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Canucks Prospect Monday Mailbag: Who are you taking with the first overall pick?
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Photo credit: © Steven Ellis/The Nation Network
Dave Hall
Feb 16, 2026, 15:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 16, 2026, 15:43 EST
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With your usual Monday Mailbag author, Jeff Paterson, soaking up some well-deserved vacation time, we put the call out for some Vancouver Canucks prospect questions.
There’s no sugarcoating how poorly and daunting the current Canucks season has been. And that sentiment extends all the way to Abbotsford and even Kalamazoo. But that’s the great part about covering prospects, you can always find a positive story somewhere. While not filled with high-end assets, there are a few players who have carved out some very intriguing seasons from all over the globe. As the author penning the series, I’d be remiss not to mention our Prospect Rankings, which are happening as we speak.
Today, we will cover a bit of Abby, some NHL Draft and a little bit of everything else.
This is a great question to kick off the mailbag, especially after what has been a fairly disappointing post-Championship season in Abbotsford. The good news? There’s some exciting help on the way.
The most exciting answer is Braeden Cootes.
With the new agreement allowing NHL teams to loan one 19-year-old player to the AHL, Cootes immediately becomes the obvious candidate to take advantage of that rule change. Simply put, he has very little left to prove at the junior level. His offensive growth, leadership, and all-around play suggest he’s ready for the next step.
There’s always the possibility he forces Vancouver’s hand and makes the NHL roster out of camp — he’s already appeared in NHL action as an 18-year-old before being returned to junior. But there’s no need to rush his development. A season – or, even a few-month stint – in Abbotsford would allow him to adjust to the professional pace while playing meaningful minutes in all situations.
The second name is Riley Patterson, currently the Canucks system’s leading point producer. Coincidentally ranked fifth in our prospect rankings released today, Patterson is enjoying a breakout season with the Niagara IceDogs. Turning 20 in March and already signed to an NHL contract, the NCAA route is no longer an option. That makes Abbotsford the natural landing spot next season. His offensive instincts and switch to centre make him a strong candidate to step into a middle-six role immediately.
There are also a few honourable mentions, though each carries some uncertainty.
Basile Sansonnens already possesses the size and physical maturity to handle the professional game, but he’s currently averaging just over 13 minutes per night in Switzerland. Another season overseas in a larger role could benefit his long-term development, but he could also potentially make the trip over.
Anthony Romani has produced well offensively at Michigan State, but he hasn’t sniffed a top-six role. Ideally, he remains in the NCAA and continues developing in a larger offensive role before making the jump. The Canucks need offensive help, though. When push comes to shove, he may be a candidate.
Gabriel Chiarot is another intriguing name. While his motor suggests that he’s ready to play professionally, there’s a realistic scenario where he returns to the OHL for his overage season before transitioning to the AHL.
All three remain viable options for Abbotsford next season, but Patterson and Cootes are the most likely immediate additions.
This is a tricky range. There are a lot of intriguing players, but fewer true slam-dunk centre prospects compared to previous years.
If Minnesota drops in the standings and Ilya Morozov somehow falls into that range, he becomes the easy answer. But realistically, that’s becoming less likely by the week.
Egor Shilov would be an excellent target if available. He brings offensive upside and positional value, two things the Canucks system needs at centre. While his defensive game is still developing, he wins draws and produces offensively, which makes him an easy bet for a late first- or early second-round pick.
Alexander Command is another solid option in that late first/early second round. He’s a dependable two-way centre with good structure to his game. He may not carry elite offensive upside, but he is putting up solid numbers in J20 this season. He projects as a reliable middle-six option, and those players have real value.
If the Canucks are looking for a little upside, Tomas Chrenko makes sense. His shot is already NHL-calibre, and he has legitimate power play potential. With multiple picks in this range, taking at least one high-ceiling swing is important.
Finally (yes, I am giving you four), Jack Hextall represents a nice, safe option. He’s dependable, well-rounded, and projects as a player who could carve out a role at the professional level. He may not be flashy, but he brings stability and reliability. If the Canucks have already made a few swings, Hextall simply feels like a professional hockey player.
