The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

***

Be sure to check out the Vancouver Canucks team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/vancouver-canucks/

To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

***

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin and team president Jim Rutherford were both brought in after the organization cleaned house in 2021. Since Allvin was hired, they have been one of the most active teams in the NHL — making 32 trades since December 2022.

Allvin carried that trend into the off-season. He most recently shipped out Dakota Joshua and his $3.25M, gave Arturs Silovs a chance in Pittsburgh, and brought in BC-born power forward Evander Kane. There was a lot of cap shuffling required to retain what was regarded as an elite core just a couple of years ago.

Headed into the off-season, Brock Boeser seemed locked into free agency — and in a twist — signed at $7.25M for seven years with the Canucks. Allvin was able to extend Thatcher Demko to a three-year deal at $8.5M per, on top of adding Kane. These are all moves designed to hone in on a contention window aligned with the two years remaining on Quinn Hughes’ contract.

The Hughes situation has been fraught with speculation all summer. He becomes a UFA in 2027, and his brothers have openly expressed interest in playing with him. Who would not want to play with Quinn? Allvin’s top priority is building a team Hughes will be confident competing for a Cup with. That is not where the organization expected to be after a 109-point campaign in 2023-24. Allvin said as much in a September 8th article from Sportsnet, “… there’s a lot of talented players and I need to build out the roster. I wouldn’t say urgency, but as a general manager the pressure comes on you because what you realize in the NHL is the years are just flying by.”

Vancouver steps into 2025-26 as a very different team. Rutherford is onto his third Head Coach — Adam Foote — since taking the reins in 2021. He served as assistant to Rick Tocchet and took over the bench after Tocchet left the organization in April. Promoting from within should alleviate much of the turbulence a new coaching staff can bring.

The Abbotsford Canucks finished their year hoisting the Calder Cup. Manny Malhotra — former Canuck and Head Coach in Abbotsford — has elevated every aspect of their team. His work with the youth has allowed every call-up from Abbotsford to compete in the NHL. With that championship experience, players like Aatu Räty, Linus Karlsson, and Elias Pettersson are going to get a real shot at impacting the NHL roster. The organization’s internal development has steadily improved since Rutherford and Allvin took over. They have moved on from prospects that did not fit, and built a system that lets the rest flourish. This trend needs to continue if they want to build a contending team around the Oliver Ekman-Larsson buyout penalty — which spans until 2030-31.

***

NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 15 overall: Braeden Cootes, C

26G, 37A, 63P, 60GP (WHL) – 6-0, 183lbs

Every first-round pick by Allvin — except this one — has been used on a Swedish player. That is how Allvin shocked the hockey world by selecting the Canadian-born centre over Victor Eklund at 15. It was a pick for need. Vancouver’s prospect pool and NHL team have lacked high-end two-way centres — Cootes is exactly that. He had an average rank of 20 across DobberProspects, EliteProspects, and TSN.

He plays with strong offensive and defensive IQ, typically pivoting between the two seamlessly. Cootes is a high-pace forward. If he battles for the puck, he is likely coming away with it — then facilitates a play so obvious that no one sees it coming. While he does not bring elite tools, his traits have elite qualities. He is a fierce competitor and relentless on the forecheck. Cootes regularly wins draws and creates space for his teammates by drawing in defenders. His defensive acumen runs hot alongside his off-puck work ethic — constantly in position to support the play.

He has a strong, accurate shot with no trouble getting it through traffic. If he adds a layer of deception to his arsenal, his shot could become lethal. The tools are abundant. His stride and acceleration are strong, but he lacks blitzing top speed. Next year, Cootes — an all-situations forward — will be trusted even more in the WHL. That is his chance to prove how high his ceiling really is. If the organization can help translate his game to the NHL, Cootes could become a defensive ace with a long runway to add offense. It is worth mentioning that his intangible leadership qualities also caught Vancouver’s attention. He currently projects as a high-end middle-six centre with upside for a top-six role and captaincy.

Round 2, 47 overall: Alexei Medvedev, G

22-8-7, 2.79 GAA, .912 SV% (OHL) – 6-3, 181lbs

Medvedev’s game is built around poise and anticipation — not unlike Thatcher Demko’s. The key difference between him and Demko on their draft days is Demko’s near-superhuman athleticism. Most public boards had Medvedev projected for the late second or third round, but his stellar OHL rookie season caught Allvin’s attention.

He played his D-1 season in a much less competitive junior league — the GJOHL — and made the jump to the OHL this year, while being only six days away from qualifying for the 2026 draft. Medvedev is one of the youngest players in the 2025 class. He shows an ability to elevate his play to the competition and adapt.

The calling cards that make him an interesting bet are his agility, lateral movement, and poise in all situations. He is almost always ahead of the play by being hyper-focused on details. Medvedev is a raw goaltending prospect. He will need years of refinement to reach his ceiling as a future NHL starter.

Round 3, 65 overall: Kieren Dervin, C

33G, 46A, 79P, 50GP (U18 AAA) – 6-1, 183lbs

If there is one thing the Allvin-led Canucks have done right, it is taking big swings later in the draft. In past years they landed gems like Hunter Brzustewicz in the third round and beyond. Allvin’s 2025 third-round pick — Dervin — has underrated upside that could propel him into that conversation.

