Canucks 2026 NHL Draft preview: The rebuild starts here

VANCOUVER — Amazing but true: over a period of five entry drafts, from 2020 until 2024, the Vancouver Canucks picked three times in the top 70. In total.

They had two first-round selections, neither in the top 10, and one second-round choice during this dark age. Is it any wonder the Canucks’ prospects pantry was as empty as beer kegs in Boston after Scotland’s Tartan Army ended its week-long World Cup encampment?

The Canucks’ first pick in 2020 was No. 82 (Joni Jurmo), and their top selection in 2024 was No. 93 (Melvin Fernstrom). In 2021, they gave themselves one chance to pick among the first 136, and it was 41st (Danila Klimovich).

Blasting Canuck scouting and drafting is a popular and breezy pastime on the west coast. But truly, director of scouting Todd Harvey’s biggest problem was being employed by an organization that gave him little to work with.

Still, recently fired general manager Patrik Allvin’s legacy in Vancouver could turn out to be the bonanza of 2026 draft picks he accumulated for Harvey and new GM Ryan Johnson.

Just in time for the Canucks’ first rebuild this century, the organization has two first-rounders on Friday and a pair of second-round selections on Saturday, all of them in the top 41. Their third-overall pick on Friday — bumped down from No. 1 for the sake of any fan engagement in what the National Hockey League calls the draft lottery — is the highest pick for the Canucks since former general manager Brian Burke orchestrated a Sedin monopoly in 1999 when twins Daniel and Henrik were seized second and third.

The twins are now Canuck co-presidents.

“It’s kind of a new beginning here to kind of get some really exciting players to put into our prospect pool and look towards the future,” Harvey, embraced by Johnson amid this spring’s regime change, told Sportsnet on Wednesday. “I think having No. 3 is real exciting and we’re going to get a great player at that spot. And then to have the other three picks in the top 41... we haven't had that here. But the way we’ve been preparing for it is pretty much the same.”

Except the stakes feel higher now. This is arguably the most important draft in franchise history, a chance to construct a good portion of the foundation to support whatever the next good Canucks team is going to be. And the team needs, well, everything.

“I mean, we kind of feel pressure all the time,” Harvey said of his scouting staff. “And if you don't feel it, you're not in it. We do have a responsibility. We have a responsibility to the team, to the franchise, to the city, to do our work and make sure we do our due diligence and get this team to where it's contending for the Stanley Cup every year.”

The Canucks have 10 picks in total, capped by three in the sixth round on Saturday.

It is the start of a new era in Vancouver.

And for the record, Harvey said new coach Manny Malhotra, whose son Caleb is a potential first pick for Vancouver, has not seen the Canucks’ final draft list.

“No, I don't think so,” Harvey laughed. “I think Manny’s probably pretty busy trying to get his coaching staff together here and get prepared for next season. He's busy right now.”

For a change, the Canucks will be busy at the draft.

Draft picks

Potential round 1 options

Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs, Ontario Hockey League

If some teams were surprised how quickly and high Malhotra rocketed upwards during his draft-eligible season, the Canucks were not among them. Since last fall — before the team’s collapse, regime change and the hard pivot into a rebuild — Vancouver’s scouts have loved the smart, two-way centre who oozes leadership and first-line potential. Malhotra followed an excellent rookie regular season in the OHL (84 points in 67 games) with a brilliant playoff run (13 goals and 13 assists in 15 games). That his dad was named the Canucks' new head coach on June 1 changed nothing about how the scouting department feels about Malhotra.

It doesn’t mean that the Canucks will automatically look for a family reunion on Friday. But for an organization embarking on a rebuild, desperate for talented, high-character core pieces — and someone who projects as a first-line NHL centre — it may be difficult for GM Johnson to pass on the coach’s son. Both Johnson and Manny Malhotra have stated emphatically that family ties won’t complicate whatever decisions need to be made on players.

Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda, Swedish Hockey League

As Gavin McKenna surged in the second half of his college season at Penn State while Stenberg’s production slowed against top professionals in Sweden, it was almost like some people forgot how good Stenberg’s two-way game really is. The senior world championships in May was a reminder as the dynamo generated eight points in eight games for Team Sweden, the fourth-most points ever by a draft-year player at the tournament (behind only Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews and Juraj Slafkovsky). Stenberg’s 0.767 points-per-game in the SHL was also fourth highest for a draft-eligible Swede in the country’s top league (behind Markus Naslund, William Nylander and Daniel Sedin).

Stenberg’s creativity and flash have never gotten hearts pumping quite like they do when McKenna is on his game, but he is undoubtedly an elite, offensive driver from the wing — a fast, skilled player who competes and plays heavier than his five-foot-11, 183-pound frame. No, Stenberg is not a centre. But he will be a core piece for somebody.

Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds, OHL

Without a player projected to have the superstar upside of the last three first-overall picks — Matthew Schaefer, Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard — the 2026 draft kind of looks like the year of the defenceman in the top 15. A heaping handful of talented blueliners could go right after McKenna and Stenberg — or between them — and the (mostly) consensus best one is Reid, an American who flourished this season in Canada with his all-around game.

The smooth-skating, six-foot-three Reid impresses with almost everything. But that overall balance could also mean that Reid won’t be elite at any particular skill at the NHL level. Of course, that hasn’t stopped, say, Drew Doughty building a Hall-of-Fame career. Reid’s excellent mobility and agility, combined with smarts, competitiveness and a tonne of offensive upside will make him a top-five pick. If he doesn’t go No. 2 to the San Jose Sharks, he will be a serious candidate for the Canucks at No. 3.

Last year's top Canucks pick

Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle-Prince Albert, Western Hockey League

Chosen 15th a year ago, Cootes was a remarkable early-season story for the Canucks. He made the team in training camp — and remember, at that time Vancouver was still prepping for a playoff challenge — and was the first 18-year-old to do so since Petr Nedved in 1990. His initial NHL sortie lasted only three games, but Cootes impressed with his mature, detailed play, skating and major-league shot release.

The right-shot centre from Edmonton didn’t light the WHL ablaze upon his return to junior, but a mid-season trade to Prince Albert from rebuilding Seattle allowed Cootes to become a key driver on a formidable team. He finished the season with 63 points in 45 games, a healthy improvement from the point-per-game pace of his draft season. It remains unclear what Cootes’ offensive ceiling might be at the NHL level, but he sure seems to have a high floor. At minimum, he projects as a middle-six centre who can help on special teams and with leadership. So far, so good.

One bold prediction

Caleb Malhotra to the Canucks has been part of too many mock drafts for it to be a bold prediction now. So we’ll try something different. As the NHL and its fans buzz over a series of impactful trades during draft week, the Canucks have so far been quiet. But they continue to discuss options to offload veterans and their contracts. Most of these players, however, have trade protection and nearly all carry buyer-beware warnings due to recent performance or health or cost. But sometime before free agency opens on July 1, Johnson will make his first major move.