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Jonathan Lekkerimäki needs to be a Canucks regular for the 2026-27 season

Jordan Frew — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 20:20:44 GMT

With the Vancouver Canucks in full rebuild mode for the 2026-27 season and the foreseeable future, it’s an opportunity for young players to show what they’ve got and to prove they can be a part of the Canucks when they become contenders.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki is one of the Canucks’ young prospects who looks like he could be a part of the team long-term. The 22-year-old has shown offensive promise, proving himself in the American Hockey League on the Abbotsford Canucks, but has yet to break into the Canucks’ National Hockey League lineup.

Now, with the Canucks in the midst of a rebuild and trying to develop prospects, having brought in Manny Malhotra, whom Lekkerimäki spent two seasons with in Abbotsford, and starting to contend amongst the bottom-of-the-league teams, this is by far Lekkerimäki’s best chance to break out.

Meeting expectations: An NHL regular

While Lekkerimäki may not play all 84 games this season, he should be making regular appearances, only missing out for the occasional reset day if needed.

The Swede has spent parts of the past three seasons in Abbotsford, even winning a Calder Cup with them, as well as spent time in the past two seasons with Vancouver. He’s totalled a career 37 games in the NHL, 24 during the 2024-25 season and 13 during the 2025-26 season. No doubt he would have seen more than 13 games last season had his season not ended early due to needing shoulder surgery.

Now’s the time in Lekkerimäki’s career when he should be making that jump from AHL to NHL.

At the AHL level, he’s shown his contributions offensively, notching 50 points, 33 goals and 17 assists, in 63 career games, a 0.79 point-per-game percentage. In his 37 NHL games, he’s tallied 9 points, 5 goals and 4 assists, a 0.24 PPG.

The 22-year-old has yet to even play a half-season worth of games, and while the time he has spent up in Vancouver has been pretty consistent, not getting constantly recalled or sent down, it’s still nowhere near as valuable as a full season with the Canucks, which the 2026-27 season should be for him.

Lekkerimäki needs to head into training camp working to make the Canucks’ opening night roster, and stay there. And he will stay there if he shows his growth, particularly offensively, at the NHL level.

Exceeds expectations: Breaks into the top 6

Right now, Daily Faceoff Vancouver’s Canucks offensive line combinations look like this:

Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Linus Karlsson
Liam Öhgren – Marco Rossi – Brock Boeser
Drew O’Connor – Filip Chytil – Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Paul Cotter – Aatu Raty – Brendan Gallagher

However, as the season gets underway, these lines can easily change.

In the top six, the only real spot that appears to be available for Lekkerimäki to chase is Karlsson’s. If the BRÖ line picks up where they left off with their chemistry, they will be hard to break up. Debrusk and Pettersson played on a line together last season, and Karlsson is taking the spot of former Canuck Evander Kane. If Lekkerimäki starts the 2026-27 campaign strong, this could be a spot for him.

Lekkerimäki needs to focus on his development into the NHL before he starts worrying about breaking the top six, and with Manny Malhotra behind the bench, a coach known for developing his players, he should have the proper support and leadership to do so. If he finds himself playing in the top six, that’s just a bonus.

Currently, Lekkerimäki is projected to receive playing time on the Canucks second power play unit. Playing with extra space and with his former Swedish Hockey League teammate Öhgren, with whom he has shown chemistry, could prove to help him start to produce offensively and get shots to the net as he adjusts to 5-on-5 play.

Things can change at the drop of a dime, and it is on Lekkerimäki to put himself in a position where he can play regular NHL minutes and work his way into the top six.

Below expectations: Spends time in Abbotsford

Honestly, any time spent with the Abbotsford Canucks would fall below expectations for Lekkerimäki.

He doesn’t need to be perfect right away, and the Canucks are in a position to let him learn and grow from mistakes. Having spent parts of the past three seasons in Abbotsford, the best place for him to develop is in Vancouver at the NHL level. Any time he’s not there learning, on or off the ice, is not helping him and is not what the Canucks should be doing.

As more prospects climb the ranks, Lekkerimäki needs to capitalize on the opportunity to gain a full season of NHL experience, starting to show the full extent of his skills and whether what he brings to the ice is part of the Canucks’ future.

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Which Canucks mid-to-late-round pick is most likely to succeed?: Wagner’s Weekly

Daniel Wagner — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:00:46 GMT

The most important part of a rebuild is nailing your top-end draft picks, particularly those in the top ten.

Vancouver Canucks fans are all too aware of how that can go wrong, as the team’s previous attempt at a rebuild was hindered by a couple of high-profile missteps.

It is, of course, also nice to get a couple of hits with late first-round picks and second-round picks. Where would the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild be without second-round pick Lane Hutson, for instance?

The Canucks can be relatively optimistic that they’ve succeeded on those two fronts in their most recent draft. Caleb Malhotra should be a foundational piece for the rebuild, and at least one of Adam Novotny, Brooks Rogowski, and Niklas Aaram-Olsen ought to be an impact player.

Combine that with the likes of Braeden Cootes, Zeev Buium, and Tom Willander, and the Canucks are off to a pretty decent start to their rebuild.

But what would kickstart their rebuild significantly is getting a hit or two outside of the first two rounds. Consider the aforementioned Canadiens: as important as Hutson and first-round picks Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky have been, where would the Canadiens have been last season without fifth-round pick Jakub Dobes stepping up as their number-one goaltender?

Or, think of whether the Canucks’ dominant 2010-11 season ever would have happened without third-round pick Alex Edler and fifth-round pick Kevin Bieksa anchoring the blue line?

So, which of the Canucks’ recent mid-to-late-round picks has the potential to be a difference-maker along those lines?

Let’s take a look at a few possibilities.

1 – Kirill Kudryavtsev

The Canucks’ seventh-round pick in 2022 has earned his admirers among the scouting set, as well as among the neurons within my own brain. I’m a fan of the poised and intelligent defenceman.

With Zeev Buium and Elias Pettersson firmly ensconced in the NHL, Kudryavtsev is the Canucks’ top prospect at left defence, though that might say more about the Canucks’ limited defensive depth in their prospect pool than about Kudryavtsev himself.

Still, Kudryavtsev has looked comfortable in his few games in the NHL and he had the privilege of being the only Canucks defenceman last season who had a positive goal differential at 5-on-5. Sure, it was only plus-2 in just three games, and he was due for some regression, but it’s something.

