 To fill the Canucks' roster for their inaugural season, the league held an Expansion Draft in the preceding summer.A draft lottery was held on June 9, 1970, determining who between the Canucks and Sabres would get the first selection in the Expansion Draft, as well as the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft; the Sabres won both spins.With his first selection in the Expansion Draft, Canucks General Manager Bud Poile chose defenceman Gary Doak.