By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

June 22, 2026

The Vancouver Canucks have 2 first-round picks — #3, #24 — and need to address major needs..

At 3rd, the most conceivable choices are Chase Reid, Caleb Malhotra, Carson Carels. But Ivar Stenberg could drop to 3rd pick, and Chase Reid up to 2nd pick.

And neither Chase Reid, Caleb Malhotra, Carson Carels or Ivar Stenberg could be the Canucks 3rd pick. Hmm…seriously? Seriously.

Speculation on what the Canucks are going to do this week at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York, is expected to pick up with each passing day until the draft starts. There may be some behind the scenes dealing already, and not so predictable talks. Or it’s predictable, but not so sure. Predictably unsure, I guess.

Here goes! My choices for the Canucks most likely prospects to be picked at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft are:

3rd Overall – LW Ivar Stenberg (Alt – C Caleb Maholtra)

Stenberg is the undisputed premier international skater of the 2026 draft class. He produced 33 points across 43 games as an 18-year-old in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) which was an exceptional feat, ranking as the fifth-most points ever by an 18-year-old in the league

Biomechanically and tactically, Stenberg manipulates the ice through superior processing rather than sheer physical force. His primary weapon is his immaculate vision; he identifies and exploits defensive triangles with deceptive eye lines, utilizing high-end hand speed to thread passes through microscopic seams.

Stenberg excels in small-area situations, operating effectively along the boards where he leverages pristine edge work to navigate pressure and distribute the puck precisely into high-danger scoring lanes. Defensively, his maturity is pronounced. He exhibits professional-level backchecking discipline, consistently executing strong defensive reads to disrupt passing lanes and force neutral-zone turnovers. This two-way reliability is a rare and highly coveted trait for an 18-year-old scoring winger operating in a senior professional league.

Projecting his future outlook, Stenberg is a top-line, dual-threat winger who can independently drive a power-play unit. His defensive floor virtually guarantees a minimum outcome as a reliable middle-six forward.

For the Vancouver Canucks, integrating Stenberg would provide an immediate synergy multiplier alongside Elias Pettersson, offering a secondary wave of elite playmaking that would drastically diversify the team’s offensive deployments and ease the burden on the current core.

24th Overall – C Maddox Dagenais (Alt – LW Liam Ruck)

Maddox Dagenais, son of former NHL forward Pierre Dagenais, is a quintessential modern power forward whose physical profile at 6’4″ and 196 pounds.

Mechanically, Dagenais possesses surprising linear speed for a player of his stature. He generates significant power through deep knee bends and highly effective cross-unders, allowing him to reach top speed rapidly and initiate chip-and-chase sequences that overwhelm smaller defensemen.

Offensively, his goal-scoring is fueled by a heavy, deceptive release that makes him a distinct threat from the faceoff circles, leading to a 30-goal campaign in the QMJHL. Furthermore, his presence at the net-front on the power play forces defensive structures to collapse inward, opening perimeter space for his teammates.

The draw back with Dagenais center on agility, positional nuances, and engagement consistency. While his straight-line speed is formidable, his lateral mobility and small-area escape mechanics are unrefined, making him vulnerable to agile, tight-gapping professional defenders.

Furthermore, his faceoff proficiency requires substantial improvement if he is to remain a center at the NHL level; many scouts project a permanent shift to the wing to maximize his forechecking utility. Evaluators also note fluctuations in his engagement level; when he is not actively driving the net or initiating physical contact, his impact on the game can become muted.

Projecting forward, Dagenais represents an injection of raw, top-nine power and goal-scoring. He offers an archetype—a physically imposing, volume-shooting forward with soft hands in tight—that is perpetually scarce across the NHL, drawing stylistic comparisons to players like Tage Thompson.

33rd Overall – LW Liam Ruck (Alt – LW Markus Ruck)

Ruck represents exceptional value, offering first-round offensive upside and elite finishing capabilities that would instantly upgrade the organization’s winger depth.

Liam Ruck established himself as one of the preeminent goal-scoring threats in the 2026 class, amassing 45 goals and 104 points for the Medicine Hat Tigers. At 6’0″ and 176 lbs, the right winger’s greatest asset is his offensive intelligence and spatial awareness. He constantly navigates the interior of the offensive zone, utilizing subtle shifts in momentum to slip behind defenders and establish positioning for high-danger tap-ins or quick-release wrist shots.

His shot mechanics are clinical; he features a rapid release that can be executed from awkward body angles, consistently finding holes in goaltenders before they can square to the puck. He is highly effective off the rush and serves as a lethal finisher on the power play from his strong side.

