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A complete ranking of the Canucks’ top 20 prospects: Summer 2025 edition

Photo credit: © Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2025, 16:00 EDT
Yesterday, we wrote our final profile as we counted down our top 20 list of Vancouver Canucks prospects.
To put a bow on it, we’ve decided to put the entire list in one place, with an excerpt from each of our profiles on each player. To read a profile in full, just click or tap on the player’s name! Let’s dive in.
20: Ilya Safonov C/LW
“Safonov is a heavy-set, two-way responsible player who carries a 53.3% faceoff percentage through 322 KHL games (regular season and playoffs), who came at the reasonable price of future considerations. Suiting up within Ak Bars’ middle-six, he’s had seasons as high as 58.6%, which happened to be his longest season at 67 games played. He’s known to be a relatively smart player and is a huge contributor to his team’s penalty kill. Despite his towering size, he still manages to move the ice with relative ease and shows dependable hands in tight situations. And judging by the 13 goals he scored in the KHL this past season, the game plan feels as easy as “put him in front of the net, and he’ll do the rest.”
19: Aku Koskenvuo G
“Koskenvuo fits the same profile that most of the goaltenders the Canucks have drafted under the watchful eye of Ian Clark (including Ty Young). He’s big, he’s got long limbs and solid mobility, and comes with plenty of raw tools. Koskenvuo will follow in the footsteps of fellow prospect goaltender Ty Young when he joins the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings next season. Young absolutely ran with that opportunity and is set to be a main piece of the Abbotsford Canucks’ plans next season as a result. Can Koskenvuo do the same with the chances he’ll be given in Kalamazoo?”
18: Parker Alcos RD
“At 6-foot-3, Alcos brings a compelling mix of size and skating to the ice. Judging by his second half of 2024-25, along with his performance at this year’s Development Camp, his game is steadily growing. While still very much a raw talent, Alcos’ steady improvements in the Western Hockey League keep him firmly in the conversation as a prospect to follow closely. Alcos has made notable strides in his third WHL season with the Oil Kings, cementing his role as a reliable top-four defenceman. After starting 2024-25 on the third pairing, he earned the trust of his coaches, eventually landing close to 20 minutes per game with several games eclipsing that mark. His expanded role included significant time on the penalty kill and was even tasked to run the power play on occasion. Heading into his third official season in the Western League, Alcos is expected to continue that same deployment within the Oil Kings’ top four.”
17: Wilson Björck C
“His motor always seems to be on, and he plays the game with a bit of an edge. Despite being a smaller set forward, he doesn’t shy away from going to the hard areas of the ice and fighting for possession. While his shot lacks elite power, he compensates with a fearless drive to the net, scoring many of his goals from close to mid-range. His high-energy style makes him a constant threat, whether he’s setting up teammates with precise passes or fighting for position in the slot. If there’s any one area that’s going to carry his point production to the next level, however, it’s his playmaking ability. If there was a knock on his game, it’s his slight 165-pound frame, which is a notable weakness. He’ll need to add significant muscle to handle the physicality and size of North American professional hockey.”
16: Anri Ravinskis RW
“Undrafted but signed as a free agent earlier this spring, this right-shot forward has carved a unique path through his young hockey career. He eventually caught the Canucks’ attention with his physicality, relentless work ethic, and untapped potential. Ravinskis’ game is built on his imposing frame and relentless energy. At 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, he commands attention, using his size to dominate along the boards and protect the puck with his long reach. Although not elite, his skating is strong for a player of his size, characterized by powerful strides and surprising agility that enable him to make quick cuts or burst up the ice.”
15: Josh Bloom LW
“What has stood out to us with his game is how he generates his production. He’s a relentless competitor who thrives in the gritty areas, digging for pucks and battling at the net front to create scoring chances. While his power play work on the half-wall highlights a quick, accurate shot that could beat ECHL netminders, it’s always his hustle that stands out as his true calling card. At the ECHL level, Bloom’s speed is a significant asset. It allowed him to exploit defenders in transition, win footraces, and generate breakaways. His ability to combine agility with a never-quit attitude makes him a constant threat, whether he’s crashing the net or chasing down loose pucks. Can he translate that to consistent production at the AHL level in 2025-26? Time will tell. But even when he hasn’t cracked meaningful minutes in Abbotsofrd, his hustle is always one thing you can count on.”
