Meet the Canucks’ 2026 NHL Draft Class

The 2026 NHL Draft wrapped up on Saturday, and the Vancouver Canucks added nine new players to their prospect pool. The theme of this year’s draft class was size, as none of the players clocked in at less than 6-feet, with the tallest being a massive 6-foot-7.

Character, speed, and being tough to play against were also common attributes across the board, as director of amateur scouting, Todd Harvey, stated, “We had some direction from RJ and the staff and we wanted to get bigger, we wanted to get faster and we wanted to get harder…Obviously, we can say ‘oh we didn’t take any skill’, but let’s not underrate the skill on these guys. These guys have skill. I think they’re still developing, but we definitely won’t get pushed around.”

With that said, let’s get to know the nine prospects, which include seven forwards, a defenceman, and a goaltender.

3rd Overall: Caleb Malhotra, Centre, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

The Canucks started with an expected pick, centre Caleb Malhotra at third overall. Cobie Smulders announced the selection on the video board from Vancouver, and Caleb quickly embraced his dad, and likely future head coach, Manny Malhotra, before heading up to the stage to pull on the Orca.

“We were just happy,” Caleb said. “This is the best feeling in the world. I’ve never felt a feeling like this. And that embrace was so comforting. I’m so glad he’s here with me as dad. I’m so grateful for him on this journey. He’s given me so much help as a hockey player. He’s helped me grow. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be in this conversation, I wouldn’t be in this position. I’m so thankful for him and I’m ready to play for him.”

Beyond what Caleb brings on the ice with his size, speed, work ethic and 200-foot game, he also has tremendous character in the locker room. His comments after getting drafted gave me future captain vibes, as he took ownership of the team before even skating one minute in a Canucks jersey.

“I want to be able to win with this organization,” Caleb said. “Growing up and hearing about how they never won the Cup and how bad everybody in Vancouver wants to win, how passionate everybody is about it, how serious the city takes it, I want to bring that excitement and energy back to the city and be able to win with the Canucks.”

Caleb will get that chance at development camp this week, before likely heading to Boston University in the fall. All in all, the Canucks got a good one, and paired with Braeden Cootes, they have the makings of a lethal one-two punch down the middle for a very long time.

24th Overall: Adam Novotny, Left Wing, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

With their second pick of the first round, the Canucks went back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to select Adam Novotny from the Peterborough Petes. Ranked as high as 15th by Steven Ellis, there were no major outlets that projected him to still be on the board at 24th overall. So, you could say they got a bit of a steal here.

Novotny finished his first OHL season with 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games after starting his hockey journey in Czechia with Mountfield HK. He also suited up for Czechia at the World Juniors, where he had three assists in seven games. In the same vein as Malhotra, Novotny brings size, speed, and an intense work ethic to the rink every day, not to mention personality and character to the dressing room.

“Offensively, Novotný not only relies on his motor but is also a powerful, strong player, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 205 pounds. He is great at using his body to protect the puck and take contact while making plays, and he has no problem engaging in board battles,” said THW’s Jordan Orth in his prospect profile.

“I would say I’m well-rounded. I can play a lot of different roles. That’s maybe something that can help me in the future to make it to the NHL,” Novotny stated at the NHL Combine. “When I use my speed, I can go around the defense pretty well. I also win one-on-one battles. I think I’m very strong in them.” 

Orth projects Novotny as a top-six player in the NHL, comparing his style to Mason McTavish. If he can hit that mark, the Canucks will have someone that is hard to play against and can score 20-25 goals consistently.

Looking at the Quinn Hughes trade now, with Novotny included, they came out like gangbusters, adding a 1A/1B centre in Marco Rossi, a top-pairing defenceman in Zeev Buium, and two projected top-six big, speedy wingers in Novotny and Liam Ohgren.

33rd Overall: Brooks Rogowski, Centre, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

The Canucks continued their run in the OHL with 6-foot-7 centre Brooks Rogowski. Ranked anywhere from 15th by The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy to 61st by TSN’s Craig Button, the views on him were polarizing heading into the draft. And that continued after he was the first pick on Day 2. Many fans were hoping they would select someone like Mathis Preston, Ryan Roobroeck or Xavier Villeneuve, but they opted for more size and another tough-to-play-against centre with character and personality.

“He can shoot and skate, his ceiling is very high, the Canucks got a good one who I thought might go in round 1. For a big guy, skating is his strength, he is quick, good edges. He has an electric personality,” said Oshawa Generals’ general manager (GM) Roger Hunt after Rogowksi was drafted.

