The Vancouver Canucks’ 2026 draft class is already spread across the hockey map, with nine new prospects headed into a wide range of leagues for the 2026-27 season.
That group gives Ryan Johnson’s first draft as general manager a little bit of everything: a top-end NCAA forward, a massive junior winger, a goalie with room to grow, and several players who are staying put for another year before making their next move.
Caleb Malhotra, the Canucks’ first pick at third overall, is headed to Boston University. The forward will step into a program that has produced plenty of NHL names, including Jack Eichel, Macklin Celebrini, Charlie McAvoy, Lane Hutson, and future teammate Tom Willander.
For Malhotra, it’s another stop in a fast-moving early career. He played the 2025-26 season with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL and the 2024-25 season with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL.
Another first-rounder, Adam Novotný, is expected to return to the Peterborough Petes in the OHL despite signing his entry-level contract with Vancouver in August. The 24th overall pick, acquired from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade, led the Petes with 34 goals and finished with 65 points in his first season in North America. Peterborough looks set to be his final junior stop before he moves on to the AHL in 2027-28.
Brooks Rogowski, meanwhile, brings the kind of size that jumps off the page. At 6'7" and 235 pounds, the 18-year-old was drafted for his frame, his two-way game, and his underrated hands.
He is committed to Michigan State, but that won’t begin until the 2027-28 season. For now, he’s going back to the OHL for a third junior campaign.
Niklas Aaram-Olsen will also be heading to Boston University, joining Malhotra in the Terriers’ lineup. The 18-year-old put up 40 points and 20 goals for Örebro HK U20 in Sweden last season. He is still likely two to three years away from getting a real NHL look, and the move to BU should help him adjust to North American hockey while playing alongside other top prospects.
The Canucks also used back-to-back draft classes to add another goalie to the pipeline. Dmitri Ivchenko, taken 78th overall, spent last season as the backup for Omskie Yastreby in the MHL and posted an 11-5-1 record with a 1.91 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
He’s set to take over as the starter this year, a step that should give him more chances to develop. Vancouver likes his mobility, size, and athleticism, though shots from distance and traffic in front can still give him trouble.
Yaroslav Bryzgalov was Vancouver’s only WHL selection this year, and he’s going back to Medicine Hat after finishing fifth on the Tigers with 55 points in 64 games. The 6'4", 220-pound forward is a big playmaking winger, and after this season he’s set to head to Merrimack College for 2027-28 NCAA hockey.
Connor Davis, drafted 129th overall, will play at the University of North Dakota. Vancouver liked his quickness and his shot after he posted 55 points in 59 games for Cedar Rapids in the USHL. At 19, and listed at 6'0" and 183 pounds, he’s an overager with some real upside if his game keeps climbing.
Lucian Bernat is moving from Europe to North America for the first time. The 176th overall pick recorded 31 points in 37 games for Tappara’s U20 team in Finland, and the 6'4", 193-pound winger is heading to the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He’ll try to carry over the scoring touch he showed overseas.
The Canucks’ lone defenseman in the class, Samuel Eriksson, will stay with Färjestad BK in the SHL. The 18-year-old is listed at 6'5" and 212 pounds and is valued more for his reach and stick-checking than for offense. With Eriksson, Vancouver added a big-bodied blue-liner to a draft class that skews heavily toward forwards.
Taken together, the nine picks give the Canucks a prospect pool with a clear geographic footprint for the coming season - from Boston to Peterborough, Medicine Hat to North Dakota, and several stops in between.
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Max Sasson Has A Chance To Force His Way Into Canucks Plans
Max Sasson heads into Canucks training camp with a familiar kind of opportunity for a player still trying to lock down a full-time NHL role. After spending last season at centre and scoring 13 goals in 66 NHL games, he is expected to begin camp on the wing, a move that fits both his versatility and Vancouvers depth up the middle. Sasson has said he is comfortable at any forward spot, and his speed remains one of the traits that could help him stand out early.
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 🡒]