The Vancouver Canucks’ franchise defenceman and former captain is no longer in the picture, giving this team a grim short-term outlook. With little in the system to provide immediate hope, the time to invest in a true game-breaking forward was yesterday.

Yes, the team may be riding a short-lived dead-cat bounce, fuelled by the adrenaline of newly embedded players and a temporary spark in the room. But make no mistake about it, there is still a steep hill to climb to escape the reality of a lottery finish.

And for a franchise staring down a reset, that might not be the worst thing.

To the disappointment of many, the 2026 NHL Draft does not feature an evident, franchise-altering generational talent. No Connor McDavid or Connor Bedard is waiting at the top. That said, this crop does include a pair of forwards that could fundamentally change the complexion of the Canucks’ depth chart overnight.

Is that too much to ask, Santa?

In 56 years of operation, the Vancouver Canucks have never selected first overall. Even more remarkably, they’ve picked second just four times in franchise history:

That’s some fine talent. This year, if done just right, they have an opportunity to either make a historic pick (first overall) or extend that to a fifth-second overall selection.

In exchange for their most valuable asset, the Canucks brought in Zeev Buium, a 20-year-old defenceman poised for a productive NHL career. He joins an already budding defensive group that could quietly become a long-term strength.

Zeev Buium (L), Tom Willander (R), Elias Pettersson (L), Victor Mancini (R), Kirill Kudryavtsev (L) and Sawyer Mynio (L).

Not all of those names will become everyday NHL contributors — that’s simply reality — but there is enough talent there to envision a future where Vancouver can insulate its back end with youth while supplementing through free agency or veteran support.

The forward group, however, tells a very different story.

As noted above, the organization is in desperate need of help within its forward depth. While young pieces like Braeden Cootes, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and newly acquired Liam Öhgren provide some future promise, the overall picture remains thin. There is a lack of elite offensive gravity. You know, the kind of player who can tilt the ice, dictate matchups, and carry a line when things stall. That’s where this Christmas wish comes into play.

Enter Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.

As the World Junior Championship approaches, the debate over the top spot in this draft remains wide open. Gavin McKenna, long considered the near-unanimous favourite for first overall, has seen his stock cool slightly since making the jump to the NCAA.

His numbers remain impressive — 18 points in 16 games as a 17-year-old — but concerns around the rest of his game have begun to surface. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic recently noted on Sportsnet 650’s Canucks Talk that several NHL scouts currently do not have McKenna ranked first on their boards.

But context with his season matters here.

Penn State is far from a stacked program. Unlike powerhouses such as Michigan State, which are loaded with first-round talent, the Nittany Lions rely heavily on older, undrafted skaters. McKenna isn’t riding shotgun with elite linemates; he’s driving his own offence. He could have easily remained in his home country and built off his incredibly dominant 129 points draft-minus-one season. Instead, he chose to challenge himself as a 17-year-old by facing men. Are there imperfections in his game? Absoltuely. But what he’s doing at the NCAA is still an impressive feat.

And that’s the appeal.

At his core, McKenna is an elite offensive talent with rare vision. He finds seams others don’t see, processes the game at a high level, and brings the kind of pedigree that can shift a middling forward group into relevance. Flaws and all, he represents a Canadian-born player that you can build and market around.

Sitting right on McKenna’s heels — and in some circles, slightly ahead — is Ivar Stenberg.

The Swedish forward is in the midst of a draft-eligible season that could mirror Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and go down in history. At just 18 years old, he’s on pace to challenge Daniel Sedin’s SHL draft-year scoring record (42 points in 50 games). Through 25 games, Stenberg has already recorded 24 points and is tracking toward 48 by season’s end. That total leads Frölunda skaters outright and sits 16 points ahead of the next closest draft-eligible skater (Viggo Björck).

And his intrigue goes beyond production.

While McKenna offers elite offensive upside, Stenberg brings a more complete package. He plays a mature, well-rounded game, contributes in all three zones, and pairs his skill — perhaps, elite-level — with a relentless motor. He doesn’t just score, but impacts games.

Ultimately, the only thing we can ask for is for the team to hone in on who they believe is the best forward. Many readers may be asking, “Why not a defenceman?” If you’ve been following our draft coverage here at CanucksArmy or taking a look at various pundits around draft circles, Keaton Verheoff is a name often brought up at the top end of the draft.

Our thought process for this year is simple: take the best player available. And if the Canucks find themselves in a position to draft within the top two selections of this draft, we believe that the forwards mentioned above offer that. While Verhoeff is a strong defensive piece, he is widely considered a more complementary top-pairing piece. Will we take it? Of course we will. But with a strong defensive corps already taking shape, it’s time to swing for the fences and select a point-producing forward to build a market around.

If you asked most fans, they would admit they don’t expect the Canucks to win the lottery even if the team finishes 32nd overall. That’s fine. We’re not asking for a miracle.

All we’re asking, Santa, is a top-two pick. Just enough to guarantee one of these two forwards and give this franchise the offensive cornerstone it so desperately needs to catapult this team’s rebuild.

The time to move remaining assets, lean into youth, and commit fully to development is now. Don’t let us down, Mr. Claus.