Sneaky players who could push for NHL roster spot with Vancouver Canucks
There’s always one guy who makes this surprisingly interesting at training camp.
Before training camp got underway last year, very few expected Braeden Cootes to make the Vancouver Canucks roster.
Digging back to previous seasons, there was perennial training camp standout Phil Di Giuseppe, who eventually parlayed his September prowess into a spot on the 23-man roster.
Or, how about Ben Hutton, who impressed enough at Canucks camp in 2015 to surprisingly earn a roster spot. Not only that, but he got a spot in the lineup ahead of Yannick Weber, who had 11 goals the season prior.
So, whether it’s a prospect or a journeyman veteran, do the Canucks have someone who can surprise at training camp this year? Here are a few candidates.
1. Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW
- 2025-26 AHL stats: 72 GP, 31 G, 24 A, 55 PTS
Now that both Conor Garland and Nils Hoglander are gone, the Canucks don’t have a short king on the roster.
Could Trey Fix-Wolansky be that guy?
The 27-year-old has been one of the AHL’s top goal scorers over the past three seasons. His 83 AHL goals since 2023-24 are third best among all AHLers. Fix-Wolansky’s 175 points over that span rank fifth.
He’s a 5-foot-7, 195-pound forward, built like a fire hydrant who can score. He hasn’t sniffed NHL action since 2023-24. You can bet he’s hungry for a roster spot, and probably looks at the Canucks as a roster he can crack.
2. Akil Thomas, C
- 2025-26 AHL stats: 72 GP, 31 G, 24 A, 55 PTS
Considering the Canucks thin roster depth at centre, Akil Thomas could absolutely be in the mix for a roster spot.
There’s a lot of uncertainty after Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi and Aatu Raty. Will Filip Chytil be ready to go? If he is, is he better suited on the wing to lessen his responsibilities?
Could the Canucks move Max Sasson back to centre, even though he was better on the wing? Are either of Ilya Safonov or Cootes ready?
The door is open for Thomas to crack the team. Apparently, the 26-year-old centre was traded last season in hopes of a better NHL opportunity. Clearly, Thomas feels he’s ready for the challenge.
3. Kirill Kudryavtsev, LD
- 2025-26 AHL stats: 44 GP, 2 G, 18 A, 20 PTS
How much better is defenceman Elias Pettersson than Kirill Kudryavtsev?
The gap is probably closer than we think.
Pettersson has a huge physical edge, as one of the only guys on the Canucks roster who chucks his body around. But there’s an argument that Kudryavtsev is a more sound, steady defensive player.
Both players are exempt from waivers, setting up a potentially interesting training camp battle.
4. Jack Thompson, RD
Jack Thompson played 31 NHL games for the San Jose Sharks in 2024-25. (Eakin Howard/Imagn Images)
- 2025-26 AHL stats: 56 GP, 6 G, 19 A, 25 PTS
Most casual Canucks fans probably don’t even know who Jack Thompson is. But perhaps they soon will.
The 24-year-old defenceman was acquired in exchange for Jett Woo at last season’s trade deadline. He finished the season strong in Abbotsford, posting 12 points in 13 games.
Thompson played 31 NHL games in 2024-25. Victor Mancini and Luke Schenn are ahead of him on the depth chart on the right side. It’s conceivable that he could beat one of those guys out for a spot on the third pair.
6. Adam Novotny, LW
- 2025-26 OHL stats: 58 GP, 34 G, 31 A, 65 PTS
Could Adam Novotny be the Cootes of this year’s Canucks training camp?
He certainly has the tools to pull it off.
Novotny already has pro size, being listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. The Czech winger also has NHL-ready speed, something he showed off at development camp last month. He also has a lethal shot.
That combination of size, speed and shooting accuracy could make him a standout at Canucks camp, considering the weak competition on the left side. He probably shouldn’t make the team, but here’s betting that he makes things interesting.