A lot of analysts and scouts echoed Hunt’s words, with Ellis saying, “At 6-foot-7, he’s obviously got size. But I also appreciated how well he hustled at both ends, chasing pucks and breaking up plays. He’s a smart forward who uses his big frame to win battles, but he also has a good shot and isn’t afraid to launch it from anywhere in an attempt to surprise the goaltender. Rogowski won’t be a big-time offensive threat but, as a supporting player, he has a ton of tools to make himself useful. Players who move as well with his size profile are coveted around the NHL.”

After spending most of his childhood preparing for a career in baseball like his father and uncle before him, Rogowski knows he has a lot to improve on before making it to the NHL: “I have a lot more to improve,” he said. “You have a lot of these guys who have been doing this for a long time. I’m still relatively new to it, and I think there’s a lot more to me that needs to come out.”

With how fast Rogowski adjusted to the OHL, scoring 15 goals and 42 points in 46 games this season, and his plan to join Michigan State in 2027-28, the Canucks might have a future shift-disturber that helps them win a Stanley Cup in a few years. Whether he turns into a top-six threat remains to be seen, but given his already high floor as a third/fourth-line energy centre that makes life miserable for his opponent, I think we can safely say they already have an NHL player in the making.

41st Overall: Niklas Aaram-Olsen, Left Wing, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

The Canucks shifted their focus to Europe for their second pick of Day 2, drafting Norwegian left-winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen. Another player with size and skill, he was projected anywhere from 34th to 64th overall. He split his time this season between the U20 Nationell and Swedish Elite League (SHL) with the Orebro HK franchise, where he scored 20 goals and 40 points in 29 games at the U20 level and was held off the scoreboard in 20 games in the SHL. He made his mark at the U18 World Championship, scoring four goals in five games, and another six goals and 10 points in the Division 1A World Juniors last year, as Norway won gold.

Aaram-Olsen’s calling card is his shot, which he’s not afraid to use and use frequently. In fact, he was described by THW’s Logan Horn as one of the best goal scorers in his draft class. He even projected him to be a first-round pick with a high ceiling in the NHL: “With an NHL frame, a great shot, and strong skating, there’s a chance that Aaram-Olsen peaks as a first line winger. I think he’s more likely to end up as a middle-six winger who can pitch in with 25+ goals a few times throughout his career and help drive offense on the powerplay.”

Aaram Olsen is committed to Boston University in the fall, potentially joining Malhotra (if he doesn’t make the NHL roster). He could conceivably develop alongside him as his winger, building some chemistry for an NHL future down the road.

Aaram-Olsen’s selection finishes off the Canucks’ run of first and second-round picks. They now have three forwards that project as top-six threats, and another that is guaranteed, at the very least, an anchor of a bottom-six line. Not too bad for the beginning of the Ryan Johnson/Daniel-Henrik Sedin era.

78th Overall: Dmitri Ivchenko, Goaltender, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)

After bolstering their forward corps with two wingers and two centres, the Canucks shifted their focus to the crease, drafting Russian goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko 78th overall. He had a solid draft season in the MHL with Omskie Yasreby, posting a 1.91 goals-against average (GAA) and .922 save percentage (SV%) alongside four shutouts. Described as a “methodical goaltender, positionally sound and extremely competitive” by IceIndex, his profile screams Ian Clark, who was likely very involved in this selection.

Elite Prospects expanded on IceIndex’s scouting report, saying in their 2026 Draft Guide, “What separates Ivchenko is his calmness in the crease. Unlike his contemporaries, Ivchenko is a very disciplined goaltender, keeping square with shooters, boasting strong depth control, and strong routes to keep him positional.”

All in all, it sounds like Ivchenko has the foundation to become a goaltender at the NHL/American Hockey League (AHL) level at some point. With the pipeline potentially getting further depleted with Nikita Tolopilo waiver-eligible next season, the Canucks needed to bolster it, and Ivchenko’s addition helps do that.

97th Overall: Yaroslav Bryzgalov, Left Wing, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Moving back to the forward group (and adding size) in the fourth round, the Canucks travelled to the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the first time in this draft, selecting 6-foot-4, 216-pound left-winger Yaroslav Bryzgalov from the Medicine Hat Tigers. He had an impressive first season in Canada after spending 2024-25 in the United States Hockey League (USHL). While his goalscoring was limited to just 13, he had 42 helpers for 55 points in 64 games. He also outproduced the top-two scorers in the WHL this season in Markus and Liam Ruck, in the playoffs, notching two goals and 14 points in 15 games as the Tigers made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.

