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Every major league sports franchises knows that there are essentially two things it can sell to a fan base. Wins and hope. For the last three years, the Vancouver Canucks haven’t been able to sell wins. Instead, the club has been forced to peddle the idea that things will get better.

It wasn’t easy to do when the Canucks were still spending top dollar on veteran free agents like Loui Eriksson. And while those tendencies haven’t completely disappeared (see Beagle, Jay), it’s become obvious that Vancouver has a better group of prospects than the team has ever possessed.

That much was confirmed by Sporting News, which ranks the Canucks’ farm system as the league’s third best, behind only the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers.

The publication lists the Canucks’ top 10 prospects as such:

PROSPECT POSITION 2018-19 TEAM (Proj.) ACQUIRED 1. Elias Pettersson LW/C Vancouver (NHL) 1st/2017 2. Quinn Hughes LHD Michigan (NCAA) 1st/2018 3. Thatcher Demko G Utica (AHL) 2nd/2014 4. Jonathan Dahlen LW Timra (SHL) Trade (OTT) 5. Olli Juolevi LHD Utica (AHL) 1st/2016 6. Adam Gaudette C Utica (AHL) 5th/2015 7. Michael DiPietro G Windsor (OHL) 3rd/2017 8. Kole Lind RW Utica (AHL) 2nd/2017 9. Lukas Jasek RW Utica (AHL) 6th/2015 10. Jett Woo RHD Moose Jaw (WHL) 2nd/2018

It’s an impressive list, and hard to argue with.

Until the most recent draft the Canucks were missing a game-breaking talent from the blueline but Quinn Hughes is certainly that and his presence on the list ratchets it up from good to great.

Not too many squads can boost elite talent like Elias Pettersson—who was ranked the number one individual prospect by the same publication—and Hughes in their systems, and those two are surrounded by a bevy of supporting players who should each bring something different to the table.

Plus, having two high calibre goaltenders in Thatcher Demko (if not the best ‘tender prospect in the entire league, he’s certainly in the top three) and Michael DiPietro, who seems poised to star for Team Canada at the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver this coming December and January.

It’s taken some time, but perhaps the Canucks are finally on the verge of selling more than hope.

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