When Steven Ellis talks prospects, people around the NHL tend to pay attention. So when the DailyFaceoff.com analyst put out his list of the “Top 5 most improved NHL prospect pools in 2026-27” on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks landed in a spot that stood out: No. 1.
That’s a big leap for a franchise that has spent the last year reshaping its future. The Canucks traded captain Quinn Hughes and kicked off a rebuild now being guided by co-Presidents of Hockey Operations Daniel and Henrik Sedin, along with General Manager Ryan Johnson. Along the way, Vancouver added a fresh batch of young talent, with Caleb Malhotra going third overall and Adam Novotny selected 24th overall in June’s draft.
Ellis’s broader team rankings tell the same story. In his latest prospect-pool list, he slotted Vancouver 10th in the NHL, up from 28th in 2025. That 18-spot jump was the biggest climb of any team in his rankings.
Here’s how Ellis summed up the Canucks’ rise:
“Yeah, the Canucks missed out on the first-overall pick after finishing dead last in 2025-26. But with the most-improved prospect pool in the game, they’ll be fine.
The team is still in the early days of their rebuild, but they’re off to a good start after landing three of their top five prospects by pick No. 33.
It wasn’t smooth sailing for all of Vancouver’s pipeline - Jonathan Lekkerimäki definitely lost a bit of shine. But a big season from Braeden Cootes, which included a stint in the NHL, definitely helped.
If there’s one thing the Canucks lack in their prospect pool, it’s a top-end defender. Kirill Kudryavtsev leads the way at No. 7, and Vancouver has only taken one (2026 seventh-rounder Samuel Eriksson) over the past two years.
Sawyer Mynio is decent, and I’ve actually liked some of my Parker Alcos and Basile Sansonnens viewings. From the most part, though, there isn’t a ton to love there.
But, hey: Vancouver is going to suck again in 2026-27, and Landon DuPont enters the year as the top prospect. If Vancouver can snag him, maybe the post-Quinn Hughes era won’t sting as much.”
Ellis’s assessment puts the Canucks in a very different place than they were a year ago: still early in the rebuild, but suddenly looking far more stocked with young talent than they did before.
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Caleb Malhotra and Adam Novotn are among the names already being mapped out for where they are likely to spend next season, part of a broader development plan that gives Vancouver time to let the prospects mature before they are pushed toward the NHL. It is the kind of patient approach that can pay off down the road, even if the payoff is still a season or more away. [Read more 🡒]
Max Sasson Has A Chance To Force His Way Into Canucks Plans
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The fit matters because the Canucks already have several centres lined up for the start of the season, which means Sasson may have to earn his place by doing a little of everything well. His ability to slide between positions gives the coaching staff options, but it also puts the emphasis on how he performs in camp and how quickly he can show he belongs in the lineup every night. [Read more 🡒]