14: Kieren Dervin C
“Although his offensive upside may come slightly lower than some third-round products, the Ontario native’s unique development path and flashes of two-way potential make him an intriguing addition to Vancouver’s prospect pool. Despite some growing pains, Dervin’s strengths offer plenty of optimism. At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, he has a solid frame for a young and developing centre, with room to add strength as he matures. His offensive game, while not elite, shows promise through smart positioning and playmaking in the attacking zone. He creates chances with quick passes and has a knack for finding open ice, though his finishing needs refinement. From time to time, he would show flashes of soft hands mixed with power elements to make for some excellent bursts.”
13: Danila Klimovich RW
“With four years of Abbotsford hockey now under his belt, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound right-shot forward enjoys a slight turnaround to revitalize his prospect status with a breakout 2024-25 season. Previously on a downward trajectory due to limited minutes, he thrived with a larger role under new Head Coach Manny Malhotra, posting career highs across the board: 25 goals, 13 assists, and 38 points in 66 games, along with 178 shots and 59 penalty minutes. However, fighting for a spot in and out of the lineup reflects his ongoing challenges in earning consistent trust from coaches—a hurdle he continues to face, regardless of the coach behind the bench. When at his best, however, Klimovich’s pure scoring ability is what sets him apart from the pack. His potent snapshot combines power and precision, making him a constant threat both off the rush and from his office on the half-wall.”
12: Riley Patterson C/RW
“Despite a slight dip in production, Riley Patterson’s responsible 200-foot game, crafty offensive instincts, and gritty net-front presence make him a prospect with a strong foundation and middle-six NHL potential. Despite the modest numbers, he remained a key offensive contributor while playing top-six minutes, anchoring the top penalty-kill unit, and logging significant power-play time. Versatility is Patterson’s hallmark. Comfortable at both centre and right wing, he took on the majority of Barrie’s defensive-zone and special-teams faceoffs, hovering around a 51% win rate in 2024-25.”
11: Anthony Romani RW
“Romani is a lethal threat in the offensive zone, utilizing an incredible release to beat the netminder with ease. He understands how to leverage his space, and manipulate screens and netminder before finding small spots in the corners. He’s an incredible catch-and-release shooter and has a knack for changing things up and finishing in a variety of ways. His tools aren’t one-dimensional, either. Beyond his shot, he’s an intelligent playmaker who sees the ice well, using give-and-goes and quick reads to navigate the offensive zone. With his opposition forced to respect his shot, he opens up lanes by selling a shot before threading a quick cross-ice feed across the ice.”
10: Vilmer Alriksson LW
“At 6-foot-6 and 234 pounds, he’s a towering presence, using his long reach and strength to dominate board battles and protect the puck. His soft hands allow him to weave through traffic, creating space for himself and teammates with deft moves that belie his massive frame. While not a dynamic scorer, he’s a dual-threat forward, capable of finishing from distance or in tight, with most goals coming around the net. Although his game could use some more edge, his physical frame stands out each shift. His hits and one-on-one battles make him a force, and his board work is among the best in Vancouver’s prospect pool. Canucks fans, familiar with the value of strong board play, will appreciate his ability to win puck battles and maintain possession.”
9: Ty Young G
“Young spent most of his time this past season in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings. There, he amassed a .926 save percentage through 22 ECHL games, the highest save percentage of any goaltender in the Canucks’ organization. He also spent some time with AHL Abbotsford, where he put up similarly impressive results, posting a .904 save percentage through 11 games as one of the youngest players — no pun intended — to suit up for AHL games. Young fits the mould of goalies teams draft when they have Ian Clark in their ear. He’s big, mobile, and hungry to improve on some very promising raw talent. Young naturally seals off the bottom of the net very well and has improved plenty on his crease navigation and post integration. The big question now is: How will he follow up on a phenomenal rookie campaign?”
8: Ty Mueller C
“His game isn’t flashy; instead, it’s a Swiss Army knife-type, capable of playing heavy minutes in any situation. While his 39 points don’t scream offensive dynamo, his production is steady, with points coming from smart plays and hard work in tight areas. Mueller finished tied for third on the team with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 64 games, second with a plus–15 rating, and maintained a 52% faceoff win rate. By season’s end, he added a 2024-25 AHL All-Star Game appearance, Abbotsford’s Unsung Hero Award, and a Calder Cup to his resume. Not bad.”
7: Sawyer Mynio LD
“Thought to be drafted as a top-notch penalty killer, it’s clear that the added responsibility and ice-time have brought out budding offensive potential. Thanks to his plus-rated skating, he navigates the ice with incredible ease and can transport the puck to kick-start plays up the ice. One of his best tools in his offensive toolkit is his booming shot, which he can unleash with a heavy one-timer or quick and accurate snap shot. That one-timer has become a staple of Mynio’s game, and a weapon that should translate as he grows.”