Read our full Kirill Kudryavtsev write-up from our top 20 Canucks prospects countdown here!

2 – Dmitry Ivchenko

The Canucks’ goaltender of the future might take a while to get to the NHL: Dmitry Ivchenko, picked in the third round this year, could be the guy.

Ivchenko has the size necessary to be an NHL goaltender at 6’3” and combines that size with refined technique and a disciplined mental game. He’s about as pure an Ian Clark pick as you could imagine.

While he’s a long-term project, Ivchenko’s already solid technique shows that he’s willing to put the work in to improve. He’s got the tools to be a number-one goaltender in the NHL if it all comes together.

Read our write-up on Ivchenko from our latest Canucks prospect rankings here!

3 – Lucian Bernat

The Canucks taking Lucian Bernat in the sixth round this year was one of my favourite bets of the draft.

With his 6’4” stature, explosive stride, and excellent shot, Bernat has power forward potential. Even if that just means he becomes a bottom-six grinder who instills fear on the forecheck and pops in a few goals, that would be a late-round win for the Canucks.

What’s intriguing to me about Bernat is the potential for him to play a complementary role, with a high-motor, physical, two-way game with some finish that can support a couple of more talented linemates on a top-six line.

I’m probably too high on him, but I’m a sucker for a sniper with size.

4 – Anthony Romani

When the Canucks selected Anthony Romani in the sixth round in 2024, he already looked like a late-round steal: a 58-goal, 111-point forward, who didn’t get picked earlier because he was in his second year of eligibility, but, as a July birthday, was still young with plenty of potential.

Then his post-draft year was derailed by injuries, but he still recovered for a dominant playoff run, putting up 12 goals and 24 points in 16 games.

Romani’s freshman season at Michigan State University gave even more reasons for optimism, as he had a very solid 14 goals and 28 points in 37 games, while developing his all-around game. In two years, Romani could very well be the right wing on the Canucks’ second line.

Read Romani’s entry in our top 20 prospects countdown here!

5 – Riley Patterson

The Canucks are high on 2024 fourth-rounder Riley Patterson after he stepped up in a big way in his final year in the OHL.

Patterson led the Niagara IceDogs in scoring by a wide margin, putting up 40 goals and 84 points in 60 games with limited offensive help. More than that, he showed his versatility, as he moved from the wing to centre and became a faceoff ace, winning 61.6% of his faceoffs in the playoffs.

The odds of Patterson playing centre in the NHL are low given the influx of competition at centre, but Patterson has all the tools to be a top-six NHL winger if he can continue his skyrocketing development.

Check out Patterson’s profile here.

6 – Someone Else Entirely

I’m trying to do something impossible with this article: predict who’s going to exceed expectations. If you could predict that, then wouldn’t those predictions just become the new expectations?

Perhaps Gabriel Chiarot or Wilson Bjorck will break out at forward, or defenceman Samuel Eriksson will find his offensive game. Maybe the real late-round star that helps the Canucks rebuild succeed will come out of the 2027 or 2028 drafts.

31 days, 31 questions: Could Canucks’ Victor Mancini be poised for a breakout season?

Elijah Ford — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:00:07 GMT

Welcome to a new series here at CanucksArmy, where over the month of August we’ll ask a new question each day about the Vancouver Canucks. We’re calling it “31 days, 31 questions”. Today, we’re examining whether Canucks defenceman Victor Mancini is poised for a breakout season in 2026-27.

When an organization is rebuilding, player development is arguably the most important department in the franchise. An organization’s ability to take a player’s raw talent and help convert it into NHL production is a huge determinant of that team’s long-term success.

The Canucks’ player development system has been hit-and-miss in recent years. They have had their share of success stories with players like Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson, who have shown exceptional growth within the Canucks organization over the past few years. However, players like Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Nils Höglander have struggled to find their games with Vancouver despite having a lot of natural skill on the ice. Moving forward, the most important project for that department may be 6’3″ right-handed defenceman Victor Mancini.

Mancini has been with the Canucks organization since early 2025 when he was one of the pieces included in the deal that sent J.T Miller to the New York Rangers. He immediately made his impact felt in Abbotsford that season, where he was a key component in their playoff run, which ultimately ended in a Calder Cup victory. In those playoffs, Mancini played some of Abbotsford’s toughest minutes, while surprising fans with his ability to carry the puck out of the zone if needed. Last year he split time between Abbotsford and Vancouver, playing over 20 games for each club. He had a good AHL season, finishing with a plus-one rating on an Abbotsford team that finished near the bottom of the standings last season.

His NHL games tell a different story. Mancini played 24 games with the big club and wound up with the worst Corsi For percentage of any player to play at least five games. It was quite clear that the Canucks’ coaching staff did not have much trust in Mancini at the NHL level last year. He averaged under 14 minutes a night during the season, playing under 12 minutes in a third of his games. Mancini was also in the 82nd percentile of offensive zone starts, which shows the staff didn’t feel he could consistently hold up in the defensive zone. Mancini was also a healthy scratch throughout the season, which culminated when he was in the press box for the final three games of the season.

However, Mancini has typically been a late bloomer. His junior career got caught up in the chaos of COVID in the early 2020s, which led to him being selected in his third year of draft eligibility in 2022. Mancini has a lot of the natural and physical tools needed to be a top four defenceman in the NHL. As mentioned, he is a towering presence on the ice, standing at 6’3″ and weighing somewhere around 225 pounds. A right-handed-shot defenceman that large in itself would make most NHL GM’s drool at the prospect of getting their hands on that player. Add in the fact he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and that his straight-line speed is impressive for a man his size, and you have a prospect that checks most of the boxes when it comes to god-given tools.

So what has been holding Mancini back at the NHL level? The answer, as it does for most prospects, lies within the nuances of the game that he hasn’t been able to fully grasp up to this point.

The biggest hole in Mancini’s game right now is his inability to consistently and cleanly retrieve pucks in his own end. Arguably the most important play for a defenceman to make shift-to-shift in the NHL is to take the puck dumped into his own zone and turn it into clean breakout passes the other way. Mancini struggles to process this element of the game at this stage of his career. Too often, instead of knowing what to do with the puck before he touches it, Mancini retrieves the puck and then takes a second to survey his options. This gives the forechecker more time to smother the puck along the boards and create turnovers. Also, when the forechecker is able to smother Mancini due to the extra time he allows, he has a tendency to act sporadically with the puck, shooting it blindly up the boards or flipping the puck in the air when there were other plays to be made that would retain possession.

