2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Vancouver Canucks’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks suck. Period.

I know this isn’t exactly breaking news to the diehards, but last year was a tough watch for that team. It was hard to not feel bad for them when the possibility of landing Gavin McKenna first overall was ripped away on a fateful night in May. The team still ended up with a great prospect in Caleb Malhotra. But given everything the fan base went through, spending their valuable hours watching a team put on dreadful performance after dreadful performance, it was hard to not feel like the team got a little bit shafted at the lottery.

But after one heck of a draft, the Canucks’ pipeline honestly looks impressive. Four players taken in the top two rounds this year appear on this list, and another three below have NHL experience already. The pipeline is starting to come together, and while there’s still a ton of work to make this team truly competitive again, they’re off to a good start. The future, eventually, will be better, Canucks fans. But for now, all aboard the Landon DuPont train.

For a bigger breakdown on the team’s prospect pool, check out our friends at Canucks Army. They did an excellent job breaking down the top 20 prospects in the system this summer, so go check it out.

Biggest Strength

If you’re going to start going all in on a rebuild, nabbing as many centers as possible is an excellent way to start. At worst, you can convert a few to wingers. At best, you’ve filled one of the most important positions in hockey. Malhotra is the team’s biggest star in that regard, but Braeden Cootes already has NHL experience and will push to make the team out of camp yet again this year. Brooks Rogowski is a massive 6-foot-7 forward, and I think he’ll be a perfect 3C at some point. The big wild card in the top 10 is Riley Patterson, and I think he’s most likely going to move to the wing at some point. Regardless, that’s one heck of a start down the middle, and they’ll definitely continue to address it over time.

Biggest Weakness

While part of the reason for it is positive, Vancouver’s defensive depth is a little scary bad right now. Kirill Kudryavtsev and Sawyer Mynio both made the top 10, but I’m not too high on either of them in particular. I’m not sure a single other blueliner in their system ends up making the NHL, though. Tom Willander and Zeev Buium both made the NHL full-time last year, so that definitely weakened the pipeline in that regard. But it’s something Vancouver is going to need to really address over the next couple of years. Landing DuPont would be an absolutely incredible way of making that happen.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Ryan Johnson
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Todd Harvey
Dir. of Hockey Strategy : Ryan Stewart
AHL Affiliate: Abbotsford Canucks
ECHL Affiliate: Kalamazoo Wings
Recent NHL Graduates: Tom Willander, D; Liam Ohgren, LW; Zeev Buium, D

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Caleb Malhotra (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Caleb Malhotra, C, 18 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted third overall, first round in 2026

Malhotra’s hockey IQ and rock-solid two-way play made him the undisputed top center of the 2026 draft. While the class lacks overall depth down the middle, his high floor safely projects him as a future top-six threat. Serving as the driving force behind Brantford’s strong campaign, he made sure the veterans in the lineup didn’t steal his ice time. Malhotra is a relentless competitor at both ends of the ice, systematically suffocating the opposition and erasing their time and space. Obviously, hiring his father as coach could make things a bit awkward, but it’s hard to deny that the Canucks made the best draft selection available at No. 3 this year.

2. Braeden Cootes, C, 19 (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2025

After an outstanding training camp, Cootes started the year with the big club for a three-game stint. He was ultimately sent back to the WHL, where he’d go on to register 63 points in 45 games between Seattle and Prince Albert. He also played a checking role for Canada’s World Junior team, where he had a pair of goals. Cootes will look to push for an NHL roster spot again (he’s not eligible for the NCAA), but the AHL is also an option thanks to the new ruling allowing players to bypass their 19-year-old season in the CHL. I think Abbotsford is the perfect home for Cootes, who can focus on maintaining a top-six role before making a full-time push in 2027-28. I don’t expect Cootes to be a play-driver in the NHL, but he’s one of the most well-rounded forwards in the system. Many scouts are worried about his offensive projections in the NHL, so we’ll see what happens.

3. Adam Novotný, LW, 18 (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

*Adam Novotny (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

This was another fantastic selection in the first round for the Canucks. Novotný is a rugged, heavy-playing forward equipped with a solid shot release. While his lack of raw production at the World Juniors was initially surprising, the underlying process was stellar; he consistently navigated into high-danger areas and generated quality chances. Any concerns about his transition to North American ice were quickly erased during a 30-goal rookie campaign, where he easily paced the Peterborough offense. Combine that offensive drive with a highly committed, responsible two-way game, and he projects strongly as a high-impact, top-six power forward at the NHL level – someone in more of the 40-50-point range.

4. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, 22 (Vancouver Canucks)

Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2022

Lekkerimäki hasn’t played enough to be a full graduate off this list, although that could have happened had he not had a season-ending injury in February. I’ve really liked his AHL game; he’s clearly a highly skilled shooter who can expose open space and create quality chances. It just hasn’t happened yet in the NHL, and, honestly, it’s hard to impress in a system like Vancouver’s. Defensively, there still isn’t much happening here and his physical game lacks power. But with the puck, there isn’t a better shooter in Vancouver’s system. I want Lekkerimäki to get a real chance with the big club this year – give him a scoring role, please.

