Canucks clinch last place, own best odds to pick first overall in 2026 NHL Draft
The Vancouver Canucks lost 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild, clinching last place in the NHL standings and possessing the best odds to draft No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Next game Saturday at home.
The Wild’s Matt Boldy scored two goals an assist, the second goal being his 40th of the season, while Kirill Kaprizov also scored his 40th goal to the year to go along with an assist. Vancouver’s Jake DeBrusk scored his 18th of the season in the first period.
The Canucks will have a 25.5% chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s draft.
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With the loss, the Canucks are 22-45-8 with 52 points, last in the Pacific Division, Western Conference and the entire NHL. After Thursday’s slate of games, the Canucks are 16 points back of the second-worst team in the NHL standings, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Last January, Vancouver set a franchise record for their longest losing streak with their 11th straight defeat. At different points in the season, the Canucks have had seven- and six-game losing streaks.
Elias Pettersson leads the team in points, scoring 15 goals and recording 33 assists. Filip Hronek has a team-leading 36 assists, while Brock Boeser has 21 goals.
Kevin Lankinen is 9-26-5 with an .875 save percentage (SV%) and a minus-17.2 goals saved above expected (GSAx). Nikita Tolopilo is 5-8-2 with an .887 SV% and minus-4.5 GSAx.
Thatcher Demko finished the season 8-10-1 with an .897 SV% and 2.0 GSAx.
The Canucks’ next game is Saturday night when they host the Utah Mammoth.