Overall, poise is the biggest thing Mancini has struggled with at the NHL level. He even said as much when speaking about the elements of his game he wants to improve over the summer. “I feel like my play can be sporadic,” Mancini said. “I know you don’t have to do anything crazy at the NHL level, I don’t have to force opportunities, the opportunities will come.”

His current lack of poise also shows in his skating, which is a work in progress. Mancini has a tendency to get “happy feet” under pressure, where he tries to use his skating to avoid forecheckers rather than simply surveying the ice to find a better play. He gets away with it from time to time, as Mancini is generally a solid skater for his size. His speed when he gets a head of steam is impressive, and when he’s at top speed he is usually in good control of the puck and his body, which allows him to carry play up ice better than most. His details, however, still need improvement. Although he has good speed after a few strides, Mancini’s quickness is well below average for an NHL player. His agility is also quite weak, even for a player as big as he is. This allows forwards to create space for themselves in the corner against Mancini rather easily. His lack of quickness also makes him susceptible to getting beat to the puck consistently on simple dump-and-chase plays, as his first stride after pivoting is not where it needs to be. “You can never be too good of a skater,” Mancini said. “I want to work on calming my feet down”

A big element that goes into general poise and calmness on the ice is having confidence in your abilities from play-to-play. This is another element that Mancini has brought up consistently in interviews when discussing his game. “Just getting more confident, I talk about that a lot,” Mancini said. “When I’m confident, it doesn’t feel like I’m rushing plays; the game slows down.” When Mancini plays with swagger, as he did in Abbotsford, he has the ability to make plays that not many players his size can. Unfortunately for him, other than Filip Hronek, no other defenceman played with any confidence in Adam Foote’s defensive zone system last year. Foote’s hybrid man-to-man system proved difficult for the Canucks’ young defencemen to adjust to, considering the scheme is significantly different from what is typically taught through minor and junior hockey. A confidence boost should be brought by his former head coach in Abbotsford, Manny Malhotra, now behind the bench in Vancouver. It’s possible that a familiar face at head coach who he’s already had success with could be exactly what Mancini needs to spark a breakout season.

And a breakout season is absolutely on the board for this player; Mancini became more impressive with every shift we went back and reviewed. His motor cannot be questioned; Mancini brings a contagious energy to the ice whenever he is on the blueline. He is unafraid to use his size to knock opponents off the puck in the corner, or to clear the front of the net. He is good at getting shots on net from the point, and he typically makes the right choice when put in position to either pinch or fall back on defence.

What Mancini needs to do to become a night-to-night top six NHL defenceman is to get better at reading plays in his own zone. Although Mancini is often described by himself and others as a two-way defenceman, in an ideal world he would shift into a defensive defenceman with offensive upside. Mancini simply does not have the offensive awareness, agility, or stickhandling ability to be a real play driver in the offensive zone. He can make the simple plays, and as mentioned, he is good at carrying the puck into the zone, but that’s about where his offensive skillset ends. His offence is not good enough to offset defensive lapses, and he still makes plenty of those.

Too often, a puck would be played into Mancini’s corner, then reversed to the other corner as Mancini’s check raced to the front of the net. Because of his lack of agility, he often got beat to that spot, allowing high danger scoring chances. With Mancini’s quickness being below average, he needs to offset that with his IQ, knowing where to be before a play is made in the defensive zone. Hopefully this comes with time and experience as defencemen typically take longer to develop than forwards do.

Overall, it’s hard not to be excited about Mancini’s potential. He has all of the talent needed to be a lesser, younger version of Tyler Myers for the Canucks moving forward. What will ultimately decide his future, though, will be his ability to develop into a processor rather than a reactor. Right now Mancini is just a small step behind when it comes to nuances of playing NHL hockey shift-to-shift. If Malhotra and the Canucks’ coaching staff can help tutor his hockey IQ and sharpen his consistency in his own end, don’t be surprised if by the end of the year Mancini has developed into a legitimate top six defenceman with upside moving forward.

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3 WHL 2027 NHL Draft prospects for Canucks fans to keep an eye on this season

Jacob Fraser — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:00:01 GMT

Fresh off the Hlinka Gretzky, the buzz has already started around some of the 2027 NHL draft prospects. The obvious top names this year begin with Landon DuPont, who’s headed for the University of Michigan, as well as Russian forward Nazar Privalov and Canadian centreman Alexis Joseph, who will be returning to the QMJHL this season.

While it’s fun to discuss the top names in this year’s draft, some near the top will be playing close to home for Vancouver Canucks fans living in and around the city of Vancouver.

We don’t often get a chance to watch many of these top prospects live. With the Vancouver Giants near the middle of both Vancouver and Abbotsford, playing out of the Langley Events Centre, there’s a good opportunity for fellow draft junkies to catch some of the upcoming draft class’s top prospects live.

Today we’re going to focus on three players to be on the lookout for when their teams come to Vancouver, and at the end we’ll also dive into a few honourable mentions.

Brock England

Brock England is the first name to be on the watch for this season. If you caught the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, you’ll likely be familiar with this name already.

Returning to the Seattle Thunderbirds this season, England already excelled as a 16-year-old in the WHL. Last season, the Red Deer, Alberta native finished with a 21-goal, 30-assist campaign, totalling 51 points in 64 games.

He’s a 5’11”, 174-pound centreman who plays with a ton of speed. His skating is his biggest strength, and he uses it to be very effective in transition, jumping on pucks, creating turnovers, and immediately turning defence into offence.

England is very dangerous off the rush, gaining the offensive zone with control and attacking defenders with both his speed and playmaking ability to create give-and-go chances. On top of his skating and playmaking ability, England possesses a very dangerous shot. He has a quick release that can beat goaltenders clean and is a big-time scoring threat in the middle of the ice.

There is still some rounding out to his game that needs to happen; England needs to get bigger and stronger, while also showing he can consistently drive a line for him to play down the middle at the next level. That being said, when the Thunderbirds come to town to take on the Giants on October 10 and January 29, this kid is a must-watch prospect.

Jaxon Jacobson

Born in December 2008, Jaxon Jacobson was a few months late from being draft eligible this past year in 2026. Had he been born just three months earlier, we probably would have been talking about him as a top 10 pick already.

