Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that doesn’t take a week off, even when it’s taking a week off.

Speaking of weeks, we’re only about seven of them away from the opening of Vancouver Canucks Training Camp 2026, set for September 17 in Penticton, BC. Every camp is a unique experience, but this one promises to be especially unique, what with it being the first camp since the announcement and embrasure of the rebuild. The Canucks’ goals as a team and as an organization are now different, they’re now more complex, and they’re now focused far more on the long-term. But reaching those goals starts with Training Camp all the same.

The Canucks’ 2026-27 roster seems largely constructed already, but there’s a fair bit of grey area and wiggle room to be found, and that means there are spots that can be fought for. Certain players are expected to make a major impact right away, but every year other players find a way to make a larger-than-expected impact, and those leaps forward can have a huge benefit for a team attempting to accumulate and develop young talent.

Last camp, the 18-year-old Braeden Cootes came out of nowhere to claim a spot, before ultimately returning to junior. At the time, he was the darkest of dark horses. This time around, much more is expected of Cootes, and another push for the roster won’t be so surprising this time.

But there are always new dark horses lurking in the shadows of the organizational stable.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You recollected below!

Pavel Bure for me.

There was a lot of hype. First there was the controversy of whether he was eligible. There was the Soviet factor, where there was added mystery surrounding players. Then there was the efforts to bring him here.

I would add that my age also helped. It’s easier to get very excited at young age.

When he finally arrived, it was definitely worth all the hype.

Probably depends on the era or timeline: Tallon during the inception years, Linden in the 80s, Nedved and Bure in the 90s, Sedins in the early 2000s, one of JB’s picks during his tenure, and Cootes in the era Allvin. Too early for Cootes but most still became solid NHLers…

I recall a lot of hype around Larionov/Krutov when they came over. Having 2/3rds of the KLM line was a big story at the time. Obviously, it crashed and burned pretty quick. Krutov was more interested in his next meal over his next game and Larionov wouldn’t re-sign because he didn’t want the USSR Federation getting any more transfer money. He went on to a decent career in the NHL, but the breakout star was Makarov in Calgary.

I would agree with Pavel Bure. We only had glimpses of him on the World Junior stage. He played on a line with Fedorov and Mogilny. Mogilny defected early and was already a 30-goal scorer by the time Bure arrived, so we knew he was going to be good. And we knew he was a fast skater. I think coming from a Communist country added to the mystery of what we had in a player, and the fact that we obtained him through somewhat of a loophole.

Mason Raymond is the guy I was rooting for as a second round steal. Not a star, but he was pretty good for a season or two.

Lack of age may be a factor for me, but I’d have to say the Sedins

But as I was thinking of big hype prospects in my mind over the past 30 years, the lack of good options was surprising (and not surprising, lol).

The most hyped Canuck prospect(s)? Probably the Sedin twins. All the maneuvering by Brian Burke to get the second and third picks, and the simple novelty of drafting twin brothers generated a lot of excitement around the Sedins. The Pavel Bure pick ten years earlier also generated excitement, but it was slower in coming as it was pre-internet and the story spread more word of mouth that Quinn had pulled off a major coup. I think I first heard of Bure around 1990, several months after he was drafted.

Who was the guy who came to the draft on crutches? I want to pick him, even if it means I really didn’t get the assignment.

After years of failure, I was pumped and convinced the run of Boeser, Petey, and Hughes and their Calder wins and nominations was the real deal for a Cup in the future. Totally disappointed for the 56 year in a row, lol.

I would say the most hyped prospect was Pavel Bure. He exceeded expectations and remains the best player in Canucks history, in my opinion.

It has to be Petr Nedved, doesn’t it? No other prospect that I can think of was labelled “the next Wayne Gretzky.” Hype doesn’t get any bigger that.

Kole Lind, why didn’t anyone else draft him?!

Fedor Fedorov! For name points alone, and for getting Kevin Bieksa a job that led the Nucks to the SCF in 2011.

Josh Holden. He tore up the WHL and could not rise above the AHL.

I’ll go with Trevor Linden.

Petrus Palmu.

Nobody had more hype than Pavel Bure. I mentioned this in another post, but at Bure’s first practice, thousands of people showed up at the Britannia to watch him skate and there was still a line of hundreds outside the arena hoping to catch a glimpse of him leaving the arena. The media frenzy was insane.

For those old enough, like I am unfortunately, Pavel Bure without question.

Pavel Bure was easily the most hyped prospect. Canucks shocked the hockey world when they drafted him, and fans had high expectations right from the start. Bure didn’t disappoint and is considered one of the best Canucks ever.

Cody Hodgson definitely had a ton of hype and completely disappointed fans with his diva attitude and performance.

JCanuck:
Most overhyped and mismanaged is Podkolzin. Had the hype of a top-three pick but was committed to KHL. Thought the Canucks got a star by waiting.

The KHL development sunk his time with the Canucks.

I’m going even further back with Jim Sandlak. Drafted #4 overall in 1985, the hype really took off after the awfulness of the Cam Neely trade became apparent. Year after year, it was expected he’d finally become the next Cam Neely. He didn’t.

Well since I arrived in Vancouver as a teenager in 1970, overhyped Canuck prospects would be a book-length assignment. It’ll have to be point form. I’ll stick with the disappointments.

In the beginning, Dale Tallon. Always compared to Gilbert Perrault, tried as both a forward and a defenceman.

The execrable 1970s, where Canuck management concentrated on the OHL and Q while the Islanders drafted a dynasty out of the WHL. Jere Gillis and Rick Vaive both played well in the Memorial Cup at the Coliseum, but didn’t click as Canucks. Definitely Bill Derlago, who some thought was going to be a major star. Vaive and Derlago were traded to Toronto where they immediately became better.

The 1980s, Jim Sandlak. Looked like a big star king-sized winger, but it didn’t happen.

The 1990s, Petr Nedved.

Moving into this century, Olli Juolevi and Cody Hodgson, who were both afflicted with chronic physical issues, and then Jake Virtanen who had other issues.

I’d also throw in Vasily Podkolzin who was drafted 10th in 2019.

Libor Polasek.

Patrick White.