Developmental concerns surrounding Liam Ruck primarily involve his physical engagement and defensive consistency. Ruck generally shies away from physical contact, preferring to rely entirely on his intellect and positioning to win pucks. As the pace and physical intensity escalate at the NHL level, this aversion to contact could severely limit his ability to execute in the trenches.

Additionally, while he shows flashes of intelligent positioning on the penalty kill, his overall motor and engagement in the defensive zone can wane when the puck is not actively transitioning north.

Ruck offers the Canucks a pure, top-six finishing winger. His ability to disguise his intentions and locate soft ice makes him a highly projectable complementary scorer who could thrive alongside an elite playmaking center at the NHL level.

41st Overall – D Tommy Bleyl (Alt – LW Blake Zielinski)

Tommy Bleyl engineered a spectacular rise during his rookie season in the QMJHL, capturing Defenseman of the Year honors after producing a league-leading 81 points from the back end.

The 6″0″, 170 lbs draft prospect’s overarching asset is his elite, multidirectional mobility. He acts as a one-man transition machine, utilizing fluid crossovers, pristine edge work, and rapid cutbacks to effortlessly escape incoming forecheckers and execute clean defensive zone exits.

In the offensive zone, he controls the flow of play with profound confidence, walking the blue line to manipulate shooting lanes and employing subtle deception to misdirect penalty killers.

Defensively, Bleyl compensates for his lack of mass by relying on an active, disruptive stick and elite spatial positioning.

Advanced tracking data indicates he wins 59% of his puck battles, achieving this through superior leverage and timing rather than sheer physical force.

The primary developmental concern for Bleyl is his 170-pound frame: inherently it limits his ability to clear the net-front or engage in heavy physical battles deep in the defensive zone. And, despite his obvious puck skills, Bleyl can occasionally play an overly conservative game, opting for safe, connective perimeter passes rather than leaning into his ability to create high-danger advantages, and he lacks true pull-away linear speed.

Bleyl projects as a highly valuable, top-four offensive defenseman and a primary power-play quarterback.

78th Overall – D Ethan MacKenzie (Alt – RW Casey Mutryn)

After consecutive injury-derailed seasons led to him being passed over in the draft, MacKenzie authored a massive breakout campaign, recording 58 points and earning a surprise spot on Team Canada’s World Junior roster, where he secured a bronze medal.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs defenseman is three-zone competitor whose motor never wanes. He is an explosive puck-rusher who drives transition effectively, utilizing high-end skating mechanics to escape forecheckers and lead the breakout.

Offensively, he is highly active, frequently jumping into the rush or activating from the blue line to utilize a dangerous, heavy shot. Defensively, MacKenzie is a menace. He relies on suffocating gap control, explosive hits, and non-stop scanning to instantly detect and neutralize threats.

MacKenzie operates as a true jack-of-all-trades, capable of logging heavy five-on-five minutes while anchoring both special teams units.

While his all-around game is excellent, evaluators suggest he lacks a singular, dynamic, elite trait that definitively guarantees a top-four role in the NHL. Additionally, despite a strong frame, scouts believe he could optimize his physical strength further to dominate the corners at the professional level.

Slated to attend the University of North Dakota, MacKenzie is a low-risk, high-probability prospect. His maturity, combined with an intense competitive drive and fluid skating, gives him a highly projectable floor as a reliable, third-pairing two-way NHL defenseman.

97th Overall – G Tobias Trejbal (Alt – G Brady Knowling)

Tobias Trejbal enters the draft as the near-consensus top goaltending prospect. The Czech native transitioned seamlessly to North America, capturing USHL Goaltender of the Year honors after posting a league-best 2.12 GAA and demonstrating an extraordinary ability to elevate his performance under high-shot-volume pressure.

Trejbal’s game is built on a foundation of elite mechanics, immense size (6’4″ 196 lbs), and profound poise.

He tracks the puck exceptionally well through traffic, maintaining a calm, positive swagger in the crease. His movement is highly efficient; he utilizes controlled c-cuts to challenge shooters, taking away angles without overcommitting.

Trejbal’s integration into the posts is seamless, utilizing the RVH technique flawlessly to seal the short side while retaining the core strength to explode laterally for secondary saves.

An added structural advantage is his right-handed catch, which frequently disrupts the ingrained shooting mechanics of opposing forwards. He is also highly proficient at playing the puck, aiding his defensemen on zone exits.

