With the 97th overall pick, the Vancouver Canucks have selected Yaroslav Bryzgalov at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Bryzgalov is a 6’4″, 216-lb left winger out of the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. He was passed over in last year’s draft after scoring just 10 goals and 17 points in 51 USHL games. The Belarusian winger had an impressive rookie year in the WHL, scoring 13 goals and 42 assists for 55 points in 64 regular season games, adding two goals and 14 points in 15 postseason games for the Tigers. He is committed to play for Merrimack of the NCAA for the 2026-27 season.

EliteProspects had Bryzgalov ranked 85th. Here is their write-up on Bryzgalov in their 2026 Draft Guide:

“In lieu of footspeed, Bryzgalov zips passes to play an overall fast game. He makes touch passes through the forecheck, spins them off the wall, beats sticks with quick hands to set up dishes, and even manipulates defenders with look-offs and shotpasses to create cross-slot lanes. Whether he’s stealing pucks on the forecheck or catching them in space, he always knows the next play instantly. In his best sequences, he makes several high-skill passes in succession, building play from his own zone to the crease.

“Bryzgalov is also a physical player, regularly finishing his checks and battling around the net. In his best outings, he’s a battering ram, skating right through opponents to grab the puck. While he didn’t use it a ton this season, there were flashes of an NHL-calibre shot, too.

“While the puck moves faster than players, Bryzgalov must still develop his skating. He’s an upright, narrow skater with limited upper-lower separating, hindering his agility. So much of his projection hinges on both improving his skating and developing more ways to bypass a lack of speed entirely.”

The Canucks have now selected five forwards and one goaltender in the 2026 NHL Draft:

3rd overall: Caleb Malhotra
24th overall: Adam Novotný
33rd overall: Brooks Rogowski
41st overall: Niklas Aaram-Olsen
78th overall: Dmitri Ivchenko
97th overall: Yaroslav Bryzgalov

As of now, the Canucks have four picks remaining: one fifth-round pick (129th overall) and three sixth-round selections (161st, 176th, and 184th overall).