The Brandon, Manitoba native has been lighting it up for his hometown Wheat Kings the past two seasons. Last season, Jacobson finished the year with 25 goals and 60 assists for a whopping 85-point total in 63 games. He’s on the smaller side at 5’10” and 183 pounds so that he may project as a winger in the NHL, but with Brandon he’s shown the ability to dominate down the middle.

Some concerns with an older prospect are that they’ve had an extra season; of course, they’re going to be a step up from the, in this case, 2009-born players. However, in Jacobson’s first season in Brandon, he still managed to put up 44 points in 51 games despite being just 15 years old for a third of the year.

Jacobson’s bread and butter is his playmaking ability. He plays with a ton of pace, using his edgework to slip by defenders and his elite vision to find teammates and make plays. He’s a very high-IQ, offensive-minded forward who can manipulate play and produce a lot of points.

There are still some kinks in his game that need to be worked out; strength and overall explosiveness are still a work in progress. But given his size, that’s understandable at this point. Brandon will only be coming to visit the Giants at home once this season, so on October 6, if you get the chance to catch this kid live, it would certainly be worth your time.

Brock Cripps

After DuPont, there’s seemingly a fairly significant drop-off in top-end defencemen in the 2027 draft class. That being said, the next tier of defenceman is likely going to be headlined by the second Brock on this list, Brock Cripps.

The Victoria, B.C. born defenceman is headed back to Prince Albert for his second season with the Raiders. Last season, the team made it all the way to the WHL finals, where they fell to the Everett Silvertips. During the regular season, Cripps tallied 37 points in 62 games, mostly playing on the team’s second pairing behind fourth overall pick in 2026 Daxon Rudolph. In the playoffs, however, Cripps took his game to another level. Cripps was a feature on the team’s top power play unit, which featured the likes of Rudolph and Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes, and totalled 21 points in 20 playoff games.

Since then, Cripps showcased his talent even further, playing on Team Canada’s second pairing and secondary power play unit behind DuPont and added six points through the five tournament games.

Cripps is a very solid two-way puck-moving defenceman who can be heavily relied upon at both ends of the ice. He’s very poised with the puck on his stick and typically doesn’t hold on to it too long, reading the play and moving the puck before the opposition can close in on him. He’s great at retrieving pucks in his own zone, moving the play forward and jumping into the rush when the right opportunities present themselves.

With Rudolph making his way to the NCAA, Cripps is going to be taking on an increased role in Prince Albert. If this season goes anything like his playoff run did last season, we could be hearing Cripps’ name very early on in the 2027 draft.

Like Brandon, Prince Albert will only visit Vancouver once this season, so mark down February 3 on your calendars, because Cripps is an exciting player to watch.

Honourable mentions

If the three headliners weren’t enough to pique your interest, we have a few honourable mentions that are worth keeping an eye on this season.

The American-born duo, Noah Davidson and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, are going to be back with the Medicine Hat Tigers this season. We’ve seen a lot of talent come out of the Tigers program in recent years with the likes of Cayden Lindstrom, Liam and Markus Ruck, as well as number one overall pick Gavin McKenna. Although Davidson and Gordon-Carroll aren’t as highly regarded as McKenna or Lindstrom, the pair have a serious chance of being selected in the first round of the 2027 draft.

Davidson had a very good first season, in what was a very good Tigers team, scoring 30 goals and adding 22 assists for a 52-point total in 67 games. He’s a centreman with a lot of size and a heavy shot, and is definitely someone to watch for this year if he continues to develop.

Gordon-Carroll’s first season was arguably just as impressive as Davidson’s, totalling 37 points in 41 games. He isn’t the same calibre of goal scorer, but he plays a heavy 200-foot game and has the skill to produce offensively at the junior hockey level. His ability to play down the middle paired with his high motor should make for a late first-round pick if he can take another step this season.

Our last honourable mention is Wenatchee Wild defenceman Boston Tait. The Saskatchewan native is a physical defenceman who has some edge to his game. He put up 23 points in 65 games in his rookie season and showed his heavy shot and his ability to play with poise and pace. There’s still some work to do for him defensively; while he does play a physical brand of hockey, he needs to develop his overall defensive zone decision-making. That being said, there’s a lot to like with Tait; his skating ability, physicality and his shot make for an exciting player to be on the lookout for this season.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Which draft-eligible prospects are you most excited to watch in the WHL this season? Let us know in the comments below!

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31 days, 31 questions: Will the Canucks bring in any players on PTOs, and who might they be?

Stephan Roget — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:00:41 GMT

Welcome to a new series here at CanucksArmy, where over the month of August we’ll ask a new question each day about the Vancouver Canucks. We’re calling it “31 days, 31 questions”. Today, we’re examining whether the Canucks will bring in any players on PTOs and who those players might be.

Every year, the topic of inviting players to Training Camp on Professional Tryout deals comes up, and every year it’s a little controversial, at least in this market. It’s not that hard to see why, either. Fans of the Vancouver Canucks stay passionate all through the offseason, and much of that summertime is spent speculating about who’s going to be on next year’s team. Fans inevitably develop their preferences, and then right before the action starts, in comes some stranger who doesn’t even have a contract, and now they’re a threat to push your preferred players right out of the lineup.

Of course, PTOs are rarely successful, and it rarely goes that way, but it’s fun to live through the controversy again and again. And again, most likely, in the lead-up to 2026-27.

The Canucks didn’t invite any PTOs to camp last year, aside from the standard camp tryouts given to players on contract with Abbotsford, and an amateur tryout given to Zack Sandhu. Two years ago, they invited Dylan Ferguson and Sammy Blais. While neither landed an NHL contract, Blais signed with Abbotsford and successfully resurrected his big-league career. The last truly successful PTO for the Canucks was Alex Chiasson, who tried out in 2021, got signed, scored 13 goals, and earned a whole extra year in his career.

The topic came up on this week’s Canucks Conversation, as Rick Dhaliwal told the hosts that he didn’t think the Canucks would be handing out any more contracts to any of the remaining UFAs, but that they might consider a PTO or two.

With only camp and four preseason games to prove themselves this year, any PTO is going to have to arrive with a purpose. That obviously raises questions about why the Canucks would bring in PTOs, and which remaining UFAs might fit those needs.

Here are some of the primary reasons why a PTO might suit the Canucks’ needs:

Camp Competition/Firmly Earning Spots

The main purpose of bringing extra bodies into camp is to create more competition. That’s true in general, but can also apply to specific spots in the lineup.

