We are back with our 2025 mid-season edition of our CanucksArmy top 20 Canucks prospect rankings.

With our Honourable Mentions and the first listed player (Lucas Forsell) off the board, we bring you our 19th-ranked prospect. If you are curious about our ranking criteria, check them out in our HM installment.

Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 24 | Position: Defender | Height: 6’0 | Weight: 205 lbs | Shoots: Right | Drafted: Second round, 37 overall, 2018 | Last year’s rank: 19th

We are far removed from the 2018 NHL entry draft. And yet, Jett Woo continues to make his presence felt among our CanucksArmy prospect rankings, albeit at the lower end of the table.

Drafted 37th overall, Jett Woo was selected with high hopes of becoming a prevalent two-way defender. Despite some strong junior numbers in the following two years post-draft, the Winnipeg native struggled to find much rhythm once he transitioned to the pro ranks.

With stints as 12th forward and several healthy scratches, it truly felt as if it was the end of the road for Woo as a Canuck by the 2021-22 campaign. But then things began to click. Thanks to a string of injuries in Abbotsford, Woo was handed a much-elevated role in 2023-24, which he took and ran with it.

Last year felt like his true coming-out party. Or, at least, a reclamation party.

He not only delivered career highs as Abbotsford’s leading defenceman with 31 points but also earned his first set of promotions to the big club in Vancouver. Unfortunately, his best season was abruptly halted when he suffered a season-ending injury.

Fast-forward to today, and that momentum has slowed pace as he drops the pecking order as a nearly 25-year-old defender in the American League.

Credit to him, as he continues to offer a strong veteran presence as a prime shutdown defender, shutting down opponents’ top players nightly. Although his power play use is limited to when injuries occur, he’s been used in all situations and leads the 2024-25 team in ice time as one of their go-to penalty-killers.

Despite all that ice time, his offensive production has dropped back to earth, with just 10 points (on pace for 22). However, he leads the defensive corps in hits (54), which is on pace to match his team-leading totals from last year (111). And boy, does he ever hit.

His solid frame and competitive mean streak allow him to be a menace on the ice, delivering bone-crushing hits each game. If he’s on the ice, all players must keep their heads on swivel or risk getting dropped by the bull.

The pathway toward becoming a regular NHLer is riddled with obstructions, and with yet another one-year “show me” deal on the verge of expiring, his future within the organization remains in question (again).

That said, even without NHL games under his belt, there is something to be said about being a rugged AHL veteran presence for the young defenders, which are aplenty within the system at the moment.

He’s big. He skates well, and he’s one of the best penalty-killers the club has going for them when Elias Pettersson (D) isn’t around.

Ceiling: Last year felt like a big pivot year for the soon-to-be 25-year-old. Now that his momentum has fallen off, realizing his actual upside feels like it’s slipping away. Given his size and competitive nature, however, he still carries a third-pairing upside as a no-brainer addition to special teams.

Floor: The floor feels very similar to where he’s been playing in recent years. At worst, he’s a serviceable top-four defender in the AHL who can play in all situations, particularly on the penalty kill and shutdown roles.

ETA: Woo is at the point where his services are ready to be called up whenever and if ever the big club in Vancouver requires them. The issue? The depth chart is only growing, and with the additions of Victor Mancini – who plays a very similar, perhaps more polished brand of hockey – and Tom Willander, his chances are fading.

That’s our #19 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.