Evidenced by his numbers in the assist column, Bryzgalov’s strengths are passing and playmaking. “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,” said Elite Prospects in their 2026 Draft Guide.

They also praised Bryzgalov’s physicality and flashes of an NHL-caliber shot, even though he didn’t use it a lot this season. They did say he needs to work on his skating to make it to the next level, but that should develop in time. He is slated to play for Merrimack College in 2026-27, joining previous picks Malhotra, Rogowski and Aaram-Olsen as future NCAA players.

129th Overall: Connor Davis, Right Wing, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)

The Canucks ventured down south for their next pick, selecting right-wing Connor Davis out of the USHL. Passed over in the 2025 Draft, he caught scouts’ eyes this time around after scoring 26 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He is the smallest of the selections at 6-foot-0, but follows the trend of being hard to play against.

“Davis is a dog with a bone on the ice. His motor is always going while not being a turnover liability. He can turn on his jets to blow past defenders, and his shifty hands make that speed even more dangerous,” said The Hockey News’ Frank Zawrazky after Davis committed to the University of North Dakota in April.

Like most fifth-round picks, the Canucks hope Davis is a swing that pans out. His style definitely fits an energy role on the third and fourth lines, so it will be interesting to follow his development in the NCAA alongside Malhotra, Rogowski, Aaram-Olsen, and Bryzgalov in the coming seasons.

176th Overall: Lucian Bernat, Right Wing, Tappara U20 (SM-sarja)

The 176th pick was supposed to be the Canucks’ second sixth-rounder of the day, but after trading the 161st pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it became their first, and they used it on another sizeable winger in 6-foot-4 Lucian Bernat. Ranked 77th and 98th by McKeen’s Hockey and Daily Faceoff, respectively, the Canucks might have gotten another steal at this point in the draft. He had an impressive season in the U20 SM-sarja with Tappara U20, recording 15 goals and 31 points in 37 games, and adding another four points in seven games at the U18 World Championship with Slovakia.

“Bernat is a rare combination of size and skill at the junior level. He reads defensive structures quickly, positions himself in shooting lanes before the puck arrives, and has a release that catches goalies off-guard from mid-range. His shot selection is mature. He does not force plays from low-percentage areas, instead circling back and resetting when the first option closes,” said THW’s Andrew Epps in his prospect profile.

Epps also praised his skating, especially for a player of his size, saying: “He generates good speed through his first three strides and sustains it through the neutral zone, covering ground efficiently with a long stride. His edgework in tight spaces is where you see the Finnish development influence. Playing in Tappara’s system since his U18 days has sharpened his ability to cut inside off the boards and protect the puck through contact, using his reach and frame rather than brute force.”

Projected as a middle-six winger who can contribute on the power play and kill penalties, Bernat is a solid swing in the sixth round. The Canucks have seen some success here in recent years, with Gabriel Chiarot (175th in 2025), Anthony Romani and Parker Alcos (162nd and 189th, respectively, in 2024) all trending positively in their development. Bernat will join them in North America next season, as he is set to join the Owen Sound Attack.

184th Overall: Samuel Eriksson, Left Defence, Farjestad BK U20 (SHL)

The Canucks rounded out their 2026 draft class with a Swedish defenceman – of course, with size – in Samuel Eriksson. Standing 6-foot-5, 212 pounds, he spent most of his time in the U20 Nationell with Farjestad BK, where he played 32 games and notched six points. He also suited up for Team Sweden at the U18 World Championship in a limited role, going pointless in six games.

Eriksson doesn’t bring a lot of offence to the table. His strengths lie in the defensive zone, where he uses his size, physicality and great stick to shut down opponents. “He has a great defensive game already, uses his frame well and makes great plays with his stick, taking up a ton of space without needing to move as much as others. He also plays a physical game, which makes him even more punishing in the D-zone,” said THW’s Owen Hillman in his prospect profile.

Hillman noted that Eriksson’s skating needs some work, but if he can develop it to a decent level, his size, physicality and calm game could make for a solid modern defensive defenceman in the vein of current Canucks blueliner Elias Pettersson. If that happens, Eriksson would be another late-round defensive gem the organization has found in recent years.

Canucks’ Development Camp Is Up Next

Now that the 2026 NHL Draft is in the books, we look forward to Canucks development camp, which will take place from June 30 to July 2 and see eight of the nine new prospects participate. The Canucks added a lot of skill to their pipeline that fans will get to see in full force very soon. All of them bring size, skill and character to the organization, and hopefully it is the start of a foundation that will eventually bring a Stanley Cup to Vancouver.