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Welcome back to our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.
We have officially hit our 14-ranked prospect, meaning it&#8217;s time to offer a quick recap of who we have covered thus far.
15th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-15-josh-bloom">Josh Bloom</a> 
16th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-16-danila-klimovich">Danila Klimovich</a> 
17th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-17-ty-mueller?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Ty Mueller</a> 
18th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-18-aku-koskenvuo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Aku Koskenvuo</a> 
19th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-19-jett-woo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Jett Woo</a> 
20th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-20-nikita-tolopilo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Nikita Tolopilo</a> 
<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/ca-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-honourable-mentions?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Honourable Mentions:</a> Linus Karlsson, Parker Alcos, Lucas Forsell, Jackson Dorrington, Daimon Gardner &amp; Tristen Nielsen
<blockquote>
<h3>Cole McWard 
Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 23 | Position: Defence | Height: 6&#8217;1 | Weight: 192 lbs | Shoots: Right</h3>
</blockquote>
Freshly turned 23, Cole McWard is now locked up for another year in the Canucks&#8217; system with a <a href="https://bola.canucksarmy.com/news/canucks-sign-linus-karlsson-cole-mcward-one-year-two-way-extensions">one-year, two-way contract</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> have agreed to terms with forward Linus Karlsson and defenceman Cole McWard on one-year, two-way contracts.
DETAILS | <a href="https://t.co/BFXRCbSyGu">https://t.co/BFXRCbSyGu</a> <a href="https://t.co/hrMj0j3Atc">pic.twitter.com/hrMj0j3Atc</a>
&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1803905283586130214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The big question for him is, where will he play out that year? As it stands, the club carries several right-shot defenders who&#8217;re all within the same calibre of talent: Noah Juulsen, Mark Friedman, Jett Woo, Cole McWard, and newly signed Vincent Desharnais.
Does Cole McWard win that battle? That&#8217;s for him to dictate come September.
The former Ohio State Buckeye is coming off his first official season as a professional defender. While none of his numbers are earth-shattering, his transition was sound, and he looked right at home in his new environment.
Known as a puck-moving, two-way defender, McWard has never been one to put up huge offensive numbers. However, his overall package makes him a reliable and effective right-shot defender, one that was destined to survive at the professional level.
He&#8217;s a good heads-up skater, plays relatively mistake-free, and can be placed in any situation. At 6&#8217;1, 192 lbs, he&#8217;s got decent size and was considered one of Abby&#8217;s go-to penalty killers.
&#8220;I think my game&#8217;s been progressing. I think I&#8217;m learning a lot and I think I&#8217;m developing this year,&#8221; McWard mentioned in a postmedia interview.
Last year in Abbotsford, McWard led the defensive core in 5v5 goal differential (plus-7) and, come playoff time, shared the lead with Akito Hirose (plus-three) – the only two Canucks defenders to finish with a positive rating in the postseason.
Offence isn&#8217;t really the brand you&#8217;re getting with McWard, but he posted four goals and 17 points. He also added another assist in the playoffs while keeping up with the rest of the defensive pack with 10 shots on target.
One sneaky element that tends to go unnoticed is his ability to fire the puck. He threads the line well, and when he decides to snap a shot off, it&#8217;s got the juice to find its way to the back of the net.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Cole McWard with a lethal snapshot for his first AHL goal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> 
Arshdeep Bains and Christian Wolanin each have a pair of points tonight to put them in a share for second in league scoring 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/s34n6HnUTf">pic.twitter.com/s34n6HnUTf</a>
&mdash; Dave Hall (@hall1289) <a href="https://twitter.com/hall1289/status/1718105410677403762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
You can say what you want about Cole McWard and his spot among this organization&#8217;s depth chart, but the Canucks brass have made it clear that they like what the kid brings. Patrik Allvin has mentioned his name on numerous occasions as a player they have noticed down on the farm, which certainly bodes well for his potential opportunities. And we share that opinion here at CanucksArmy.
He&#8217;s already notched one goal, seven shots, five hits, and six shot blocks in six NHL games, so we&#8217;ve already seen what he can do.
He&#8217;s not flashy, but his brand of hockey works.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
He&#39;s not flashy, by any means, but these are the type of plays we love from Cole McWard.
He stays on his man, gets to the inside and effectively kills any threat before turning over and starting the play up with a quick transition.
Simple, and effective. <a href="https://t.co/uKvNsTG3IK">pic.twitter.com/uKvNsTG3IK</a>
&mdash; Dave Hall (@hall1289) <a href="https://twitter.com/hall1289/status/1760536293271122203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ceiling: McWard plays a very sound game but isn&#8217;t necessarily elite in any particular element. With that in mind, we have no doubts that he can handle the rigours of NHL competition, but likely as a bottom-four pairing type player. With that said, the Canucks have already dangled the carrot of having him skate with Quinn Hughes, so perhaps there&#8217;s a hint more to his upside than what we initially thought. Overall, he&#8217;s a good bet as a safe and sturdy five-to-eight defenceman on any given NHL team.
Floor: At the very least, McWard is an AHL defender. He&#8217;ll be a sound 5v5 defender, will kill any and all of your penalties, and can even audition as a powerplay option in a pinch.
ETA: In our opinion, McWard is ready to be of service this fall. Will he get the opportunity? That remains to be seen. However, considering he does not have to pass through waivers, you can bet that McWard will be a call-up option throughout the year, and a damn good one at that. If it&#8217;s not this fall, he could push for a permanent role in 2025-26.
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Be sure to check out the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/canucks-zach-hyman-bet-jake-debrusks-contract">latest odds</a> with online sportsbook Betway.

