The Vancouver Canucks are today’s focus in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into Canucks’ strengths and weaknesses, the latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
The Canucks don’t have a particularly strong prospect pool, which is a bit perplexing considering they made the playoffs twice in the past decade.
The underwhelming prospect pool can be explained a bit when you consider the Canucks have had arguably the worst luck in the draft lottery, moving down more spots than just about any team in the NHL. Even so, they should have more in the cupboard, considering their lack of sustained success.
That’s not to say the Canucks have nothing in the pipeline, though.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki is a very talented right winger with a fantastic shot. He had 19 goals in 36 games with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, which was impressive. What was a bit more concerning was that he only had nine assists over that time. While he did get into 24 NHL games, he was a bit behind the pace, but he had moments where his skill shone through. The 21-year-old will likely split the year between the AHL and NHL once again, and hopefully, the puck skill and shooting talent will lead to more even-keeled production.
When Vancouver traded for Aatu Raty a couple of years ago, the hope was that he could become a fixture in the Canucks’ middle six. So far, he has shown well in the AHL, and he’s been improving with every NHL call-up. This upcoming season, Raty will get every chance to make the NHL roster out of camp. He’s a good skater who excels in transition, and his shot is a real weapon. Playing on the third line would give him the ability to use his physical edge as well. Raty could be a very steady two-way center who plays important minutes.
Danila Klimovich has four AHL seasons under his belt at just 22 years old, and last year, he seemed to break out with a 25-goal season. Klimovich gets into excellent positions and bangs pucks in from all around the net. He’s still a bit unrefined, and he needs to work on some of his play-connecting passes throughout the game. If he continues to improve as a goal-scorer and refine some of those other things, he could be a nifty depth scorer one day.
Josh Bloom’s had an up-and-down stock over the years. He was drafted as a gritty, go-to-the-net, goal-scorer who could play a nice physical game. He jumped into the AHL, but it wasn’t working out, so he was sent back to the OHL, where he helped the Saginaw Spirit win the Memorial Cup, even scoring the championship-winning goal with seconds to go in the game. Last year was his first full pro season, and he spent most of it in the ECHL, where he averaged nearly a point per game. Hopefully he can repeat that in the AHL and continue to make progress.
While he goes by the same name as the Canucks’ star center, the other Elias Pettersson is a steady, defensive blueliner who relies on his mobility and size. ‘D-Petey’ has been on an impressive upward trajectory, rising through the ranks faster than anyone would have expected. Pettersson has all of the tools to be a strong defensive player, and his puckhandling and passing ability give him utility on the breakout.
In his first pro season, Kirill Kudryavtsev looked quite solid as a puck-moving option on the back end in the AHL. His size and strength are still issues against pro-level competition, but he showed some really nice habits positionally. There is still a lot to do, but Kudryavtsev is still one of the more intriguing prospects in the Canucks’ system.
Vancouver’s top prospect, Tom Willander, signed his entry-level contract after a solid two-year run at Boston University. He became one of the Terriers' most well-rounded defenders, playing essential minutes at both ends of the ice.
Willander is a fluid, quick skater who uses his mobility at both ends of the ice. Willander’s defensive reads have improved drastically over his time in the NCAA, which has only boosted his ability to make an impact at the offensive end. Now embarking on his pro career, Willander will fight for a spot in training camp, but regardless of whether he stars in the AHL or NHL, Canucks fans will be watching his every move.
U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season
Aatu Raty (C/LW), Elias Pettersson (D), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 15th overall - Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
Round 2, 47th overall - Alexei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)
Round 3, 65th overall - Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston (OHL)
Round 5, 143rd overall - Wilson Bjorck, C, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)
Round 6, 175th overall - Gabriel Chiarot, RW, Brampton (OHL)
Round 7, 207th overall - Matthew Lansing, C, Fargo (USHL)
Braeden Cootes going to the Canucks at 15th overall was a frequent prediction in NHL mock drafts. They need some center depth, and Cootes was the best mid-round center available unless one of the top-end guys fell drastically.
Cootes is an incredibly well-rounded center who has a motor nearly unmatched in the 2025 NHL draft class. He is arguably the best two-way center in the draft as well. Cootes may not have the elite upside that some want from a top-end draft pick, but there is more than meets the eye. We saw him become an offensive force at the U-18s when surrounded with a few more high-end talents. Cootes has all of the tools to be a second-line, 200-foot center.
Vancouver looked to restock its goalie pipeline by adding Alexei Medvedev. He was one of the more intriguing netminders in the draft as he is lauded for his calm, cool and collected game in net. He plays a very structured game with excellent positioning and intuitive depth in his crease. Medvedev was the backup with the London Knights, but he was one of the OHL’s best netminders, which makes this a very good bet.
