logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
The Athletic’s full 7-round mock draft sees Canucks take Caleb Malhotra and Tommy Bleyl in first round
alt
Photo credit: © @CHLHockey on Twitter/X
Jeffrey Kennett
Jun 22, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 22, 2026, 13:45 EDT
Comments
The 2026 NHL Draft is less than a week away, and the Vancouver Canucks are positioned for one of the largest infusions of young talent in franchise history.
The Canucks hold 10 selections, including two in the first round and two more early in the second. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman projected all 223 picks, beginning with Vancouver selecting Brantford Bulldogs centre Caleb Malhotra third overall:
“The emerging chalk scenario for the Canucks is Malhotra. I think Stenberg would be in the mix if available, but at this stage Malhotra feels like the pick.”
After recording 29 goals and 84 points in 67 games during his first OHL season, Malhotra’s stock rose after he added 13 goals and 26 points through 15 playoff games for Brantford. If you haven’t already heard, the 6-foot-2 top forward is also the son of Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, potentially complicating any mutual interest. The younger Malhotra is widely viewed as one of the top centres available in the 2026 class.
Later in the first round, Pronman has Vancouver using the 24th overall pick, acquired from the Minnesota Wild, on Moncton Wildcats defenceman Tommy Bleyl:
“Bleyl is generating a lot of intrigue following his monster QMJHL season, and he could go right around this range. Bleyl would give the Canucks a potential future power-play QB they don’t have in their system with his great combination of mobility and IQ.”
Bleyl led all QMJHL defencemen with 81 points in 63 games this season and was named both the league’s defenceman and rookie of the year. His production and right-shot profile have some evaluators seeing the potential for a top-four role on an NHL blueline.
The Canucks would remain busy early on Day 2. Pronman projects them to select Slovakian right-shot defenceman Adam Goljer at No. 33 and Sudbury Wolves winger Adam Nemec at No. 41.
Goljer spent the season playing professionally in Slovakia and is viewed as one of the more polished defensive blueliners available outside the first round. He isn’t considered a high-end producer, but his strong skating and defensive awareness could help him develop into a reliable NHL defenceman with a strong first pass.
Adam Nemec, the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defenceman Šimon Nemec, scored 14 goals and 31 points in 31 games with the Sudbury Wolves after leaving Slovakia for the OHL. The winger is known for using his speed to generate chances off the rush, and some scouts believe he possesses top-six upside if his game continues to round out.
Pronman’s complete Canucks class is:
  • No. 3: C Caleb Malhotra, Brantford Bulldogs
  • No. 24: D Tommy Bleyl, Moncton Wildcats
  • No. 33: D Adam Goljer, HK Dukla Trenčín
  • No. 41: LW Adam Nemec, Sudbury Wolves
  • No. 78: C Dayne Beuker, USNTDP
  • No. 97: C Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
  • No. 129: D Landon Nycz, UMass
  • No. 161: D Lincoln Kuehne, Arizona State
  • No. 176: D Michel Myloserdnyy, Gatineau Olympiques
  • No. 184: C Kent Sauer, Phillips Academy Andover
What do you think, Canucks fans? Would you be happy with Pronman’s selections? Let us know in the comments below!
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News