Welcome back to our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.

We have officially hit our 14-ranked prospect, meaning it's time to offer a quick recap of who we have covered thus far.

15th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-15-josh-bloom">Josh Bloom</a>
16th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-16-danila-klimovich">Danila Klimovich</a>
17th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-17-ty-mueller?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Ty Mueller</a>
18th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-18-aku-koskenvuo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Aku Koskenvuo</a>
19th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-19-jett-woo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Jett Woo</a>
20th ranked: <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-20-nikita-tolopilo?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Nikita Tolopilo</a>
<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/ca-top-20-vancouver-canucks-prospect-rankings-honourable-mentions?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Honourable Mentions:</a> Linus Karlsson, Parker Alcos, Lucas Forsell, Jackson Dorrington, Daimon Gardner &amp; Tristen Nielsen
<blockquote>
<h3>Cole McWard
Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 23 | Position: Defence | Height: 6'1 | Weight: 192 lbs | Shoots: Right</h3>
</blockquote>
Freshly turned 23, Cole McWard is now locked up for another year in the Canucks' system with a <a href="https://bola.canucksarmy.com/news/canucks-sign-linus-karlsson-cole-mcward-one-year-two-way-extensions">one-year, two-way contract</a>.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1803905283586130214

The big question for him is, where will he play out that year? As it stands, the club carries several right-shot defenders who're all within the same calibre of talent: Noah Juulsen, Mark Friedman, Jett Woo, Cole McWard, and newly signed Vincent Desharnais.

Does Cole McWard win that battle? That's for him to dictate come September.

The former Ohio State Buckeye is coming off his first official season as a professional defender. While none of his numbers are earth-shattering, his transition was sound, and he looked right at home in his new environment.

Known as a puck-moving, two-way defender, McWard has never been one to put up huge offensive numbers. However, his overall package makes him a reliable and effective right-shot defender, one that was destined to survive at the professional level.

He's a good heads-up skater, plays relatively mistake-free, and can be placed in any situation. At 6'1, 192 lbs, he's got decent size and was considered one of Abby's go-to penalty killers.

"I think my game's been progressing. I think I'm learning a lot and I think I'm developing this year," McWard mentioned in a postmedia interview.

Last year in Abbotsford, McWard led the defensive core in 5v5 goal differential (plus-7) and, come playoff time, shared the lead with Akito Hirose (plus-three) – the only two Canucks defenders to finish with a positive rating in the postseason.

Offence isn't really the brand you're getting with McWard, but he posted four goals and 17 points. He also added another assist in the playoffs while keeping up with the rest of the defensive pack with 10 shots on target.

One sneaky element that tends to go unnoticed is his ability to fire the puck. He threads the line well, and when he decides to snap a shot off, it's got the juice to find its way to the back of the net.

https://twitter.com/hall1289/status/1718105410677403762

You can say what you want about Cole McWard and his spot among this organization's depth chart, but the Canucks brass have made it clear that they like what the kid brings. Patrik Allvin has mentioned his name on numerous occasions as a player they have noticed down on the farm, which certainly bodes well for his potential opportunities. And we share that opinion here at CanucksArmy.

He's already notched one goal, seven shots, five hits, and six shot blocks in six NHL games, so we've already seen what he can do.

He's not flashy, but his brand of hockey works.

https://twitter.com/hall1289/status/1760536293271122203

Ceiling: McWard plays a very sound game but isn't necessarily elite in any particular element. With that in mind, we have no doubts that he can handle the rigours of NHL competition, but likely as a bottom-four pairing type player. With that said, the Canucks have already dangled the carrot of having him skate with Quinn Hughes, so perhaps there's a hint more to his upside than what we initially thought. Overall, he's a good bet as a safe and sturdy five-to-eight defenceman on any given NHL team.

Floor: At the very least, McWard is an AHL defender. He'll be a sound 5v5 defender, will kill any and all of your penalties, and can even audition as a powerplay option in a pinch.

ETA: In our opinion, McWard is ready to be of service this fall. Will he get the opportunity? That remains to be seen. However, considering he does not have to pass through waivers, you can bet that McWard will be a call-up option throughout the year, and a damn good one at that. If it's not this fall, he could push for a permanent role in 2025-26.

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