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

With our Honourable Mentions off the board, we bring you our first-ranked (20th) prospect of the season. If you are curious about our ranking criteria, be sure to check them out in our HM installment.

Team: Färjestad BK | Age: 21 | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’0 | Weight: 161 lbs | Shoots: Right | Drafted: Seventh round, 201 overall, 20201 | Last year’s rank: Honourable mention

We are now four years post-draft, and our views on Lucas Forsell have yet to change. Drafted as a seventh-round gem hopeful, he continues to offer intriguing qualities, all with the caveat of being a long-shot prospect.

It’s been an interesting road for the now 21-year-old, who’s already enjoyed nearly 150 games of Swedish Hockey League deployment. While that experience is great, his role has yet to see a sizable increase. Although slightly higher than in past years, his average ice time still lingers under 12 minutes per game – a near two-minute increase from last season – which is still far from what we’d hoped to have seen by now.

Of course, Färjestad is once again considered a top-echelon squad, so ice time is not exactly a luxury that comes easily for youngsters within the system. He does enjoy top-six minutes from time to time, and when he is gifted with elevated minutes, he typically delivers with some production – it’s just not a ton.

At the time of this writing, he has just eight points, split evenly between four goals and four assists, across 34 SHL regular season games. That’s five shy of the final totals he set as a 19-year-old when he finished with the highest number of goals (11) by any rookie in just 35 games. So, yes, the points have stagnated.

As mentioned, he does deliver when given the chance to succeed. Over the last three years, he and his quad have participated in the Champions League, a mini-tournament that coincides with the regular season. The season-long event hosts the top teams from each of the top European leagues and holds round-robin and playoff series throughout the year.

It’s here that Forsell has truly blossomed. He typically enjoys top-six minutes, as the team sees it as an opportunity to reward those who may not see that time during the regular season. He’s delivered, notching five points in each of the last two tournaments, and will now challenge for a Championship in mid-February of this year.

Okay, you may be curious what the hype is all about. After all, he’s a 21-year-old late-round draft pick with low overseas production. Well, the easy answer is that this kid never quits. If you are into high-motor energizers, Forsell is right up your alley.

Despite being listed at 6-foot, 161 pounds — although we aren’t convinced that listed weight is accurate — his feet are constantly in motion. While he doesn’t necessarily deliver massive hits, he consistently puts pressure on the forecheck and makes nights difficult whenever he is on the ice. He’s excellent on the boards and never, I repeat, never, gives up on plays.

Here’s a highlight reel of him either beating out board battles, providing forechecks or winning out puck races for a good chance on net.

On top of the motor, he actually shows a knack for creativity. Most of the goals scored have come from the meaty areas of the ice, but he breaks out some flash from time to time.

If he does, in fact, make his way across the Atlantic, it’s this work ethic and nose for the paint that will warrant him additional looks based on what the Canucks have behind the bench. If you want Tocchet-types, look no further.

Enjoy this string of scoring chances — some of which result in goals — that showcase his soft hands, strong skating, and willingness to dig.

While we certainly like what Forsell offers, time is quickly running out. As a 2021 European draftee, the Canucks must sign him to an official Entry-Level deal by this summer. Otherwise, he becomes an official free agent, able to sign where he pleases.

To complicate matters, he’s just one year into a three-year extension with Färjestad. While those deals typically include an “out” clause, which enables him to cross the pond to join the Abbotsford Canucks, there is a good chance that he’ll be taking a pay cut to do so.

If they do decide to ink a deal, and he joins the Abbotsford Canucks for the 2025-26, expect him to be a fan-favourite in the Fraser Valley.

Ceiling: If we’re being extremely optimistic, his ceiling could be as a middle-six forward with evident potential for net-front contributions to special teams. However, a more realistic scenario sees him as a bottom-half energy player who can contribute to the scoresheet while excelling in a net-front role in power play.

Floor: Standard SHL mainstay. At this point, the reality that he stays abroad is very real. Lack of further opportunity or not, the simple fact that he has yet to take his production to new heights does not bode well for the Canucks to give up a coveted contract on another potential energy player.

ETA: Assuming things go as we hope, Forsell will likely need to adjust his game at the American league for at least a year, if not two. Given his playing style, however, he could enjoy a few cups of coffee by 2026-27.

That’s our #20 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.