t be taught.”
Other scouts likely see the same thing. But if they are going to stick with the same thing on draft day, who has the best chance of getting them, outside of the Canucks?
Here are the teams to watch that could have a shot at drafting both Ruck twins in the first and early second round.
- St. Louis Blues (15th and 31st overall)
- Washington Capitals (13th and 20th overall)
- San Jose Sharks (seventh and 17th overall)
- Boston Bruins (eighth and 24th overall)
All of those teams have picks that will shift based on the final standings. If one of those teams ends up with two mid-first-round picks, that could put them in the best position to draft the Ruck twins together.
There are also a handful of teams with multiple second-round picks to watch, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and the Canucks. But, if the Ruck’s draft position holds, those teams might have to use those second-rounders to trade up, rather than hope one of the Ruck twins falls there.
While the dream certainly isn’t dead yet, it might be beginning to slip away as the Rucks author two of the best seasons in the CHL.