Welcome back to our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings, where we’ve finally hit our first newly drafted prospect. Recently taken in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft in Vegas, we have Riley Patterson.

It’s been quite the three-year stretch for one of the Canucks’ newest recruits. Born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Patterson found his way to the Mississauga Senators of the famous GTHL U16 AAA league in 2021-22. There, Patterson helped take home a minor league championship (OHL Cup), playing alongside potential 2025 first-overall pick Michael Misa.

The following year, he graduated to Ontario’s Junior Hockey League with the North York Rangers, where he made a mockery of the U20 league as a 16-year-old. With 30 goals and 73 points in 52 games, Patterson finished with the 10th-highest point total in the league. The difference? Eight of those players ahead of him were 20 years old, while the other was 19. Patterson was the highest-producing U19 player in the league and easily took home Rookie of the Year at the ripe age of 16.

Later that summer, his OHL rights — which were previously drafted 57th overall by the Flint Firebirds — were dealt to the Barrie Colts. After just one year in the Junior ranks as a thriving 16-year-old, Patterson jumped up to Barrie to take on his draft-eligible season as an OHL rookie.

As is typically expected from a young skater amid a big transition, the jump was met with a slow start and various bumps. On November 10th, Mitch Brown of EliteProspects provided a scouting report that felt on par with nearly all reports being sent out at the time:

“Patterson has the tools to be an impactful OHLer. Adequate depth through his stride and generates some speed. Handling skill and vision to hit. Uses the middle and starts passing plays. Issues in this game were the play selection. Kept trying to deke through opponents and failing. He missed opportunities to pass or delay. Not much inventiveness or diversity to his game and he wasn’t engaged for many shifts. Loads of idling and letting opponents get ahead of him. Didn’t look like a pick, but there’s potential here.”

Luckily, he found his footing, and on January 13th, 2024, the same EliteProspect scout had a polar opposite report:

“Patterson’s tools are clearly worth a pick, maybe as high as the second round. He’s a powerful skater with an NHL shot. There are some physical skills here, winning body positioning by skating through the hands on the backcheck. If he can leverage those skills into offensive plays, he’d do some real damage. He has handling skill and playmaking ideas. But he always just a bit too late with his passes. Lanes close quicker than he can spot them and move the puck. The production’s picking up, his impact remains limited as a result. He makes a couple of NHL plays, but he’s mostly passing into pressure and struggling to next play. Hopeful for a big second half.”

That second half was, indeed, a big one.

Patterson went on to earn two consecutive Rookie of the Month awards through January and February. Over those two months, he posted 15 goals and 33 points in just 24 games, leading all OHL rookies. In doing so, he became the first OHL rookie to post two Rookie of the Month acknowledgments in the same season since Shane Wright and Mason McTavish did so back in the 2019-20 season.

Barrie was not a strong team and, despite squeezing into the postseason with the final available spot, was eliminated in the first round by the Oshawa Generals. Patterson contributed two goals and one assist during the six-game series.

When all was said and done, he had wrapped up the year with the most goals by a rookie (29) and second in points (62). He also finished second among that circuit with 180 shots on target and ninth with a plus-7 plus-minus rating. His strong season earned him the “Gord Bones Memorial Trophy,” an annual award given to the “Most Improved Colts Player” voted upon by the Barrie Colts Coaching staff.

“Riley has continued to develop his game at both ends of the ice this season, which has been noticeable month over month. He’s become a reliable player for us and has been putting up impressive numbers for his first season in our league. Riley has a bright future ahead of him, and we are proud of his development as a coaching staff.” Commented Head Coach & GM Marty Williamson.

As you likely know, he capped off his year by being selected 125th overall at this summer’s entry draft in Vegas. This, after being one of the highest month-to-month risers among ranked prospects, from the 116th-ranked (midterm) North American skater to 61st (final) in the Central Scouting Draft Rankings.

Among all five drafted Canucks prospects, Patterson likely brings the most complete package. While his offensive pedigree may not stack up to the others — hence the lower overall ranking — he can hold his own through a crafty set of skills. He’s considered a dual-threat contributor, boasting a quick release and delicate hands. He’s also not afraid to jump into the mix and get his hands dirty in the corners and on the forecheck. At 18, he brings a solid frame (6’0″, 192 lbs) and, aside from some skating mechanics to clean up, possesses an all-around game that should offer Canucks fans something to look forward to over the next few seasons.

Ceiling: Don’t let the rankings fool you; if everything goes according to plan, he may carry the highest chance of making the NHL over all the 2024 drafted prospects. Simply put, he’s got the profile; it just doesn’t quite hold the same upside. Yet, as a right-shot forward who can play responsible and versatile hockey, there’s an intriguing skill set to develop. As an OHL rookie, he’s already shown the ability to assist with both special teams units and produce points despite a lack of top-line minutes. Overall, Patterson feels like a candidate to play middle-six NHL hockey.

Floor: At just 18, the floor is wide open. With a well-rounded game, however, he should carve out a bottom-six role at the AHL level.

ETA: Let’s not get too eager. We are still dealing with a fourth-round draft pick. If that ceiling is going to be realized, it’s going to be a long road ahead. There are still at least two years of Junior remaining in his development and potentially another two to three at the AHL level. If everything goes right — and that’s a big if — expect at least a four to five-year plan.