The primary mechanical flaw identified by goaltending scouts is a tendency to drop his glove hand low while transitioning into the butterfly, leaving the top-glove quadrant vulnerable to quick releases. He must also continue to refine his rebound control and improve his anticipatory reads on complex, lateral odd-man rushes.

Committed to the University of Massachusetts, Trejbal has the ideal collegiate runway to refine these minor technical flaws. His combination of size, athleticism, and mental composure provides a clear trajectory toward becoming a high-end NHL starting goaltender.

129th Overall – D Brayden Klimpke (Alt – RW Louis-Felix Bourque)

Brayden Klimpke, 6’0″ 174 lbs, emerged as a vital, stabilizing force for the Saskatoon Blades, logging upwards of 30 minutes a night during high-stakes playoff matchups. Klimpke’s projection is entirely reliant on his elite hockey intelligence and fluid mobility.

Klimpke plays a remarkably calm, poised game under heavy forechecking pressure. He excels in transition defense, utilizing precise route anticipation, excellent gap control, and an active stick to neutralize attackers before they can penetrate the defensive zone. When retrieving pucks, he consistently keeps his head up, identifying optimal outlet options and executing clean, controlled breakout passes.

Offensively, he acts as a facilitator, distributing the puck efficiently and manipulating defensive structures from the blue line.

The primary limitations for Klimpke revolve around physical strength and shot velocity. At 174 pounds, he struggles to physically dominate opposing forwards in corner scrums, relying heavily on stick positioning rather than body leverage. His point shot lacks the requisite power to consistently beat goaltenders clean or generate heavy rebounds, limiting his ceiling as a true offensive contributor.

Klimpke projects as a highly reliable, low-event, third-pairing puck-mover. For the Canucks, acquiring a cerebral defenseman capable of insulating the bottom of the roster with clean transition play represents excellent mid-round value.

161st Overall – D Joel Tarvainen (Alt – D Sean Burick)

Joel Tarvainen is a gargantuan, defense-first prospect whose 6’6″, 220-pound frame makes him an instant physical deterrent. Tarvainen utilizes his massive reach and strength to obliterate space, box out attackers at the net-front, and execute thunderous hits. He is a penalty-killing specialist who plays a highly aggressive, shutdown style (evidenced by 54 PIM).

Tarvainen’s limitations:

• His offensive ceiling is virtually non-existent (6 points in 40 games), and he demonstrates severe struggles with puck management and execution when placed under forechecking pressure.
• His skating mobility is merely average for a player his size, leading to instances where he takes penalties because his feet cannot keep pace with agile attackers.
• Tarvainen is the ultimate late-round lottery ticket; if the Canucks’ development staff can enhance his mobility and simplify his puck distribution, his NHL-ready frame offers the potential of a niche, bottom-pairing shutdown specialist.

176th Overall – C Beckett Hamilton (Alt – LW Matias Vanhanen)

Beckett Hamilton at 5’11” and a 172 lbs, essentially carried the offensive workload for a depleted Red Deer Rebels roster, leading the team with 62 points when no other player exceeded 38.

Hamilton is a relentless, high-motor center who drives the play through the middle of the ice and establishes an aggressive forecheck. He is an excellent, speedy skater who generates high volume on net (261 shots) and excels in transition.

His primary weaknesses stem from his 5’11” frame and a tendency to put “offensive blinders” on, attempting to single-handedly force plays and leaving his defensive structure vulnerable.

On the plus side, given the lack of surrounding talent, his production and constant defensive pressure are highly commendable. Hamilton projects as an energetic, bottom-six professional winger whose sheer work rate and mobility give him a translatable NHL floor.

184th Overall – D Jonas Woo (Alt – RW Joe Iginla)

Jonas Woo is the definition of a late-round statistical anomaly.

An overager in his final year of draft eligibility, Woo produced a staggering 86 points in just 56 games from the blue line with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. Woo is a phenomenally dynamic and creative skater; he utilizes ultra-fast one-foot stops, rapid cutbacks, and pre-shot movement to manipulate space and generate offense on virtually every touch. He boasts a powerful shot and unparalleled offensive instincts.

Woo remains undrafted entirely due to his physical profile. At 5’9″ and 174 pounds, his ability to defend the rush and win corner battles against professional forwards is highly suspect.

Traditional NHL scouting often precludes drafting defensemen of this stature. As a seventh-round swing, Woo offers unparalleled offensive upside. Slated to transition to Arizona State University, he has the opportunity to prove his dynamic skill set translates against older collegiate competition, profiling strictly as a high-risk power-play specialist.

Until next time, hockey fans