2013 NHL Draft: Canucks select Hunter Shinkaruk with No. 24 pick

After dropping from initial projections, Hunter Shinkaruk was selected by the Vancouver Canucks with the No. 24 overall pick.

by Steve Lepore

Jun 30, 2013, 9:34 PM UTC

Bruce Bennett

Part Of

NHL Draft 2013: Nathan MacKinnon goes first overall

see all updates

With the No. 24 pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks select center Hunter Shinkaruk from Medicine Hat of the WHL.

Shinkaruk is coming off an excellent season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, a team that pulled off a first-round upset in the WHL Playoffs. After a 91-point season in 2011-12, the Calgary native had fewer goals (37 vs. 49 in 2011-12) but more assists (49 vs. 42 last season) to put up an 86-point season in 2012-13. He had three goals and three assists in eight post-season games.

ISS ranked Shinkaruk No. 13 among all skaters. TSN's Craig Button has at No. 14 against all prospects, while NHL Central Scouting shows him at No. 5 among North American Skaters. He is projected by ISS to be a player comparable to David Perron of the St. Louis Blues.

Prospect Profiles

In Lou We Trust:

Hunter Shinkaruk is a three-season veteran with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL and is 18 years old. He’s listed on the WHL website at being 5’10” and 175 pounds. Immediately you can guess what one of the concerns will be for Shinkaruk as a prospect: his size. He’s not particularly big. That said, the smallish forward has lasted over 180 games with his team and been quite productive since he was 16.

Jackets Cannon:

Hunter Shinkaruk enters the draft with pretty eye-popping numbers, though it must be noted that he’s a bit old for this draft class. That said, you can’t look at an 86-point season in 64 games and not be impressed. Shinkaruk is undersized, but skates with speed, has vision and hands, and has a motor that never quits. His attitude is great; he served as Medicine Hat’s Captain this past season.

Defending Big D:

He’s not the biggest forward in the world at 5-11, 175 but he makes up for the lack of size with some top offensive potential and skating ability. While his size may be a concern for many in today’s NHL theres no doubt that his production in the WHL, the most physical and defensive minded of the three CHL leagues, shows that he has the ability to produce against larger opposition.

Stick with SB Nation for full coverage of the 2013 NHL Draft.