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

If you are curious about our ranking criteria, check them out in our Honourable Mentions installment.

Number 7 is…

Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 24 | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 183 lbs | Shoots: Left | Drafted: Undrafted | Last year’s rank: 6

The Surrey native enjoyed his first tastes of the big leagues over the last calendar year, living out a childhood dream and scoring his first NHL goal at Rogers Arena.

It just doesn’t get much better than that, folks.

With 19 NHL games split between 2023-24 and 2024-25 now under his belt, that tally stands as his only point, and his minus-9 isn’t necessarily eye-catching. All this to say, with inconsistent and unproductive efforts, his stints haven’t necessarily won over the hearts of Canucks Nation.

But we know what we see at the American League level, and now it’s just a matter of bringing that pizazz to the top ranks.

He’s proven to be a heart-and-soul fixture down in Abbotsford, providing production, leadership, and energy on a nightly basis. Simply put, he appears to have another gear at the American League level. He shows good habits and smarts and skates well amongst his AHL peers.

Those qualities just haven’t been able to appear when called upon at the NHL level.

Of course, that’s not uncommon. We’ve seen this song and dance before: the impressive AHL producer who cannot put things together at the National League level. It’s a tale as old as time, really.

However, with a foundation already laid and a supportive organization working with him, there is still a realistic path to him putting it all together to play regular NHL minutes.

We know that the organization and head coach are intrigued by his game and are willing to work with him to carve out a role. In fact, Rick Tocchet is often quick to applaud Bains for his trustworthy brand and ability to adapt to his style of play.

“He deserves to play. He’s a good forechecker and has that identity,” Tocchet said earlier this year. Now, it’s just a matter of consistency before finding a permanent role within the team.

With the head coach on his side, Bains would be off to the races if he could transfer some of the intangibles that make his game in the American League so effective to the NHL ranks. At his best, he shows the versatile ability to play in a variety of roles and provides a mix of energy and skill.

Back in Abbotsford, it took him a few weeks to regain his game to the same level he blessed us with last season — 55 points, an AHL All-Star game MVP, and such. With 26 points in 31 games currently, his production is slightly down from last year’s potent season, but it’s picking back up.

He’s turned things around and begun to find his offensive legs in February, with seven points in six games. He’s now formed an intriguing line alongside Aatu Raty and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, where he’s providing the forecheck and energy needed to allow his playmaking and sharpshooting linemates to get to work.

Ceiling: We’ve now seen Arshdeep Bains in the NHL. While it may not have been a perfect debut stint, we still believe that there is a player there if he could adjust to the physicality and speed of the game. After all, he has a history of adjusting over time after experiencing the pace firsthand in past leagues. Given his combination of skill and work ethic, Bains has the potential to become a two-way contributor in the top nine of an NHL lineup.

Floor: At the very least, he has proven he can be a productive AHL forward. His ability to drive play and contribute offensively at the AHL level.

ETA: He’s on a shortlist for promotion when the opportunity presents itself. The Canucks have done an admiral job at rewarding solid play this season, so expect him to be on the call list for the job. As a pending RFA, he does need a new contract, so there is a possibility that a hopeful 2025-26 full-time role lands somewhere else.

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