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How Canucks prospects performed in 2025-26: standouts, risers and fallers

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Jun 5 2026, 8:23 pm
How Canucks prospects performed in 2025-26: standouts, risers and fallers
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks prospect system is about to get a massive shot in the arm.

That’s welcoming news for Canucks fans, considering that Vancouver’s current prospect pool is ranked about middle of the pack.

While the Canucks drafting under Todd Harvey hasn’t been perfect, they have unearthed players with NHL potential at nearly every position.

So, how did those players do in 2026?

Here’s a look at performances from Canucks prospects this season, covering players 23-and-under, and those who haven’t comfortably graduated to the NHL just yet.

NHL Graduates: Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Nikita Tolopilo

Not full-time NHLers but 24 and older: Victor Mancini, Arshdeep Bains, Ilya Safonov, Jack Thompson

Standout Canucks prospects

Braeden Cootes (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)

  • 2025-26 WHL stats: 45 GP, 24 G, 39 A, 63 PTS
  • Drafted 15th overall by Canucks in 2025

Ignoring the fact that all three players drafted after in 2025 Braeden Cootes had spectacular seasons, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native did take a massive step forward.

The 19-year-old was one of the WHL’s best players after being sent down by the Canucks in mid-October. He was then traded from the Seattle Thunderbirds to the Prince Albert Raiders, where he helped his team reach the finals before ultimately bowing out to the Everett Silvertips. Cootes also made Canada’s World Junior team, although he played a depth role.

Thanks to the new AHL rule about each NHL team allowing one 19-year-old prospect to play there, Cootes seems like a good bet to begin the season in Abbotsford in 2026-27.

Anthony Romani (Michigan State University, NCAA)

  • 2025-26 NCAA stats: 37 GP, 14 G, 14 A, 28 PTS
  • Drafted 162nd overall by Canucks in 2024

Sharpshooting Anthony Romani exceeded expectations during his freshman season with Michigan State.

The 20-year-old made the most of his middle-six minutes, continuing his success with finding soft spots in defensive coverage to create offence. He was fifth on a stacked Michigan team in points and fourth in goals. The only players who scored more than him were all first-round picks (Porter Martone, Charlie Stramel, Ryker Lee).

Riley Patterson (Niagara Ice Dogs, OHL)

  • 2025-26 OHL stats: 60 GP, 40 G, 44 A, 84 PTS
  • Drafted 125th overall by Canucks in 2024

In 2024-25, there was some concern that Riley Patterson’s game had stagnated at the OHL level, suggesting an NHL future could be bleak.

The 6-foot-1 right-shot centre quieted those concerns in 2025-26, virtually carrying a middling Niagara Ice Dogs team to the postseason. Patterson also got a cup of coffee in the AHL, where he’s projected to start next season.

Kirill Kudryavtsev (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 44 GP, 2 G, 18 A, 20 PTS
  • Drafted 208th overall by Canucks in 2022

Seventh-round wonder Kirill Kudryavtsev already looks like he can be a contributor for the Canucks.

Despite standing at 5-11, the thick 200-pound defenceman is strong on his skates and continues to show strong defensive awareness, no matter where he is on the ice. He earned a late-season call-up and could be a roster dark horse come training camp.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 21 GP, 13 G, 7 A, 20 PTS
  • Drafted 15th overall by Canucks in 2022

In many ways, Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s season left a lot to be desired.

He had a strong training camp and scored in the Canucks first game of the season. Outside of that, he was largely invisible at the NHL level.

However, the Swedish sniper posted an impressive 13 goals in 21 games for Abbotsford. It was a much-needed boost for one of the AHL’s worst offences, at the time.

Lekkerimäki’s season eventually ended in February as the Canucks shut him down for shoulder surgery.

The 21-year-old’s NHL struggles could be attributed to clunky coaching and poor lineup choices. Theoretically, Manny Malhotra should do wonders for his game in Vancouver.

Other Canucks risers

Ty Mueller (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 61 GP, 16 G, 21 A, 37 PTS
  • Drafted 105th overall by Canucks in 2023

Ty Mueller was forced to take on a bigger role for the Abbotsford Canucks after injuries and call-ups depleted their team. There’s nothing flashy about his game, but he’s cemented himself as a call-up option for the Canucks. He was even rewarded with the first NHL goal of his career during the season’s last game.

Kieran Dervin (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL)

  • 2025-26 OHL stats: 53 GP, 17 G, 25 A, 42 PTS
  • Drafted 65th overall by Canucks in 2025

The raw tools (largely skating) were evident with Kieran Dervin dating back to Canucks training camp in September. He flashed that throughout the OHL season, and actually finished second in points on a low-scoring Kingston Frontenacs team.

