We continue on with our 2026 mid-season Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings here at CanucksArmy.

Today, we bring you one of the most interesting prospects in the system: a towering winger who combines slick hands with a heavy netfront presence. His tools are still incredibly raw, but could develop into something worthy if he can piece them all together.

If you’re looking for a refresher on our ranking criteria, be sure to check out our Honourable Mentions installment before diving in.

It’s hard to look past a 6-foot-6 winger (no pun intended). Especially, one can sprinkle a little finesse into his game.

Size alone doesn’t guarantee NHL success, but players built like Vilmer Alriksson will always command attention. What makes his profile compelling is that the size isn’t clunky. He skates decently well for a player of his frame; he’s a bulldozer at the net front and blends his reach with flashes of touch that hint at something more.

Now in his first professional season, we’re getting our first extended look at how that toolkit translates against men. Admittedly, the production hasn’t been glamorous. But then again, it was never really expected to be.

Even in junior, Alriksson’s offence came in waves rather than as a steady current. He finished his OHL career with 68 points (32 goals, 36 assists) in 110 games, which was respectable, but certainly not eye-popping. The appeal was always about projection and what he could develop into if he combined his entire toolkit. We are talking about the flashes in tight, the way he could use his size to create space, and the occasional shielded power move that left you thinking there was another level buried somewhere inside the frame.

Although we still haven’t seen that consistently, it remains true in Abbotsford. Now, let’s just bring up the elephant in the room here: he’s on pace for roughly 14 points, and some will label his rookie campaign as underwhelming. But context does matter here. Abbotsford has not exactly been an offensive engine this season. With the team’s leading scorer sitting at just 23 points, there simply isn’t enough production to go around as the league’s third-lowest goal-scoring team. Outside of Jonathan Lekkerimäki, offence has been scarce across the board.

All that said, we remain intrigued, as he’s improving by providing the subtle little things.

Despite being just 20 years old, Alriksson has seen solid usage, including stints on the top line and consistent time at the net front on the power play. Injuries and call-ups have certainly created openings, but he worked his way into those roles and has not looked out of place.

Alriksson has shown a willingness to provide the forecheck and can easily be relied on as a heavy net-front presence. He fights for inside positioning and uses his body and incredible range to create space for both himself and his linemates. Truthfully, we are still waiting for him to establish himself as a consistent producer and truly break out as a power forward beast. At times, he’ll attempt a power move, lean on his frame, and look like he’s about to break through, only to lose the puck before the play fully materializes. But when it clicks, it really works. His length allows him to be a part of offensive looks that most just wouldn’t be in, whether that be a jam play or attempts from the upper slot.

That ability to convert flashes into consistent, repeatable offence will determine whether his ceiling becomes tangible or theoretical. It’s all there; it’s just a matter of getting it to work for him.

Defensively, the same theme applies: progress, but not polish. His reads are improving, and his routes are tightening. But consistency shift-to-shift has been, and still is, a work in progress. For a player of his size, that learning curve is normal. Big bodies often take longer to synchronize details with coordination. He’s still incredibly raw, but the profile is certainly there to become highly compelling.

Every level he’s played at — including his NHL preseason auditions — has shown a willingness to be coached and a steady incremental climb rather than dramatic peaks and valleys. There is something to be said for players who trend upward quietly.

Ceiling: If everything clicks — improved finishing, sharper details, and sustained consistency — Alriksson could carve out a middle-six role built on size, puck protection, and net-front presence. The stylistic comparison that comes to mind is St. Louis Blues’ Alexei Toropchenko.

Floor: Given his size and mobility alone, an AHL career feels very realistic. As with many European prospects, there is always the possibility of returning overseas if NHL opportunities stall.

ETA: He is not NHL-ready today. With another full season in Abbotsford to refine his game, a brief NHL look by spring 2027 feels reasonable. If development accelerates in 2026–27, he could push for a more serious opportunity out of training camp in 2027–28.

That’s our #7 spot. Stay tuned for another installment later today here at CanucksArmy.

Our previously ranked prospects: