Danila Klimovich, the Vancouver Canucks' second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, will test free agency next week, officially closing the book on former general manager Jim Benning's final draft class. The class produced zero NHL players.
Klimovich's agent confirms free agency plans
"Klim needs a change of scenery, and they were kind enough to accommodate us," Klimovich's agent Dan Milstein told Postmedia on Saturday. "We will test free agency next week."
Klimovich, a Belarusian winger, was selected 41st overall by Benning and his staff in 2021. He was the last player from that draft remaining in the Canucks' organization. No player from the 2021 draft class ever played an NHL game for Vancouver.
A pick made on limited viewings
Klimovich was a standout at the 2021 World Under-18 Championship in Texas, a tournament that provided one of the few opportunities for NHL scouts and general managers to evaluate prospects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Benning attended the tournament and was impressed by Klimovich's raw ability, believing he had high upside.
The Canucks had traded their first-round pick that summer to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland deal, making the second-round selection their first pick of the draft. Benning, who had taken back draft-running responsibilities after amateur scouting director Judd Brackett left, went against consensus that recommended drafting Logan Stankoven from the Kamloops Blazers. Stankoven went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 2024.
Scouting best practices call for multiple viewings over several months in varied game situations. Klimovich was seen primarily at the U18s. It is now understood that Benning also factored in that the Canucks did not have another pick until the fifth round, and he hoped to acquire a third-round pick where Klimovich might have been a better value.
A draft class with no NHL impact
The 2021 draft class followed the 2020 class, which also produced little. Only one player from the 2020 draft, Jackson Kunz, remained in the Canucks' organization this past season, playing mostly in the ECHL on a one-year AHL deal. His return is uncertain.
Benning's draft record started strong with hits like Jared McCann, Thatcher Demko, Gustav Forsling, Brock Boeser, and Adam Gaudette. However, his tenure is more remembered for misses such as Jake Virtanen and Olli Juolevi, along with the 2020 and 2021 draft failures. Since being fired as Canucks GM in 2021, Benning has not joined another NHL organization.