Dervin is heading to the University of Michigan next season (not to be confused with Michigan State University, where Canucks’ prospect Romani plays).

Sawyer Mynio (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 58 GP, 3 G, 18 A, 21 PTS
  • Drafted 89th overall by Canucks in 2023

It was baptism by fire for Sawyer Mynio, and the young defenceman deserves credit for surviving.

The 21-year-old was playing 27 minutes a night on occasion back in October as Vancouver got decimated by injuries. While his stat line wasn’t flashy, he processed the game well for an AHL rookie, boding well for his future.

Wilson Bjorck (Colorado College, NCAA)

  • 2025-26 NCAA stats: 31 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 PTS
  • Drafted 143rd overall by Canucks in 2025

Some were calling Wilson Bjorck a late-round steal last fall. Early on, the 6-foot winger looked like he could fulfill that.

The 20-year-old got off to a hot start with five goals and nine points in his first 14 games for Colorado College. He also played a spare part role at the World Juniors, where his younger brother, Viggo, starred.

Bjorck cooled off down the stretch, but his production was decent for a college rookie, even though he didn’t maintain his early pace.

Gabriel Chiarot (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

  • 2025-26 OHL stats: 62 GP, 20 G, 16 A, 36 PTS
  • Drafted 175th overall by Canucks in 2025

Gabriel Chiarot ended his season as a champion, as the Kitchener Rangers won their first Memorial Cup in 23 years.

Although Kitchener was a wagon, Chiarot’s season was a roller coaster. He was nearly a point-per-game player in Brampton before being traded, but saw his role diminished in Kitchener. Chiarot did manage to carve out a larger role in the postseason, but he still has a ways to go before he makes the NHL like his cousin, Ben Chiarot.

Canucks prospects who trended downwards

medvedev canucks

The Canucks drafted goalie Alexei Medvedev in the second round last June. (@Canucks/X)

Alexei Medvedev (London Knights, OHL)

  • 2025-26 OHL stats: 36 GP, 16-15-3, 3.26 GAA, .891 SV%
  • Drafted 47th overall by Canucks in 2025

Last June, Alexei Medvedev became the highest-drafted Canucks goaltender since Thatcher Demko.

But unlike Demko, Medvedev’s draft plus-one season was far from spectacular.

The 6-foot-3 Russian netminder lost his starting job after a string of uneven performances. By the time late February rolled around, Medvedev only saw action in relief of starting goalie Sebastian Gatto.

Still, the 18-year-old Medvedev is young and athletic. He was only five days away from being eligible for the 2026 NHL draft.

Danila Klimovich (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 63 GP, 18 G, 16 A, 34 PTS
  • Drafted 41st overall by Canucks in 2021

Hardcore Canucks fans might feel pain watching Logan Stankoven tear it up in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Back in 2021, Jim Benning and the Canucks selected Belarusian Danila Klimovich at 41st overall. Six picks later, the Kamloops-born Stankoven went to the Dallas Stars.

Klimovich has now spent five years in the AHL and hasn’t looked like much more than a middle-six winger. There were rumours back in May that he was leaving Abbotsford for the KHL, although nothing has been officially announced.

Vilmer Alriksson (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 43 GP, 6 G, 3 A, 9 PTS
  • Drafted 107th overall by Canucks in 2023

The 6-foot-6 Vilmer Alriksson showed some promise at Canucks training camp, but he often looked overwhelmed at the AHL level as a rookie. He was injured in late January and never returned to the lineup.

Aku Koskenvuo (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 9 GP, 2-5-0, 3.20 GAA, .895 SV%
  • Drafted 137th overall by Canucks in 2021

With Jiri Patera injured and Nikita Tolopilo in the NHL, Abbotsford’s goalie depth was tested this season.

Aku Koskenvuo got his first taste of pro action this season after a four-year stint at Harvard. However, he struggled in AHL action and posted middling numbers in the ECHL. At 23 years old, he isn’t a young prospect either.

Ty Young (Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

  • 2025-26 AHL stats: 17 GP, 6-10-1 3.36 GAA, .884 SV%
  • Drafted 144th overall by Canucks in 2022

Although Koskenvuo wasn’t great, at least he outplayed Ty Young. Despite showing promise in limited action during the 2024-25 season, Young struggled in 2025-26, but he did end his tough season on a high note with three straight wins and one shutout.

Other longshot Canucks prospects not listed: Anri Ravinskis, Chase Stillman, Matthew Lansing, Matthew Perkins, Aiden Celebrini, Daimon Gardner, Basile Sansonnens

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