“Yeah, the Canucks missed out on the first-overall pick after finishing dead last in 2025-26. But with the most-improved prospect pool in the game, they’ll be fine. The team is still in the early days of their rebuild, but they’re off to a good start after landing three of their top five prospects by pick No. 33. It wasn’t smooth sailing for all of Vancouver’s pipeline – Jonathan Lekkerimäki definitely lost a bit of shine. But a big season from Braeden Cootes, which included a stint in the NHL, definitely helped.

If there’s one thing the Canucks lack in their prospect pool, it’s a top-end defender. Kirill Kudryavtsev leads the way at No. 7, and Vancouver has only taken one (2026 seventh-rounder Samuel Eriksson) over the past two years. Sawyer Mynio is decent, and I’ve actually liked some of my Parker Alcos and Basile Sansonnens viewings. From the most part, though, there isn’t a ton to love there. But, hey: Vancouver is going to suck again in 2026-27, and Landon DuPont enters the year as the top prospect. If Vancouver can snag him, maybe the post-Quinn Hughes era won’t sting as much.”