Trevor Linden is in full damage-control mode.
The Vancouver Canucks shared a quick video message from their president of hockey operations Saturday night after landing the fifth overall pick despite holding the second-highest odds to pick first.
Linden insisted the Canucks will still select "a great player that's going to contribute to the foundation of this team for many years," adding a reminder that Vancouver has six picks in the top 120.
Still, Saturday's result has to be disappointing for the Canucks, who slide out of the top two - likely losing out on the chance to draft one of Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier - while falling to fifth for the second straight year.
Vancouver selected London Knights defenseman Olli Juolevi with that pick in 2016.