Canucks wouldn't have selected Hischier or Patrick at No.1, says Linden

It appears the Vancouver Canucks were prepared to go off the board at this year's draft.

After finishing last season with the 29th-best record, the club entered the draft lottery with the second-best chance at nabbing the top pick. In the end, the balls didn't bounce the Canucks' way and the club walked away with the fifth selection.

However, it doesn't appear to have been a monumental loss for the club. President Trevor Linden joined TSN 1040 on Thursday, where he admitted the club wouldn't have selected Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick had it won the draft lottery, according to TSN's Matthew Sekeres.

Patrick and Hischier entered the draft as the top two ranked skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The New Jersey Devils ultimately nabbed Hischier with the first overall pick and the Philadelphia Flyers grabbed the latter at No. 2.

Vancouver used its pick on Elias Pettersson, who looks to have the chops of a gifted goal-scorer after putting on a show at the Canucks' top prospects game in July.

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