5. Brooks Rogowski, C, 18 (Oshawa Generals, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 33rd overall, second round in 2026

I’ve really liked my viewings of Rogowski, especially at the recent World Junior Summer Showcase. At 6-foot-7 and nearly 240 pounds, he’s got an absolutely massive frame. But I also appreciated how well he hustles at both ends, chasing pucks and breaking up plays. He’s a smart forward who uses his big frame to win battles, but he also has a good shot and isn’t afraid to launch it from anywhere in an attempt to surprise the goaltender. Rogowski won’t be a big-time offensive threat but, as a supporting player, he has a ton of tools to make himself useful. I could see Rogowski being an absolute monster of a 3C.

6. Aleksei Medvedev, G, 18 (London Knights, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 47th overall, second round in 2025

*Aleksei Medvedev (Tav Morrison/CanucksArmy)*

Medvedev’s numbers were lackluster in London, but they weren’t the typical powerhouse team we’ve come to know and love, either. The Russian goaltender is very athletic and moves exceptionally well, which is what made him one of the top goaltenders off the board in 2025. The 6-foot-3 keeper can struggle with rebounds from time to time but he has the ability to dial himself in and win games on his own. So despite the numbers falling off a bit, I’m not too worried. I still think the raw talent and toolkit is there for Medvedev to be an NHL goaltender, but there’s also no rush to get him there, either.

7. Kirill Kudryavtsev, LHD, 22 (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted: 208th overall, seventh round in 2022

Kudryavtsev had the odds stacked against him as a 5-foot-11 defender taken in the seventh round in 2022. But since then, Kudryavtsev’s game has been so hard to ignore. He’s exceptionally smart as a puck-mover, and his offensive game is nothing to sneeze at, either. He had 20 points in 44 AHL games and another two assists in three NHL contests last year. Kudryavtsev has continued to improve his physical game, but that won’t be a strength of his anytime soon, I think. Still, there’s potential for Kudryavtsev to become a full-time NHLer in the next two years, but most likely in a muted role. But, hey – that would be some exceptional value from a seventh-rounder.

8. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, 18 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 41st overall, second round in 2026

While scouts seemed mixed on Aaram-Olsen, I loved this pick for the Canucks. He always shines internationally, typically playing a big role for Norway across all age groups. Aaram-Olsen is a pure goal scorer, and he often can be found dominating his own age group. I love him on the power play, where it feels like he does a good job of cycling the puck and then firing quick one-timers. Against men, though, Aaram-Olsen has left a lot to be desired, and scouts have knocked him for having a lack of high-end tools outside of his shot. College will be a good route for him, and he can immediately start building chemistry with Malhotra in a scoring role this fall. I think we’re probably talking about a future third-line scoring winger, but that would be an excellent find for the Canucks at No. 41.

9. Riley Patterson, C, 20 (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 125th overall, fourth round in 2024

*Riley Patterson (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Patterson had quite the season in Niagara, registering 40 goals and 84 points in 60 games. He’s always been a pretty consistent goal scorer, but he really found a way to take over this year on an IceDogs team that didn’t have a lot going for it. He had a really strong run to finish the AHL season, registering two points in his second game while averaging two shots a game. Patterson does a solid job of attacking the inside, which is something that not every young forward really thrives at. I think he can get lulled into making some mistakes under pressure with the puck, but I think the offensive upside might be able to counteract that. Defensively, it’s still a heavy work in progress, so we’ll see what happens there.

10. Sawyer Mynio, LHD, 21 (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 89th overall, third round in 2023

Mynio had a solid first year in Abbotsford, recording 21 points and 42 PIM in 58 games. I’ve always liked Mynio’s vision, and I think he’s defensively reliable, too. He’s a good skater who takes up space quickly and isn’t afraid to throw the body. While I don’t expect him to add a ton of new raw skill to his game, he’s quite rounded already. Some scouts think we’re talking about a defender with second-pair potential; I think we’re looking more at a No. 6-8 guy who could give the team some reliable depth when called upon. I’m interested to see if he can find another step offensively in the AHL; he clearly has the talent. He should get into some NHL games this coming year if all goes well.

Other Prospects: Kieren Dervin, C (19), Wilson Björck, C (20), Matthew Lansing, C (19), Anthony Romani, C (21), Matthew Perkins, C (22), Daimon Gardner, C (22), Yaroslav Bryzgalov, LW (19), Vilmer Alriksson, LW (21), Connor Davis, RW (19), Lucian Bernat, RW (18), Gabe Chiarot, RW (19), Anri Ravinskis, RW (23), Ty Mueller, C, RW (23), Samuel Eriksson, LHD (18), Basile Sansonnens, LHD (19), Parker Alcos, RHD (20), Aiden Celebrini, RHD (21), Dmitri Ivchenko, G (18), Ty Young, G (21), Aku Koskenvuo, G (23)

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