While Kieren Dervin spent most of the season at St. Andrew’s College on the high school circuit, he made the jump to the Kingston Frontenacs and showed well in a depth role for the OHL club. Dervin has good size and a solid motor, which allowed him to play well down the lineup, simply doing what he had to do to ensure his line made positive impacts on the ice. He’s a good skater who can transition the puck as well. Committed to Penn State for the 2026-27 season, he should get more opportunities to move up the lineup next season in Kingston.
In the fifth round, Vancouver took overage forward Wilson Bjorck, who came into his own this past season at Sweden’s U-20 league. He’s committed to Colorado College for next season, so he has a clear path of development, which is great, but it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the more physical environment. He often benefited from playing with his younger brother, 2026 top prospect Viggo Bjorck. Wilson Bjorck is a crafty playmaker who can make some really nifty passes. Developing in college will be a great path for him.
The Canucks drafted Gabriel Chiarot in the sixth round, taking a bet on a player who consistently works hard with some nice finishing ability around the net. He isn’t much of a pace-setter, thriving more by hiding in the shadows and then jumping into pockets of space in tight to get his shot off. He needs to round things out a bit more, but Chiarot shows some nice hands in tight and could find a role as a pro by specializing in that.
One of the more interesting picks in Vancouver’s class was its final pick, Matthew Lansing, a solid forechecker who fills the gaps in the games of his more skilled linemates. Lansing is the responsible presence on the defensive end and the first player to get down low on the offensive end. He is an eager player who works to get himself into positive positions. Lansing must become more effective with his offensive touches, but he could be a really nice fourth-liner who brings the energy night in and night out.
Strengths
The Canucks’ system isn’t particularly strong, as they have one or two decent prospects all over the system.
The blueline has an interesting mix that includes their most impressive prospect in Willander as well as a player likely asserting himself into the NHL lineup this season in Pettersson.
Mancini could also play NHL minutes this season after a solid run with the New York Rangers before the trade to Vancouver. With other intriguing names, such as Kudryavtsev and Sawyer Mynio, the blueline is an area of strength in terms of having a depth of interesting prospects, even if it’s not an incredibly strong area in general.
Weaknesses
The Canucks really don’t have much on the wing aside from Lekkerimaki and Anthony Romani, both players who play on the right side.
While you could point to the wing in general as a weakness, the left side is particularly weak. Josh Bloom had a solid season, but it was all in the ECHL. You hope he can stick at the AHL level this year and show signs of being a legitimate NHL prospect, but as of right now, he might be the best prospect on the left side.
Anri Ravinskis is an interesting swing who had a good season in the Liiga, and he will head to the AHL this season, but he’s got some work to do to prove he’s an NHL prospect.
Hidden Gem: Anthony Romani, RW
Although he was out of the lineup for a big chunk of last season with a broken clavicle, Anthony Romani still showed off his trademark finishing ability and excellent passing.
His skating is slowly improving, and he’s becoming a more functionally physical player as well, winning battles and outworking opponents.
Romani is an excellent second forward entering the offensive zone, using his tactical processing to read where the opposing team’s best breakout option is and then closing and attempting to pick off the pass. Romani loves to counterattack and really finds his groove off the rush. He’s heading off to Michigan State next season, which will be an excellent place for him to build on his solid OHL career.
Next Man Up: Elias Pettersson, D
In 28 NHL games last season, D-Petey looked quite well.
When he was initially drafted, the projection was that he could be a safe, steady defender with size and mobility. He wouldn’t do anything remarkable, but he could crack an NHL lineup one day.
Doing so about a week after his 21st birthday was not on anyone’s bingo card. Pettersson bulked up since being drafted, which has allowed him to use his size more effectively, and he’s managed to keep his mobility while doing so.
Pettersson is likely nothing more than a No. 4 or 5 defender, but he has the defensive game that could keep him in the top four as he continues to develop.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Josh Bloom, Jackson Kunz, Anri Ravinskis, Vilmer Alriksson
C: Braeden Cootes, Aatu Raty, Riley Patterson, Matthew Lansing, Kieren Dervin, Wilson Bjorck, Ty Mueller
RW: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Anthony Romani, Danila Klimovich, Chase Stillman, Gabriel Chiarot
LD: Elias Pettersson, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sawyer Mynio, Basile Sansonnens
RD: Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Parker Alcos, Aiden Celebrini
G: Alexei Medvedev, Ty Young, Aku Koskenvuo
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
