The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2026 NHL Draft with a top-three selection, and with it comes a level of certainty that simply doesn’t exist later in that same round. The names at the top of the board are familiar, and teams are generally splitting hairs from the same handful of players.

But once you move into the late first round and early second, the draft takes on an entirely different feel, and all bets are off. This year’s class, in particular, appears to have far less consensus than in previous years. Players once viewed as top-10 candidates could still be available in the mid-to-late 20s, while others have steadily climbed boards as organizations begin prioritizing different traits and philosophies.

That uncertainty makes Vancouver’s additional selections at 24th and 33rd overall especially intriguing. Do the Canucks ultimately swing for upside and bet on players with legitimate top-six or top-four potential? Or do they opt for safer projections with clearer paths to NHL roles?

There’s no right answer, but if Vancouver decides to chase ceiling over certainty, these five forwards could be among the most fascinating names available when they’re on the clock.

One of the more intriguing first-round names being thrown around the entire 2025-26 season has been Kamloops Blazers J.P. Hurlbert. With a high offensive pedigree but unclear surrounding tools, his stock has been volatile. Yet, always within the initial top 32.

After a year with the U.S National Development Program, the Allen, Texas native chose the unique – at least these days – path to join the Western Hockey League circuit. It proved to be a wise decision, as he exploded on the scene to finish fourth in league scoring and just three points shy of eclipsing the 100-point mark. As you can imagine, that did wonders for his draft stock. Despite finishing top-five in goals with 42 tucks, it wasn’t just the goals, either. He drove offence in multiple ways and was sought to be Kamloops’ primary engine and a major factor in the team’s push to the postseason.

It doesn’t take long to find Hurlbert’s calling card – his release. He’s considered a one-shot scorer and can fire at will from any angle and awkward layout. He’s a heavy weapon on the flanks and can score goals in a variety of ways that should translate to the highest of levels. He’s constantly scanning the ice, finding a soft spot in coverage for a one-timer or slipping a pass through a collapsing defensive structure. Offensively speaking, he’s an easy bet to make within the range that Canucks will be sitting.

The biggest question surrounding his game, and one that could drop him from a prospect in the teens, revolves around overall projectability. The floor feels difficult to pin down. At times, Hurlbert can lean heavily on offensive instincts while the finer details of his game take a backseat. Whether it’s defensive consistency, physical engagement, or decision-making away from the puck, there are obvious needs for further development. And most of all, the skating will need work, especially if he is to carve out a role up the middle.

All that said, he’s a competitive player who has an obvious love of the game. He treats every goal scored like it’s his biggest yet, and there’s something infectious about his energy.

From Vancouver’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. Organizations don’t often find players with legitimate top-six offensive upside outside the top 20. If the Canucks believe they can continue rounding out the rest of Hurlbert’s game, they may end up with a tremendous bet in the mid-20’s

Is he a top 10 pick? Maybe. Is he a pick for the teens? He absolutely could be. Could you potentially let him slide and grab him in the second round? History with the Hutson brothers and many other smaller-set defenders suggests that this is also a very strong possibility.

But if you want high-octane and in-your-face offensive defence, Xavier Villeneuve is your guy. Supporters of him see one of the most naturally gifted offensive defencemen available in 2026. Critics, however, wonder whether the defensive deficiencies will ultimately prevent him from reaching his potential. And if we’re being completely honest with ourselves, both viewpoints carry legitimate merit.

Offensively, Villeneuve is incredible. He manipulates through highly effective deception, identifies passing lanes through layers of coverage, and consistently generates offence from the blue line. His ability and overall potential to quarterback a power play are as high as can be among this crop. When you think of the modern-day, quick-twitched defenders a la Lane Hutson and Quinn Hughes, this kid brings those same vibes.

And as with many of those high-flying names, it’s his defence that begs questions. Villeneuve’s size and consistency remain high points of emphasis. There are moments where defensive reads break down or physical limitations become glaringly apparent. As a result, teams will be forced to determine whether his offensive impact can compensate for those concerns.

For Vancouver, is a pure offensively driven defender what’s needed in such a crucial draft for the sake of the future? At some point, the day will have to come when teams quit fading smaller-set offensive dynamos and letting them slip into “steal” territory in the second round and beyond. But is that year in 2026?

One of the more difficult players to project within this range is Victoriaville’s Egor Shilov.

In some games, this Russian centre looks every bit like a player who should hear his name called comfortably inside the first round. His offensive toolkit jumps off the page as he processes the game, identifies passing lanes before they fully develop, and maintains enough finishing ability to capitalize on opportunities himself. Rather than overwhelming opponents with elite speed or physical dominance, Shilov manipulates coverage through timing and high-IQ hockey. He shows incredible hands and can rip the pill like the best of them.

