Vancouver Canucks are hosting a free draft watch party at Rogers Arena
It’s a day that could change the fortunes of the Vancouver Canucks franchise.
The Canucks will pick third overall in the NHL draft on Friday, June 26, making this the first time since 1999 that they will hold a top-three choice. Vancouver also holds 10 total picks, the first time in 23 years they’ve had that many selections in one draft.
To celebrate a potentially franchise-altering day, the Canucks are throwing a free draft watch party at Rogers Arena.
The Canucks announced on Tuesday that fans can come to Rogers Arena to watch the Canucks make two first-round selections on June 26. Although tickets are free, fans do have to actually visit the Canucks Ticketmaster page and select seats to confirm their attendance for the event.
Not only are tickets free, but beer will be a fraction of the cost compared to actual Canucks games. The team is advertising that select food and beverage items, including beer, wine coolers, and hot dogs, will cost $5.
The Canucks also announced that there will be live music and opportunities for fans to take photos with Fin.
As for the draft itself, that will take place in Buffalo, New York. This draft is expected to look similar to last year’s decentralized format, where most teams kept their full front office staff at home to conduct their work remotely.
Right now, most pundits are predicting that the Canucks will select Caleb Malhotra, son of new head coach Manny Malhotra, with the third overall selection. A number of talented defencemen should also be available in that slot. There’s even a growing suspicion that talented winger Ivar Stenberg, who was thought to be in contention for first overall, could be available to the Canucks at No. 3.