Photo Credit: Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via CBC News
The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2026-27 National Hockey League (NHL) season with lower expectations than usual.
The Canucks finished last season with a 25-49-8 (wins-losses-overtime losses) record, finishing last in the entire league. Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, the Canucks lost both draft lottery drawings, and therefore had the third overall pick. This was still their highest drafting position since drafting Daniel and Henrik Sedin in 1999.
With the third pick, Vancouver selected forward Caleb Malhotra, son of the newly announced head coach Manny Malhotra, from the Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs. They also drafted winger Adam Novotný with the Minnesota Wild’s 24th overall pick that was part of the return package from the Quinn Hughes trade in December 2025.
Novotný has been described by draft analysts as a potential steal of the 2026 NHL Draft, as most rankings projected him to be selected much earlier in the first round. The Czech forward recorded 65 points, including 34 goals and 31 assists in 58 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes during the 2025–26 season. Standing 6’ 1” tall and weighing about 200 pounds, he combines a strong shot with physical play and a willingness to compete for the puck. Although his NHL potential will take time to establish, his scoring production and draft position make him a very notable part of Vancouver’s rebuilding plans.
Beyond their two first-round selections, the Canucks drafted seven additional players. These included centre Brooks Rogowski and winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen in the second round, followed by goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko in the third. Vancouver later selected winger Yaroslav Bryzgalov, right winger Connor Davis, right winger Lucian Bernat and defenceman Samuel Eriksson, finishing the draft with nine selections overall.
The Canucks also have made significant changes to the front office. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were appointed as the new co-presidents of hockey operations in May 2026, and Ryan Johnson was named general manager shortly after, replacing Patrik Allvin.
As a rebuilding team, Vancouver will look to develop their young players (notably Zeev Buium, Braeden Cootes, Liam Öhgren, and Tom Willander).
Among the Canucks’ young defencemen, Zeev Buium stands out for his offensive potential. The 20-year-old recorded 12 points, including three goals and nine assists in 45 games in Vancouver during the 2025–26 season. Originally drafted 12th overall by the Wild in 2024, Buium arrived in Vancouver through the Quinn Hughes trade and signed an eight-year, $75.04 million ($9.38 million AAV) contract extension with the Canucks in September 2026.
Braeden Cootes is a forward that the Canucks are counting on to develop into a contributor. Selected 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old right-shot centre made his NHL debut at the start of the 2025–26 season, appearing in three games before returning to junior hockey. He recorded 63 points in 45 regular-season games across the Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League, including 14 goals and 26 assists in 28 games with Prince Albert. Cootes also represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping the team win bronze.
Swedish left winger Liam Öhgren is another young forward who could play an important role in Vancouver’s rebuild. He, too, joined the Canucks via the Hughes trade. Öhgren struggled to produce results early in the season with Minnesota, recording no points in 18 games, but found success after arriving in Vancouver. He finished the 2025–26 season with eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 51 games with the Canucks.
Tom Willander is another young defenceman expected to play a key part in Vancouver’s future. Selected 11th overall by the Canucks in the 2023 NHL Draft, the right-shot defenceman made his NHL debut in October 2025 after beginning the season with the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League. He went on to record five goals and 16 assists for 21 points in 70 NHL games during the 2025–26 season.
There’s no doubt that the Canucks face a difficult road back to contention. However, this season, with new leadership, and with new, young, talented players coming up the system, Vancouver will have an opportunity to build a strong foundation for the future.