There are also encouraging signs defensively. Shilov does show a willingness to support low in the defensive zone, suggesting there may be more two-way potential than initially meets the eye.

But then there are the other games — the games where concerns are often met with frustrating inconsistency. There are nights when you feel hard-pressed to find him on the ice, before he ultimately turns things on and shows up to produce for his team.

The highs are high, but the lows are low and riddled with questions. If you can take the swing on the offence and work with the inconsistent play, there is a highly intriguing offensive centre lying within. Centres with legitimate offensive instincts remain among the most valuable assets in hockey, so if the Canucks believe that inconsistency can be addressed through development and maturity, they may find themselves selecting a player with considerably more upside than his draft position suggests.

Has Liam Ruck’s 104-point campaign put him out of Vancouver Canucks contention? Perhaps. But with some skating concerns and questions about his ability to translate – especially without his brother – there is still a chance he’s around for the team come 24.

And for that, he may end up being one of the most intriguing names available when Vancouver steps to the podium. The Osoyoos, BC product followed up an impressive WHL rookie campaign – 41 points in 61 games – by taking the WHL by storm. Alongside his brother Markus, he became one of the Canadian Hockey League’s premier scoring threats while helping drive one of junior hockey’s strongest teams.

He’s able to make plays in tight and make incredibly quick one-touch plays with him and his linemates – not always his brother, but often. While he’s shown the ability to be a facilitator, evidenced by his 59 assists this season, his bread-and-butter is his goal-scoring prowess.

Liam shows the ability to score from a variety of areas, and can switch things up to keep defenders and metminders guessing. Is it a shot from distance? He has the velocity to make that happen. Was it a goal from in-tight that he may have orchestrated from a thoughtful give-and-go? That’s a staple. All in all, his awareness on the ice makes him a legitimate scoring threat that is likely to carry weight at the pro level.

As mentioned, the primary concern revolves around skating. Ruck isn’t the type of player who will routinely carry the puck end-to-end or overwhelm opponents through raw explosiveness. Improving his speed and overall skating mechanics are going to be a big defining factor in whether he’s able to advance and replicate that 100-plus point performance at the next level. Still, players with Ruck’s combination of anticipation, touch, and offensive versatility tend to find ways to contribute, even if it’s in a middle-six capacity.

From Vancouver’s perspective, there are multiple reasons to be intrigued. Beyond the local connection, Ruck’s intelligence and ability to create offence through processing rather than pure athleticism are intriguing additions to a system in desperate need of both. And hey? Perhaps selecting Liam gives them the leg up in finding both brothers at the table.

The Canucks have shown throughout their history that they aren’t keen on finding talent in the local Vancouver Giants system. And with a mid-season trade from the Spokane Chiefs, that’s exactly what they would have to do to land Mathis Preston.

This time, however, this player feels like a true and legitimate target. Whether that’s at 24 or 33 remains to be seen. Because while his offensive game and burner speed are tangibles that teams covet, his smaller stature and lack of power represent the exact archetype that tends to slip come draft day.

At his best, Preston shows elite speed, a dangerous shot, and a track record of producing against quality competition. So much so that many pundits had him well within their top-10 targets as the 2025-26 draft season kicked off.

But then came an inconsistent season, a mid-year trade and injury, and plenty of debate surrounding his projection. Spokane had seen most of its high-powered players exit, leaving Preston as one of the team’s go–to drivers. And while 32 points in 36 games certainly was nothing to scoff at, it wasn’t the explosive and game-changing start many had anticipated. And yet, he still finished the year as an average point-per-game player with 44 points in 46 total games.

That’s because the talent remains undeniable. With incredible edges and burning speed, he could very well be one of the fastest players in this draft class. He attacks defenders with confidence, generating separation through outstanding acceleration. Once he gets his legs moving downhill, there’s a good chance he’s giving himself a clear path toward a rush opportunity. Offensively speaking, Preston’s fluid hands, pinpoint release, and blazing speed make him a constant threat. He can beat goaltenders cleanly from range without breaking stride and maintaining speed through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone.

The big question: is it enough to make him a threat at the NHL level? He’s going to be a fast skater regardless of where he plays, but is he powerful enough and bring enough of a mix of tools to capitalize? With a lack of willingness or ability to drive to the guts of the ice, he can become predictable, attacking wide before settling for lower-percentage opportunities.

But depending on how things shake up with the team’s initial top pick, Preston could represent a very solid upside bet within this 24-33 range. For Vancouver, this would be a classic upside selection. The Canucks would essentially be betting that the player who once looked like a top-10 talent is still there beneath the inconsistencies of a challenging draft year.

Next, we will look at some high-floor players available within this general range, as we move through the 2026 draft list.