He played prep hockey at St. Andrew’s College in Ontario, where his 1.58 points-per-game ranked third in the league (minimum 10GP). He is known as a two-way forward despite his impressive production. He is quick in transition and agile with his edge-work, allowing him to maintain possession and push pace.

Dervin will play in the OHL next season. The Canucks hope he improves on his ten-game stint last season, where he managed just three points. He is not consistent enough offensively to guarantee a seamless transition — but the flashes are there. Dervin projects as a long shot right now, but that could change next year. Worth keeping on your radar in the deepest formats.

Round 5, 143 overall: Wilson Björck, LW

28G, 39A, 67P, 43GP (Sweden J20) – 6-0, 165lbs

With their fourth pick of the draft, the Canucks selected re-entry winger Wilson Björck — older brother of projected top-ten pick Viggo. In 2024, he only managed 24 points in 41 games in the same league he exploded in this year. Had his D-1 season been even slightly better, he would have gone earlier — even based on genetic talent alone.

Björck is a creative playmaker. He thinks the game quickly, and his skates usually keep up. While mainly a winger, he has spent significant time at centre and shows an ability to drive play from the middle. Not only can he initiate offense, but he battles around the net and back checks ferociously. He will spend 2025–26 in the Allsvenskan, which will quickly reveal whether his trajectory is rising or flattening.

Round 6, 175 overall: Gabe Chiarot, RW

21G, 14A, 35P, 66GP (OHL) – 5-11, 190lbs

Chiarot was two days away from being eligible for the 2024 draft. As one of the oldest D-0 selections in 2025, he lacks much offensive upside. But his 5-11, 190lbs frame packs a punch. Chiarot is a hard worker — constantly stripping the puck from defenders on the forecheck and attackers on the backcheck. He is a hound after a bone.

Vancouver clearly drafted to add edge to their pipeline. The right-handed forward immediately becomes one of the Canucks’ hardest-working and grittiest prospects. He has a long road to the NHL. Projects as an AHL player who might receive call-ups. Not worth a stash in fantasy leagues — even in bangers.

Round 7, 207 overall: Matthew Lansing, LW

12G, 15A, 27P, 54GP (USHL) – 6-1, 185lbs

Lansing had two very different seasons with two teams in 2024-25. He posted 17 points in 40 games before being moved — then put up 10 in 14. That was enough to hear his name called at the end of Day Two.

Next year, Lansing will play NCAA hockey. His offensive ceiling is uncertain. If his development stagnates in college, he is unlikely to receive an NHL contract from the Canucks. An interesting bet for almost no cost — but Lansing should not be on your fantasy radar.

***

Off-Season Moves

Incoming

• Evander Kane, LW – Acquired via trade from EDM – 1 x $5.125M
• Ilya Safonov, F – Acquired via trade from CHI 
• Chase Stillman, F – Acquired via trade from PIT
• Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D – Signed 1x $775K
• Mackenzie MacEarchan, F – Signed 2 x $775K
• Joseph Labate, F – Signed 1 x $775K
• Jimmy Schuldt, D – Signed 2 x $775K
  

Outgoing

• Dakota Joshua – Traded to TOR
• Arturs Silovs – Traded to PIT
• Pius Suter – Signed with STL – 2 x $4.125M
• Phillip Di Giuseppe
• Noah Juulsen  
• Cole McWard
• Tristen Nielsen
• Sammy Blais
  

Re-Signed

• Brock Boeser – 7 x $7.25M 
• Thatcher Demko – 3 x $8.5M 
• Conor Garland – 6 x $6.0M 
• Kevin Lankinen – 5 x $4.5M 
• Derek Forbort – 1 x $2M
• Arshdeep Bains – 2 x $775K
• Aatu Räty – 2 x $775K
• Guillaume Brisebois – 1 x $775K
• Max Sasson – 1 x $775K
• Jett Woo – 1 x $775K, two-way
• Nikita Tolopilo – 2 x $775K, two-way
• Vitali Kravtsov – 1 x $775K, two-way
  

***

In the System

Risers

Aatu Räty, C (AHL)

In his age-21 season, Räty took massive steps to make himself indispensable to the organization. He posted 40 points in 43 AHL games and scored seven goals in his NHL stint. He is more engaged at all times and is now driving offensive play — on top of his defensive game. These are the traits that once had Räty projected as a top pick ahead of his draft year, before he slid. He now looks more like the top-six pivot the Canucks targeted in the Horvat trade.

Elias Pettersson, D (AHL)

The organization has been singing D-Petey’s praises throughout 2025. He transitioned fluidly to the AHL game from Sweden, posting 14 points in 38 games as a rookie. Impressive totals for a 21-year-old defenseman — but what is more impressive is his overall impact. Pettersson is a wrecking ball. He hits hard and intentionally — separating players from the puck with ease. His head is always on a swivel, he delivers long-stretch passes, and he consistently leads the breakout. If he keeps developing on this path, he projects as a top-four defenseman.