There are a handful of players already pencilled in to spots in the Canucks’ 2026-27 lineup who haven’t necessarily earned those spots yet. We’re thinking Jonathan Lekkerimäki on the wing, Victor Mancini as the 4RD, and Kirill Kudryavtsev as the 4LD, specifically. Some might put Aatu Räty in the same category. We wouldn’t, but if he ends up at 3C, then whoever ends up at 4C will be in that boat.

So, what the Canucks might want to do is bring in a PTO or two to specifically challenge these players in camp and ensure they have to firmly earn their spot, rather than being handed it by default.

In the end, the preferred outcome is always for these younger players to make the team and keep developing, and they’ll have a major inside edge because of that. But a little competition never hurt anyone.

Potential Candidates: Adam Boqvist (Mancini), Ben Hutton (Kudryavtsev), Jacob Moverare (Kudryavstev), Patrik Laine (Lekkerimäki), Pavol Regenda (Lekkerimäki)

Potential 8^th Defender

As it stands, the Canucks have a pretty clear 1-6 on their blueline in Filip Hronek, Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson, Jamie Oleksiak, and Luke Schenn. Currently, two young defenders, Mancini and Kudryavtsev, are in line to serve as the seventh and eighth defenders.

Both players remain waiver-exempt and could be sent down to Abbotsford instead. Kudryavtsev, in particular, might reasonably need more seasoning at the age of 22.

This could lead the Canucks to seek a genuine veteran candidate for the eighth D slot and bring someone in on a PTO for that purpose.

A couple of the names we’ll mention on the list, primarily Logan Stanley, Nick Blankenburg, and Matt Grzelcyk, seem likely to pick up actual contracts at some point this summer, but one never knows. The others are firmly in PTO territory.

Potential Candidates: Logan Stanley, Nick Blankenburg, Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly, Adam Boqvist, Matt Dumba, Jacob Moverare, Derek Forbort

Potential 4^th Line Centre

If Filip Chytil either isn’t ready or is permanently moved to the wing for the upcoming season, that puts Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi, and Räty as the first three centres on the roster. And that leaves a fairly open competition for the remaining spot between Braeden Cootes, Ilya Safonov, Ty Mueller, and maybe a few other candidates.

One can never really have too much coverage at centre, so although there are plenty of bodies there, perhaps the Canucks might want a more experienced option to try out.

On that front, the pickings are admittedly a little slim. Most folks capable of playing a centre shift in the NHL are already snapped up. But there are a few kicking around out there worth consideration.

Potential Candidates: Curtis Lazar, Rodrigo Abols, Luke Glendening, Tyson Jost, Luke Kunin

Positive Camp Culture

The Canucks have really emphasized good vibes lately and made a clear shift toward a more positive culture. It could be that the Canucks look to bring in some great people on PTOs, if only to keep the mood up in camp.

Alternatively, the Canucks have handed out PTOs to old favourites in Training Camp just for a little extra PR, as they did with Brendan Morrison back in the day. That could always be a factor here, too.

Potential Candidates: Ben Hutton, Tanner Pearson, Ryan Reaves, Curtis Lazar

Extra Preseason Muscle

Lastly, we’ll note that the preseason tends to be a little rougher than the regular season, with plenty of knuckleheads out there looking to make a name for themselves. That might be a lesser factor with only four exhibition games on everyone’s schedule, but it’s a factor worth considering all the same. A little extra muscle in a preseason lineup can be seen as a cautionary measure, especially for a squad with an otherwise youthful roster like the Canucks.

They’ve already brought in the likes of Luke Schenn and Jamie Oleskiak to help with this, but you don’t necessarily want your everyday players scrapping in preseason. And there are a few toughies left out there who could be brought in for a little bit of PTO patrolling.

Potential Candidates: Ryan Reaves, Logan Stanley, Luke Kunin, Garrett Wilson

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Canucks will lean on Luke Schenn’s leadership in 2026-27

Arielle Lalande — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:00:26 GMT

Coming into his third stint as a Vancouver Canuck, there are fairly high expectations for Luke Schenn from a character point of view, but little pressure otherwise. It’s a unique position to be in.

Apart from being a fan-favourite Canuck, Schenn’s two previous tenures with the team could not have been more different. His first run was incredibly brief, and split between Vancouver and the AHL. In 2022-23, however, Schenn was Quinn Hughes’ defensive partner and de facto bodyguard, had his best offensive season since his ELC years, and set a positive example for many young players on a Canucks team with growing pains. His exemplary traits have not changed since he was last with the team in 2023, but the circumstances in Vancouver most definitely have; Schenn’s mentorship is now needed more than ever.

Ultimately, Schenn is a no-nonsense, utility defenceman best suited to a depth role. He brings a welcome sense of stability to the team and, most importantly, a true desire to play in Vancouver. Schenn is not a particularly fast skater, which has never been a strong suit, or a special teams star, but he’s absolutely currently most needed on the Canucks’ penalty kill. Schenn has made it clear he wanted to rejoin the Canucks and take on this responsibility at this time. With a proven floor and ceiling, role, and positive character traits, the expectations for Luke Schenn’s upcoming season are fairly straightforward.

Meeting expectations: Setting an example for a young Canucks team, especially blueliners; using his size to his advantage

Much of Schenn’s value is in his leadership and experience, both on the ice and in the locker room. The Canucks, save for some key holdovers on the roster, have essentially started from scratch, from the front office to behind the bench, down to their rookie-heavy roster. Schenn is coming in at an opportune moment to help shape a new team culture and identity, which has been sorely lacking for some time now. He can help be a strong voice in a previously fractured locker room and emphasize the strength of character necessary to build a winning team: humility, collaboration, accountability – true next-man-up mentality. Luke Schenn knows what it means to be a Canuck, enough that he wanted to return to Vancouver and teach a raw, rebuilding team that it once used to mean something special to wear the jersey. It still can be.

Schenn’s return to Vancouver has always been a low-risk, high-reward signing. His one-year deal at a $2.25 million AAV is a very tidy number, and leaves the door open for the future. Now 36, Schenn has had a long road to the present, with 10 NHL teams under his belt in 18 years. Although he has slowed down in recent seasons in terms of offensive output and even-strength consistency, he’s still a strong stay-at-home defensive asset. Despite coming in at 72nd in hits league-wide last season with 149, he is still fourth in all-time hits across the league with 3,809. His 6’2” 229-pound frame, when deployed correctly, is the exact kind of muscle that can help the Canucks get a bit of edge back into their game. Much like the protective detail he once provided to Quinn Hughes, Schenn provides considerable size and accountability to protect the puck-moving blueliners and wingers around him. He might just be able to get another offensive comeback season of his own, if fate and ice time are in his favour.

