The Vancouver Canucks have made another strategic move at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, selecting Connor Davis with the 129th overall pick in the fifth round. Davis, an overage prospect, showcased his potential with an impressive 26 goals and 29 assists in 59 games for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Rough Riders.
His next stop? The NCAA’s University of North Dakota, where he'll continue to refine his skills.
Connor Davis is a name that might sound familiar to draft enthusiasts. Passed over last year, Davis has emerged as an energetic forward whose performance with Cedar Rapids was nothing short of electrifying, especially as the season wound down. His playmaking abilities have seen a noticeable uptick, making him a worthwhile gamble at this stage of the draft.
According to the Elite Prospects draft guide, Davis is a dual-threat scorer. His game is driven by a relentless motor, a knack for creating one-on-one opportunities, and a sharp shooting skill. While he occasionally struggles with inside positioning, his persistence is unmatched, constantly chasing down wraparounds and in-tight scoring chances.
In a savvy move, the Canucks also traded their 161st overall pick in the sixth round to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, they secured a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. This marks the first trade under Ryan Johnson’s leadership as the Canucks' general manager, signaling a forward-thinking approach to building the team's future.
With two more picks remaining in the sixth round and no selections in the seventh, the Canucks are nearing the end of their 2026 draft journey. So far, they've added Caleb Malhotra (3rd overall), Adam Novotny (24th overall), Brooks Rogowski (33rd overall), Niklas Aaram-Olsen (41st), Dmitri Ivchenko (78th), Yaroslav Bryzgalov (97th), and now Connor Davis (129th) to their roster. Each pick reflects a strategic vision for the franchise's future, blending immediate potential with long-term promise.
In Other News...
Canucks Eyeing Familiar Blue-Line Reunion Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Canucks are keeping an eye on the veteran side of their blue line again, and Ian Cole is a familiar name in that search. According to Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK, Vancouver is interested in the pending unrestricted free agent defenseman after his one-season run with the club in 2023-24, a stretch that left the Canucks with a clear sense of what he can and cannot bring. Cole has continued to be a useful contributor in recent seasons, which only adds to the appeal for a team looking to steady its back end.
There is also a roster wrinkle building around Pierre-Olivier Joseph, with Vancouver expected not to issue him a qualifying offer, which would push him toward free agency. Put together, the two moves hint at a blue-line reset that favors experience and familiarity, even if the debate in Vancouver will come down to whether that is the right mix for a team trying to stay competitive while reshaping its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks May Be Near Their Biggest Pettersson Decision Yet
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What makes the situation even trickier is the timing. July 1 is creeping closer, and the longer the offseason goes, the fewer paths there may be to create real salary cap flexibility. Vancouver could always try to make the numbers work in a variety of ways, including retaining some salary, but as of now there is still no confirmed deal and plenty of uncertainty about whether this is a true market or just a difficult one to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Just Made Another Forward Move Fans Will Want To See
The Predators have continued to reshape their forward group this offseason, and the latest move gives them another cost-controlled option with some runway left on his contract. Nashville brought in Nils Hoglander from Vancouver for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft, adding a winger who still has two years left at a $3 million cap hit per season before reaching unrestricted free agency in 2028.
For a Predators front office that has already added Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Adam Edstrom, the deal fits the broader pattern of stacking depth while keeping plenty of flexibility. Nashville still has nearly $17 million in cap space heading toward free agency, so the move raises the question of whether this is another incremental piece or just the latest step in a much bigger offensive shuffle. [Read more 🡒]