Kirill Kudryavtsev, D (AHL)

It is extremely rare for a seventh-round pick to become an NHL player. Kudryavtsev is well on his way to being that exception. He ascended quickly in the WHL after being drafted in 2022. The 5-11 left-shot defenseman is a dynamo. In his AHL rookie season with Abbotsford, Kudryavtsev posted 26 points in 65 games. He will spend another year in the AHL with increased ice time and responsibilities — the perfect chance for Vancouver to see what they really have. Worth stashing in deeper formats — trending toward being an offensive defenseman in the NHL.

*

Fallers

Aiden Celebrini, D (NCAA)

The Canucks took a swing on Macklin Celebrini’s older brother in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Aiden has since played two NCAA seasons without adding much to his game. He plays a responsible style, but he is not a defensive specialist. If he cannot meaningfully impact an NCAA game, he is unlikely to have an NHL career.

Danila Klimovich, C (AHL)

One of the few Jim Benning-era draft picks that remains with the Canucks — thanks to his tantalizing physical tools. Klimovich was drafted for his wicked shot and physical edge. Unfortunately, even after three full AHL seasons, neither trait has translated. He has never cracked 40 points despite playing 60+ games per year. If he cannot blow the doors off next season, he may be on the move.

Jett Woo, D (AHL)

Since graduating from the WHL, Woo has spent five seasons in the AHL. He continues to show the vicious hitting that keeps him in the system, but has not rounded out his game. His defensive impact is inconsistent — often playing out of position. Woo’s offense surged in 2023–24, but immediately regressed. It is unlikely Woo will meaningfully play in the NHL.

*

Likely to See NHL Action

• Aatu Räty, C
  
• Linus Karlsson, W/C
  
• Elias Pettersson, D
  

***

Top 20 Prospects 

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Vancouver Canucks prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, F
2. Tom Willander, D
3. Aatu Räty, F
4. Braeden Cootes, F
5. Elias Pettersson, D
6. Kirill Kudryavtsev, D
7. Arshdeep Bains, F
8. Alexei Medvedev, G
9. Sawyer Mynio, D
10. Danila Klimovich, F
11. Riley Pattersson, F
12. Ty Mueller, F
13. Ty Young, G
14. Anri Ravinskis, F
15. Anthony Romani, F
16. Kieran Dervin, F
17. Jett Woo, D
18. Josh Bloom, F
19. Aiden Celebrini, D
20. Vilmer Alriksson, F

***

Final Thoughts

The Canucks are one of the most polarizing and uncertain teams heading into the 2025–26 season. Allvin and Rutherford have steadily improved the quality of their young pipeline, and this is the first year that progress will be truly tested. Aatu Räty is set to step into the 3C hole left by Pius Suter; Tom Willander will get his first taste of professional hockey; and feisty defender Elias Pettersson should slot into a full-time NHL role.

The organization has roughly $3.3M in projected cap space, and their top-six depth remains a point of weakness. Teams that can ice two high-end forward lines immediately gain an advantage in match-ups with Vancouver. In an interview with Sportsnet, Rutherford addressed the Canucks’ willingness to balance patience with boldness, “We’re certainly not going to be desperate… We feel good about the young defensemen we have coming. We have some young forwards coming. But if we can make a deal and do whatever we need to do to improve our team, we’re going to do it.”

Jake DeBrusk and Evander Kane are the team’s first- and second-line wingers. That is a pair that would be second- or third-liners on most contending teams. A lot is hinging on the bet that Filip Chytil can play as a 2C for an entire season. He has shown upside in that role, but he has missed significant time with long-term concussion issues. The team was also able to convince Vitali Kravtsov to come back from the KHL, where he was one of the top players for his team. Can he finally reach his potential and be a top six scoring winger or will he get buried, sent to the AHL, and head back to the KHL.

Things could be a lot worse for the Canucks. Allvin managed to retain the core of Demko, Boeser, EP40, Hughes, and Garland for another two years — enough time for the youth to insulate the lineup. They still have $3.3M in cap space on the books, and the Oliver Ekman-Larsson buyout penalty will soon drop substantially. There is room for one or two in-season additions — even more if Allvin continues to flex his creative muscles. Both of Vancouver’s picks in the first two rounds of 2026 are assets other teams will covet. Is that enough to make a big splash?

Allvin has been modest in his acquisitions — having not brought in a star-level talent since Filip Hronek. This is not the year to repeat that pattern. There is internal and external pressure on management to keep Hughes from leaving — either as a UFA or by forcing a trade. Allvin’s best bet to reinstill confidence within the core is to add high-end talent that can take some weight off their shoulders.

***

Be sure to check out the Vancouver Canucks team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/vancouver-canucks/

***

Thanks for reading this edition of 32-in-32 at DobberProspects! It was a pleasure to update you on the Vancouver Canucks. I’m Arden — a Vancouver-based Online Journalism and Broadcasting student with a passion for community storytelling, hockey, and photography. Find my work below.

https://linktr.ee/ardenmcleod
@HockeyArden