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6 players to watch at 2026-27 Canucks training camp

Photo credit: © Tav Morisson-CanucksArmy

By Jeffrey Kennett

Sep 17, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 17, 2026, 01:19 EDT

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The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice in Penticton this morning with no shortage of young players trying to make an impression.

A 57-player training camp roster gives head coach Manny Malhotra and his staff plenty to sort through before the preseason begins. Some positions are already spoken for, but Vancouver’s ongoing rebuild has created legitimate opportunities further down the lineup.

Several players arrive with NHL experience, while others are vying to force their way into the conversation much earlier than expected.

Here are six Canucks to keep a close eye on throughout training camp:

Victor Mancini

Victor Mancini has a clear opportunity to earn an NHL roster spot with a strong performance in Penticton.

The 24-year-old split last season between Vancouver and Abbotsford, appearing in 24 NHL games with three assists while adding four goals and 12 points in 33 AHL contests. At 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, Mancini also brings an element of size and speed that the Canucks blueline doesn’t have a ton of.

Vancouver’s top six defenders are likely Filip Hronek, Tom Willander, Zeev Buium, Elias Pettersson, Jamie Oleksiak, and Luke Schenn, leaving Mancini battling primarily for a depth role, with Kirill Kudryavtsev among his strongest competition. A recent Daily Faceoff Vancouver roster projection had Mancini opening the season as the seventh defenceman.

His camp will therefore be less about producing offence and more about showing he can be trusted when called upon. Strong defensive reads, physicality, and clean puck movement could put Mancini in the driver’s seat on a job that is very much his for the taking.

Kirill Kudryavtsev

Few players have done more to outperform their draft position in Vancouver’s system than Kirill Kudryavtsev.

Selected 208th overall in 2022, Kudryavtsev has already established himself as a legitimate NHL option. He recorded two goals and 20 points in 44 games with Abbotsford last season and added two assists during a three-game stint with Vancouver. The 22-year-old now has 109 regular-season AHL games under his belt.

Kudryavtsev also received a prominent role during the recent prospect showcase, quarterbacking Vancouver’s top power play unit and picking up an assist in the opening game against Seattle.

This year’s training camp is his best opportunity yet to show he belongs permanently at the next level. His skating and puck-moving ability give Vancouver something different from Mancini, while his waiver exemption makes him easy to send back to Abbotsford. However, that roster flexibility could work against him in the short term.

If Kudryavtsev forces the coaching staff into a difficult decision, he will have accomplished exactly what he needs to in Penticton.

Aatu Räty

Aatu Räty is no longer trying to prove he can simply play NHL games; now he needs to carve out a role.

The 23-year-old spent the entire 2025-26 season in Vancouver, setting career highs with 66 games and 14 points. His strongest measurable skill is faceoffs, where he won 60.5% of his draws, the best mark on the Canucks and seventh-best in the NHL.

His production was modest, though, with four goals and 10 assists while averaging just over 12 minutes per game. Vancouver still needs a centre to establish himself behind Elias Pettersson and Marco Rossi down the middle, making this a significant camp for Räty.

The biggest thing to watch will be his skating and whether he can add another dimension to his game. Being an elite faceoff specialist is one thing, but showing he can kill penalties, create more offence, or handle tougher defensive assignments would make it much easier for Malhotra to allocate consistent minutes to him.

Braeden Cootes

Braeden Cootes already knows what it takes to surprise at training camp.

The 2025 first-round pick unexpectedly made Vancouver’s opening-night roster last season and appeared in three NHL games before returning to junior. He went on to record 63 points in just 45 WHL games between Seattle and Prince Albert, then added another 23 points during the Raiders’ playoff run.

Cootes has carried that momentum into this season. He was one of Vancouver’s best players at development camp and finished the recent prospect showcase by scoring alongside Adam Novotný and Brooks Rogowski in a dominant Game 2 performance against Seattle.

Unlike last season, Vancouver now has the option of sending the 19-year-old to Abbotsford, where he could play heavy professional minutes rather than return to junior. That slightly ups the ante for his case to earn an NHL roster spot.

Cootes probably needs to show he can handle a meaningful top-nine role rather than simply survive against NHL competition. Considering what happened a year ago, dismissing his chances would be unwise.

Adam Novotný

Adam Novotný could hardly have done more to build anticipation for his first NHL training camp.

Vancouver selected the Czech winger 24th overall in June after he scored 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games during his first season with the Peterborough Petes. His combination of a quick release, strong skating, and willingness to battle made him one of the Canucks’ most intriguing draft additions.

Those tools were on full display at the prospect showcase. Novotný scored in both games against Seattle, then erupted for a goal and two assists alongside Cootes and Rogowski in the finale. He finished the weekend with two goals and four points.

Making Vancouver’s roster immediately is a difficult ask for an 18-year-old winger, but that does not make him any less interesting to watch in camp.

The question is whether Novotný’s game still stands out once the competition shifts from prospects to NHL players. If his shot, puck protection and relentless forecheck continue translating, he could stick around much longer than originally expected.

Nikita Tolopilo

Perhaps no one has more riding on training camp than Nikita Tolopilo.

The 6-foot-6 goaltender received his first extended NHL opportunity last season, appearing in 21 games and posting a 6-11-2 record with an .881 save percentage and 3.61 goals against average. He also went 8-8-3 with an .897 save percentage in 19 AHL appearances.

Vancouver’s situation in net gives Tolopilo an opening. Thatcher Demko will not be a full participant at camp as he continues his recovery, while Kevin Lankinen is the other established NHL option under contract. Veteran Chris Driedger is attending on a professional tryout, adding one more experienced competitor Tolopilo will need to steal the backup job from.

Tolopilo also requires waivers to reach Abbotsford this season, further complicating the Canucks’ decision between the pipes. Vancouver could carry three goalies, keep him if Demko is unavailable, or risk losing him on waivers.

A strong camp would make that decision even harder, and for Tolopilo, every preseason opportunity matters for his case to make the team.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Who are you going to be watching extra closely this training camp? Let us know in the comments below!

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