These Vancouver Canucks players don't require waivers next season
The youth movement is on in Vancouver.
After a flurry of offseason activity, the Vancouver Canucks project to have the sixth-youngest roster in the league.
But do any of those players actually require waivers?
On the Canucks, there really aren’t any bubble players they could lose on waivers. Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo would be the most obvious one, although there would theoretically be just a handful of takers. Of course, it only takes one team to claim him.
In total, the Canucks have 16 waiver-eligible players who are virtual locks to begin the season with the team.
But who is waiver-exempt, and how long until some of these players do require waivers? Let’s break that down here, using PuckPedia’s waiver tracker.
Canucks who could lose waiver status in ’26-27
1. Victor Mancini
The 6-foot-5 defenceman will likely be the first Canucks player to see his waiver status change.
Mancini has 15 games left of his waiver-exempt status. In the likely event that he makes the team, Mancini could become waiver-eligible early in the year.
He should compete with Luke Schenn for a right-defence spot on the third pairing. If he underperforms, the Canucks could send him to Abbotsford and keep him there to preserve his waiver status for a little longer.
It’s worth noting that he did sign a one-way contract, so he’ll receive his full base salary of $950,000, whether he plays in Vancouver or Abbotsford.
2. Elias Pettersson
The rugged, Swedish blueliner has already played 98 games for the Canucks. Once he plays 62 more, he’ll officially become waiver-eligible.
D-Petey played 70 games for the Canucks last season. He projects to slot back in on the Canucks third pair.
3. Liam Ohgren
Liam Ohgren perhaps played more NHL games than he anticipated last season after being traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Vancouver Canucks.
The 22-year-0ld has played 97 career games, 51 of them coming with the Canucks. He’ll be waiver-eligible once he plays 63 more NHL games.
4. Zeev Buium
It would be a successful season if Buium loses his waiver-exempt status for the Canucks. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
If Zeev Buium loses his waiver-exempt status this season, that would be a good thing for the Canucks.
The 20-year-old defenceman would need to play 80 games next season to become waiver-eligible.
Other young Canucks and their waiver status
A couple of important young Canucks will maintain their waiver-exempt status, no matter what happens in 2026-27.
Tom Willander played 70 games last season, meaning he has 90 more to go until he hits the 160 NHL-game threshold before becoming waiver-eligible.
Although Jonathan Lekkerimaki is entering his draft-plus-five season, he’s only played 37 NHL games. However, this is his final season of being waiver-exempt.
Here are other Canucks players who have one more season of being waiver-exempt:
- Kirill Kudryavtsev
- Ty Mueller
- Ilya Safonov
- Chase Wouters
Canucks prospect Kirill Kudryavtsev has one more season of being waiver-exempt. (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
The most interesting player there is Kudryavtsev. Considered a seventh-round steal, the steady, 5-foot-11 defenceman could be a roster dark horse for the Canucks. And, considering he’ll need waivers next season, Kudryavtsev is an interesting player to monitor in 2026-27.
Ilya Safonov will be a fun player to watch during camp. He was Ryan Johnson’s first official signing after a solid KHL season. If Filip Chytil isn’t ready to go, there’s a clear spot for him on the Canucks roster.
The last player of note regarding waivers is Braeden Cootes. He could theoretically tick closer to waiver eligibility if he surprises again at camp and makes the Canucks roster.
If he doesn’t, Cootes is a prime candidate to begin the season in Abbotsford, thanks to new NHL CBA rules that allow each team to designate one 19-year-old CHL player to the AHL.