The honest answer is Gavin McKenna.
This isn’t because I think he’s significantly better than Ivar Stenberg. In fact, I’ve been very open about how highly I view Stenberg. But the risk of passing on McKenna and watching him become a star elsewhere is simply too great. I hate to say that X NHL team must pick X player because they can’t afford to make a mistake. But in this case, it’s true.
McKenna has star power and franchise-altering upside. He’s a Canadian prospect with elite offensive instincts, marketability, and a track record of dominating at every level. I just don’t know if you could reverse the damage of the passing of McKenna, only to have him hit big elsewhere.
If the Canucks select Stenberg instead, it would still be a tremendous outcome. He’s an incredibly well-rounded player with elite skill in his own right. But when you hold the first overall pick, you take the highest upside player available. And right now, that’s McKenna.
I’ll pour a small glass of water on this statement. But I don’t think it’s outrageous. After trading away their first- and second-round picks, the Canucks’ 2024 draft class consisted of:
  • Melvin Fernstrom (3rd round — already traded)
  • Riley Patterson (4th round)
  • Anthony Romani (6th round)
  • Parker Alcos (6th round)
  • Basile Sansonnens (7th round)
That’s not an ideal starting point.
If there’s one player most likely to reach the NHL, it’s Riley Patterson. His offensive development, combined with his ability to play centre, gives him a legitimate pathway. Anthony Romani has intriguing offensive tools, but his all-around game still needs development. Basile Sansonnens is quietly becoming a very interesting prospect. He’s already playing against men and showing physical maturity beyond his years. But he’s a seventh-round pick with a very limited baseline beyond his size and skating.
The odds are against this class producing multiple NHL players, if any. But Patterson gives them a legitimate chance to get value, so there’s your small glass of water.
Now that Elias Pettersson (D-Petey) has graduated, the answer to his questions becomes wide open. In all honesty, this isn’t a particularly physical prospect pool, but there are a few players who stand out. Although, we probably won’t rank them.
Sawyer Mynio is incredibly competitive. He plays with edge and intensity beyond his size and consistently battles in difficult areas. Heck, we are talking about a kid whom I have seen take liberties during a summer Development Camp 3-on-3 drill. He’s just uber competitive and does what he can stay on the winning side.
Basile Sansonnens brings legitimate physical presence. He’s already manhandling professional competition physically and projects as a shutdown-style defender.
Vilmer Alriksson has the size to be dominant physically, but we think he could be much more aggressive. He’s dropped the gloves before, and he’s been getting in the mix a little more this year. But with a frame like his, he could be a massive problem for opponents if he played with a bit more jam.
Gabriel Chiarot may be the most irritating to opponents. He plays with relentless energy and isn’t afraid to engage physically despite not being the biggest player.
I view Cootes similarly to Bo Horvat.
On a Championship-calibre team, he likely projects as a second line centre. He plays a complete game, drives play responsibly, and contributes offensively. But he’s not necessarily the type of centre who dominates shifts purely through offensive creativity like elite 1Cs tend to do.
He projects as a very valuable piece, but I think a 2C is probably the right upside bet here.
Ideally, they trade down slightly and acquire additional assets. The depth of this draft makes it an attractive option. But who are we kidding? That doesn’t happen often.
If the pick must be made, then just take one of Chase Reid, Keaton Verheoff or Albert Smits. I’d prefer to trade down, as I don’t think any of the centres are worth a 3OA, and there are enough in the mushy middle to snag one of (insert player here). But the easy answer is probably to avoid overthinking it and take one of the three defenders. And yes, I am including Alberts Smits, who’s currently playing and standing out at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
Gun to my head, I’d take Verhoeff. He brings size, mobility, and long-term upside on the blue line.
Exactly how you’ve ordered them, to be honest. That said, I do think Ty Mueller should be called up this year and probably challenge for a fourth line role next season. But assuming they are all down, Cootes is probably your best bet.
Head over to our prospect rankings, Patterson coincidentally dropped today!
Thanks for reading!

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