Exceeds expectations: Returns to the full impact and point production he had in his younger years

It is not likely, but it is not impossible. Once upon a time, Luke Schenn was a fifth overall pick. He put up a surprising amount of points in his first few seasons, for a near-definitive defensive defenceman. His high point was two 22-point seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010-11 before his production petered off. That is, at least, until his resurgence on the Canucks in 2022-23. 21 points and one with the Maple Leafs matched his previous 22-point high, well over a decade later. Was this lightning in a bottle in an otherwise disastrous Canucks season, aided by his pairing with Quinn Hughes? Probably. But with the Canucks now starting from square one, stranger things could happen than Luke Schenn having a career year. It would be terrific for Schenn to repeat his last campaign in more ways than one, but it’s neither required nor expected.

Below expectations: Consistently scratched due to rapidly decreasing play

Although it won’t be shocking if Schenn doesn’t suit up for every game, given Vancouver’s defensive pool, his age, and his slower speed, he needs to see enough ice time to justify his role. Schenn, presumably, joined the Canucks to play more than he has with the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres in recent years, and to contribute to the burgeoning rebuild in any way he can. Given his decreasing ice time in the past few seasons – Schenn played just six total regular and postseason games with the Sabres after he arrived at the deadline this past season – there is a reasonable expectation he will see increased playing time in Vancouver. If Schenn is not taking up a lineup spot from another defenceman who better suits the team’s needs, he can and should be at least uplifting the locker room.

Schenn facing a significant amount of healthy scratches is hypothetical, but there are a few avenues in which this could become a reality. If one of the teetering young defencemen, such as Victor Mancini or Kirill Kudryatvsev, takes the next step in their development and proves they deserve more ice time, that could see Schenn on the outside looking in. Or, at the prime age of 36, it wouldn’t be out of the picture to see the 18-year veteran blueliner decline in play and give the organization no choice but to give more chances to their young guys.

It will take a lot for Luke Schenn to come up short of expectations, which, truthfully, at his age and this stage in his career, are not particularly high in terms of production. Be it his beloved status with the fanbase – which is an important conversation in itself – or his overall status as a veteran player, it’s unlikely that Schenn will disappoint, as most, including him, are simply happy he is in Vancouver at a bare minimum.

By and large, Luke Schenn’s path to success on the Canucks this season was set in motion the second he simply chose to be in Vancouver of his own volition. Schenn is a respected league veteran who has willingly stepped into a mentor role on a team that truly needs it, already setting the bar for his 2026-27 season.

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Vancouver Canucks challenging Ontario youth team Castor River Canucks’ trademark application

David Quadrelli — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:00:48 GMT

The Vancouver Canucks are challenging a trademark application from an Ontario-based youth hockey organization, the Castor River Canucks. Abbotsford News reporter Ben Lypka was the first to bring attention to the story:

Trademark news: The #Canucks have opposed this design filed by the Ontario-based Castor River Canucks.

It was initially approved in March. The NHL club now has until Sept. 27 to submit its statement of opposition.

Full filing here – https://t.co/Ei2pofqhYE pic.twitter.com/yrOBn2Z3uM

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) August 14, 2026

According to the proceedings outlined in the Canadian Trademarks Database, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office initially approved the Castor River Canucks’ design application on March 4th, 2026, moving it to the formal advertising phase on May 27th. Following that approval, the Vancouver Canucks requested an extension to file a statement of opposition on July 27th, establishing a deadline of September 27 to submit their legal arguments for why the Castor River Canucks’ application shouldn’t be approved.

The Castor River Canucks’ design features the word “Canucks” and a beaver, with the beaver’s incisors shaping the “U” in Canucks.

Photo courtesy of Canadian Trademarks Database

According to their website, the Castor River Canucks are a Rep B organization, considered Tier 3 competitive hockey which is one step above house league and one step before AA. The Canucks teams are comprised of players from Metcalfe District Hockey Association and Russell Minor Hockey Association. They compete within the Ottawa B Minor Hockey League, fielding youth teams across divisions ranging from U10 to U18.

Under Canadian intellectual property law, trademark owners are tasked with enforcing their marks to retain their exclusive rights. Failing to challenge unauthorized registrations, even those filed by non-profit or, yes, minor sports groups, can weaken a brand’s legal standing and create precedents that complicate future enforcement against commercial infringers. The Canucks will likely contend that registering “Canucks” for things like clothing services (among other things outlined in the application, which lists Metcalfe & District Hockey Association as the applicant) creates a strong likelihood of consumer confusion, potentially misleading the public into assuming an official partnership or endorsement between the two parties.

To be clear, teams like the Junior A Calgary Canucks have been able to use the name “Canucks” without issue in part because they haven’t filed to trademark the name, which the Canucks obviously own and have to protect in commercial settings.

Remember lacrosse Johnny Canuck?

This isn’t the first time the Canucks haven’t been thrilled about their name or logos being used by a youth sports team. Back in 2018, shortly after Canucks Sports and Entertainment purchased the NLL’s Vancouver Stealth, a local youth lacrosse association outfitted its team in jerseys featuring a slightly modified “Johnny Canuck” character holding a lacrosse stick, instead of a hockey stick.

Photo courtesy of The Province

As we know, the Canucks were gearing up to launch the Vancouver Warriors for the 2019 NLL season, so seeing a Johnny Canuck logo holding a lacrosse stick might actually have caused some confusion for the public. In fact, it did, as the jersey being posted online made some wonder if it was a leak of the new Vancouver NLL team’s look, given they were both owned by the Canucks. And of course, the Canucks would go on to make Johnny Canuck a big part of their branding for the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks just a couple of years later.

In that case, the Canucks asked the youth team to surrender custom jerseys after their tournament in Langley had come to a close. CSE clarified at the time that they were not taking legal action against the kids or the team, but rather required the commercial jersey manufacturer based in Port Coquitlam to stop producing and selling the unauthorized design.

3 Canucks prospects who are playing for an entry-level contract this season

Jacob Fraser — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:00:02 GMT

Throughout the offseason, we’ve given our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings. We dove into which Canucks prospect will be the first to make their NHL debut, and now we’re going to discuss a few prospects who are playing this season for a chance at an entry-level contract.

