Canucks Select Six Players at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft

Dallas, TX- Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the Canucks have selected defenceman Quintin Hughes seventh overall, defenceman Jett Woo 37th overall, centre Tyler Madden 68th overall, defenceman Toni Utunen 130th overall, right wing Artyom Manukyan 186th overall and goaltender Matthew Thiesen 192nd overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Canucks acquired the 186th overall pick and a 2019 sixth round pick from Washington in exchange for the 161st overall pick.

Hughes, the seventh overall pick, spent the 2017.18 season with the University of Michigan, collecting 29 points (5-24-29) in 37 games. He was named to the big ten all-rookie team and second all-star team. The 5'10," 173-pound defenceman's 24 assists ranked third in the NCAA and first overall in the Big Ten among freshman. Hughes' 24 assists is also the most in Michigan program history by a freshman defenceman.

Woo, the 37th pick overall, appeared in 44 games last season with Moose Jaw, registering 25 points (9-16-25) and 14 playoff games, collecting three points (2-1-3). He was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. Woo was recognized as one of team Canada's "Top Three Players" at the 2017 under-18 world championship.

Madden, the 68th pick overall, was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team in 2017.18 after finishing tied for eighth among first year skaters, collecting 34 points (15-19-34) in 50 games played. He was named Team East's most valuable player and first star at the 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects game.

Utunen, selected 130th overall, collected 12 points (2-10-12) in 28 games with Leki and appeared in 11 games with Tappara in 2017.18. The 5'10", 169 pound defenceman also won a gold medal with team Finland under-18 world junior championships last year.
Manukyan, the 186th overall pick, recorded two points (1-1-2) in 24 games with Avangard Omsk and 12 points (8-4-2) in 12 games with Omskie Yastreby. He played five games on Team Russian at the 2018 World Junior Championship, registering two assists. In 2016.17 he became the first player in the MHL to score over 100 points after he registered 105 (39-66-105) with Omskie Yastreby. Thiessen, the 192nd overall pick, appeared in 34 games with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL. He posted a record of 28-3-1 and a 2.06 goals against average.
Thiessen was named to the MJHL All-Rookie Team, the MJHL Best GAA, MJHL Champion and the MJHL First All-Star Team. He is committed to the University of Maine.