6: Arshdeep Bains LW
“His skating, although not elite, is strong enough to compete at the AHL level, enabling him to win out battles, beat out defenders and contribute in all situations. Bains’ leadership shines through in his ability to elevate linemates and provide a necessary spark when his team needs it. Whether that’s the penalty kill, power play or critical moments, he’s a go-to option in every sense for the affiliated Canucks. The big question now is whether he can do that at the NHL level, or is he a classic “tweener” who falls somewhere in the middle.”
5: Kirill Kudryavtsev LD
“At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Kudryavtsev is stocky, but his sub-6-foot frame remains a point of scrutiny for his NHL aspirations. Still, he’s answered doubters with exceptional stick work and hockey sense through the regular season and five hard-fought playoff matchups. Though not the most physical player, he utilizes an incredibly active stick in the defensive end to pressure opponents, forcing turnovers and untimely mistakes. Whether clogging up lanes, swiping pucks aside, or just placing it in the general vicinity of the player, his work with his stick is a masterclass. Offensively, Kudryavtsev displays excellent vision, utilizing his accurate stretch pass to quickly move the puck up and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He confidently executes give-and-go plays in the offensive zone and displays a unique poise when connecting with these plays.”
4: Aleksei Medvedev G
“Medvedev now has a clear path to being “the guy” on what’s sure to be a dominant London Knights team in the OHL. This past year (his first in the OHL), Medvedev split starts and wasn’t used in playoff games as London captured their second straight OHL Championship and added a Memorial Cup Championship as well. That team is going to be great once again, and Medvedev is going to be the one backstopping them to wins. Medvedev has all the tools to be an elite NHL netminder and brings an intriguing blend of natural traits and abilities along with some structure that should only improve as he gains more and more experience.”
3: Braeden Cootes C
“The Sherwood Park native’s relentless compete level, two-way acumen, and leadership make him an instant standout, with the Canucks banking on his ability to develop into a steady top-six NHL pivot. Despite the Thunderbirds’ middling season, finishing in the bottom six in goals scored and just squeaking into the final playoff position, Cootes’ return would see him produce 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games to finish at over a point-per-game pace on a team with limited offensive support. If surrounded by a better cast, we do believe that there is more to his offensive game than his draft-minus-one season indicates. Offensive numbers aside, the real intrigue in his game comes in the details of his all-around profile. Cootes’ game is defined by a “hate to play, love to have” mentality. His relentless motor drives a ferocious forecheck, hounding puck-carriers, disrupting breakouts, and winning battles in corners and along the boards.”
2: Jonathan Lekkerimäki RW
“This past season, Canucks fans finally got a glimpse of Lekkerimäki on North American ice after patiently waiting for him to develop overseas. While his rookie campaign showed flashes of brilliance, it also highlighted areas for growth. Despite missing time throughout the campaign due to injuries and promotions to Vancouver, Lekkerimäki thrived in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. In just 36 games, he scored 19 goals — seventh highest among AHL rookies — averaging over half a goal per game (53%) while ranking third on his team in goals. Among that list of rookies ahead of him, he finished second with that 53% goals-per-game clip. Meanwhile, his 121 shots on goal translated to a 15.7% shooting percentage. Known for his lethal perimeter shot, Lekkerimäki proved he’s more than a one-trick pony. He scored from distance with his trademark release, battled at the net-front for deflections and tap-ins, and showed a willingness to mix it up in the gritty areas despite his slight frame.”
1: Tom Willander RD
“Willander logged heavy minutes in all situations, averaging roughly 23 minutes per game. He was BU’s second-most utilized skater on the penalty kill and third overall, often anchoring the second defensive pairing while facing opponents’ top lines. With those minutes, he helped his team go on a deep run, which included some big wins along the way. His offensive output — 24 points (2 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games— nearly matched his freshman year’s total to maintain solid consistency, but his overall game took a significant leap forward. Now heading to his rookie professional season, he brings an elite level of skating ability. No matter which zone, he navigates the ice with tremendous ease, and is now instantly considered one of the team’s – whether that’s Vancouver or Abbotsford – best skaters. While his offensive game may not translate to a heavy point-producing defender, his elite shutdown prowess and ability to kill penalties will be a major contributor to Vancouver’s future.”
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