All three players we’ll discuss will see their rights expire with the team at some point next offseason. If they don’t sign with the Canucks who originally drafted them, then they’ll have to look elsewhere to continue their hockey careers.

In the Canucks organization, there are currently three players that meet the criteria of having their rights expire next season: two forwards and one defenceman who were all drafted in 2022 or 2023.

Daimon Gardner

The first player on this list, and the highest selection of the three, is Daimon Gardner. The Ontario-born centreman is headed to his fourth season in college hockey, with what will be his third school during his NCAA career.

Selected out of the USHL, Gardner was an intriguing centreman prospect with some upside given his towering size. The 6’4” 205-pound centreman had a very solid draft-plus one season in the USHL, after being selected by the Canucks in the fourth round, 112th overall in 2022.

Following his 42-point season in 46 games with the Tri-City Storm, Gardner went to Clarkson University for his freshman year. In that first year in the NCAA, Gardner only managed to produce six points in 29 games. In his past two seasons, Gardner has been at St. Cloud State University; his first year with the team has been his best so far in college hockey, with 14 points in 32 games.

The production in the NCAA for Gardner has been underwhelming; this year he’s headed for Minnesota State University, which should be a good opportunity for him to step up into a bigger all-around role. However, given the previous production and the tools Gardner has as a player, we’re likely looking at someone who’s going to be an AHL forward. He has the size and the frame, but there is a lack of consistency at both ends of the ice in his game that he’ll need to round out this season to get the opportunity to sign with the team that originally drafted him.

Matthew Perkins

Matthew Perkins was drafted in a similar spot just one year later than Gardner, taken in the fourth round, 119th overall in 2023. Like Gardner, Perkins is also heading into his senior year in the NCAA and his second year at Northeastern University.

Perkins is a smaller frame, listed at 5’11” and 174 pounds; he can play both down the middle and on the wing.

His first year of college hockey, in what was his draft plus-one year, was promising. At the University of Minnesota, Perkins put up 15 points in 35 games. Since then, however, his role has been reduced, and his production has declined.

In his first season with Northeastern last year, Perkins had just seven points in 29 games. Perkins plays a very solid two-way game; his skating, college production, and size, however, make it difficult to project him as anything more than an organizational depth piece.

The Canucks could look to add him to the AHL or even ECHL roster following this upcoming season, but he’s going to have to prove there is still some upside there if he’s going to earn a contract with the team.

Aiden Celebrini

Aiden Celebrini is the lone defenceman on this list and might be the most likely to earn a contract within the Canucks organization. Of course, he’s the older brother of Macklin Celebrini. This season, Aiden will be headed into his fourth year at Boston University.

He hasn’t produced much throughout his college career, but Celebrini wasn’t expected to be an offensive defenceman. Drafted out of the AJHL with the Brooks Bandits, the Vancouver native was regarded as a defensive defenceman with shutdown ability, taken by the Canucks in the sixth round, 171st overall in the 2023 draft.

In his first three years at Boston University, he’s been consistently deployed in a third-pairing role, seeing some deployment in the team’s second pairing.

Given his work ethic and defensive ability, along with the fact that he has familiarity with Abbotsford Canucks new Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou from their days with the Brooks Bandits, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the organization give him an opportunity in the AHL at the end of this season and to begin the next year.

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Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi cancelled after 18 years

Tyson Cole — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:06:28 GMT

After 18 long years, Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi will not be returning to your televisions for the 2026-27 season.

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi released this statement on their social media on Friday morning.

“A decision has been made that Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi will not be returning. For 18 years, this show brought our community closer to the game we love. It shared the stories of South Asian players and families and created a space that was truly unique in Canadian sports. We are incredibly proud of what we built together.

“To our viewers: THANK YOU! Your love, support, and unwavering loyalty meant everything to us. You welcomed us into your homes, shared your stories with us, and made this show what it became. We are grateful for every moment we shared with you.

“Thank you for being part of our family.”

The Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi crew consisted of six prominent hosts: Randip Janda, Gurp Sian, Harpreet Pandher, Taqdeer Thindal, Avjot Sodhi, and Mantar Bhandal.

Most Vancouver Canucks fans will recognize Janda from his work as a colour commentator for the Vancouver Canucks’ broadcasts on Sportsnet 650. Janda was the main host of Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi.

Janda released a statement via his social media:

“It’s difficult to put into words what Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi has meant to me – and what the Punjabi community has given all of us through this show. … Hosting this broadcast has been the honour of my career. It’s where my career began. I got my start broadcasting in Punjabi before eventually making the transition to English, and I will always be grateful that this community gave me that opportunity.

“But this show was always more than broadcasting hockey in Punjabi. It was about bringing our community closer to the game, highlighting the stories of our players, families and fans, and creating an only-in-Canada show where our community could see itself reflected on one of the country’s most iconic sports platforms. We should be incredibly proud of the role Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi played in helping create what we see today – sports broadcasts in different languages and more opportunities for communities to see themselves represented in the sports they love.”

According to Omni TV’s website, Janda hosted Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi; Bhandal served as the play-by-play commentator; Sian and Thindal were colour commentators; Pandher was an analyst; and Sodhi was a commentator and producer for the sportscast.

Rogers and Sportsnet have made plenty of cuts this offseason. Just under two months ago, Rogers and Sportsnet announced they had ended their 12-year partnership with CBC, meaning Canadians can no longer watch Hockey Night in Canada on the CBC broadcast. The show will now be streamed exclusively on Sportsnet. In early July, Sportsnet announced the shuttering of six radio stations across Canada, including 1130 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. And now, the loss of Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi edition.

One thing that fans will never lose, however, is this infamous call from Harnarayan Singh in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals after a Nick Bonino goal.

Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi is no more.

The iconic "Bonino, Bonino, Bonino" call lives forever, though. https://t.co/m792Ja3Mnx pic.twitter.com/UXGIGMqgKk

— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) August 14, 2026

No where to go but up for Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen in 2026-27

Lachlan Irvine — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:30:27 GMT

Kevin Lankinen‘s been dealt a tough hand since signing his five-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks in 2025. When he first signed that long-term deal, it was seemingly done with the understanding that he’d be the Canucks’ new long-term starter. But somewhere near the end of the 2024-25 season, the Canucks got nervous and gave Thatcher Demko a new three-year deal, creating an odd scenario where the 1B has more term than the 1A.

Like most of his Canucks teammates, the 29-year-old Finn struggled mightily last season. Lankinen’s numbers took a massive dip in 2025-26, posting a record of 11-27-5 (14 fewer wins than the year before) and dropping below a .900 save percentage for the first time since 2021-22. He started six fewer games compared to his first season in Vancouver. However, with Demko experiencing another run of bad injury luck and Nikita Tolopilo still developing, the Herculean task of starting the majority of the Canucks games fell to Lankinen once again. It wasn’t all bad, though; Lankinen also earned the Canucks’ nomination for the Masterton Trophy from the Vancouver chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Lankinen, at his peak, is a very solid goaltender. But for a Canucks team that’s long relied on its goalies to steal wins night in and night out, Lankinen doesn’t fit that job description. At least not in the same way Demko does. But with his teammates’ injury history, odds are Lankinen will have to play a lot of games anyway.

In truth, Lankinen’s goals hinge a lot on the situation around him. If Demko is healthy enough to play most of the year, is that meeting expectations for Lanks? If the Canucks are better than last season, how many games would he need to win for it to be considered a success? Let’s figure that out.

Meeting Expectations: Play 35+ games, push save percentage past .900

Lankinen doesn’t need to do much to meet the bar of success as a 1B. Ideally, Demko will be healthy enough to take the bulk of the workload this year, leaving Lankinen the smaller chunk of games for the first time in his Canucks tenure. Lankinen has thrived in the past with the rest and recovery time a number-one goalie isn’t afforded, and it would do his stats a lot of good to play slightly fewer games.

While save percentage is more of a team stat than a reflection of the goalie, a .900 percentage still means something to decision-makers and people watching. Being able to match the .902 from his first Canucks’ season would be a good start; exceeding it would be a massive win.

Exceeding Expectations: Win 20 games

Last season, Lankinen’s 11 wins in 47 games were enough to lead all Canucks goalies in wins. Yikes.

Obviously, Lankinen needs the help of the team in front of him to make that a reality. And the roster most likely to suit up for the Canucks in 2026-27 isn’t expected to be much better than last year’s. If Lank can somehow pull another nine wins out of nowhere – still five shy of his 25 from 2024-25 – forget the Masterton; give him the Vezina Trophy.

Below expectations: Status quo (or injured)

Let’s be very clear: Kevin Lankinen was far from the reason the Canucks lost so many games last year. But it’s hard to imagine he has anywhere to go but up from an .876 save percentage on a last-place hockey team. The only real way things could get worse is with an injury flare-up (knock on wood).

In a lot of ways, that’s a very freeing place to be. Lankinen has seen the ocean floor; now he gets to swim back up. But he’s still going to have some ankle weights to carry in a porous Canucks roster that spent 43% of games last season in the defensive zone. A repeat of last season would be a disappointment, but with a more experienced blue line in front of him, Lankinen shouldn’t have too much trouble getting out of the depths as long as he stays healthy too.

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Canucks Army - News, Roster, Scores, Schedule

Jonathan Lekkerimäki needs to be a Canucks regular for the 2026-27 season

Meeting expectations: An NHL regular

Exceeds expectations: Breaks into the top 6

Below expectations: Spends time in Abbotsford

PRESENTED BY THE CANUCKSARMY NEWSLETTER

Which Canucks mid-to-late-round pick is most likely to succeed?: Wagner’s Weekly

1 – Kirill Kudryavtsev

2 – Dmitry Ivchenko

3 – Lucian Bernat

4 – Anthony Romani

5 – Riley Patterson

6 – Someone Else Entirely

READ NEXT: CA’s complete ranking of the Canucks’ top 20 prospects: Summer 2026 edition

31 days, 31 questions: Could Canucks’ Victor Mancini be poised for a breakout season?

3 WHL 2027 NHL Draft prospects for Canucks fans to keep an eye on this season

Brock England

Jaxon Jacobson

Brock Cripps

Honourable mentions

31 days, 31 questions: Will the Canucks bring in any players on PTOs, and who might they be?

Camp Competition/Firmly Earning Spots

Potential 8^th Defender

Potential 4^th Line Centre

Positive Camp Culture

Extra Preseason Muscle

Canucks will lean on Luke Schenn’s leadership in 2026-27

Vancouver Canucks challenging Ontario youth team Castor River Canucks’ trademark application

Remember lacrosse Johnny Canuck?

READ NEXT: Video shows Canucks offered 33rd and 41st overall picks to Ottawa at 2026 NHL Draft

3 Canucks prospects who are playing for an entry-level contract this season

Daimon Gardner

Matthew Perkins

Aiden Celebrini

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi cancelled after 18 years

No where to go but up for Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen in 2026-27

Canucks Army - News, Roster, Scores, Schedule

Jonathan Lekkerimäki needs to be a Canucks regular for the 2026-27 season

Meeting expectations: An NHL regular

Exceeds expectations: Breaks into the top 6

Below expectations: Spends time in Abbotsford

PRESENTED BY THE CANUCKSARMY NEWSLETTER

Which Canucks mid-to-late-round pick is most likely to succeed?: Wagner’s Weekly

1 – Kirill Kudryavtsev

2 – Dmitry Ivchenko

3 – Lucian Bernat

4 – Anthony Romani

5 – Riley Patterson

6 – Someone Else Entirely

READ NEXT: CA’s complete ranking of the Canucks’ top 20 prospects: Summer 2026 edition

31 days, 31 questions: Could Canucks’ Victor Mancini be poised for a breakout season?

3 WHL 2027 NHL Draft prospects for Canucks fans to keep an eye on this season

Brock England

Jaxon Jacobson

Brock Cripps

Honourable mentions

31 days, 31 questions: Will the Canucks bring in any players on PTOs, and who might they be?

Camp Competition/Firmly Earning Spots

Potential 8th Defender

Potential 4th Line Centre

Positive Camp Culture

Extra Preseason Muscle

Canucks will lean on Luke Schenn’s leadership in 2026-27

Vancouver Canucks challenging Ontario youth team Castor River Canucks’ trademark application

Remember lacrosse Johnny Canuck?

READ NEXT: Video shows Canucks offered 33rd and 41st overall picks to Ottawa at 2026 NHL Draft

3 Canucks prospects who are playing for an entry-level contract this season

Daimon Gardner

Matthew Perkins

Aiden Celebrini

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi cancelled after 18 years

No where to go but up for Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen in 2026-27

Potential 8^th Defender

Potential 4^th Line Centre