The clearest current snapshot of the Vancouver Canucks’ prospect pipeline is NHL.com’s August 29, 2026 ranking: Caleb Malhotra, Braeden Cootes, Adam Novotný, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Aleksei Medvedev make up its top five. That is one publication’s assessment—not an official team depth chart or a consensus ranking. Vancouver also selected nine players in the 2026 NHL Draft, while a September showcase roster provides a broader but event-specific look at younger players.
Who are the Canucks’ top prospects?
NHL.com’s August 29, 2026 32-in-32 feature ranked these five players in order. The statistics below are for the 2025–26 season as reported in that feature; the arrival years are its projections, not promises of NHL roster spots.
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1. Caleb Malhotra, centre
Malhotra led NHL.com’s list. He recorded 84 points—29 goals and 55 assists—in 67 regular-season games for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, then added 26 points in 15 playoff games. NHL.com highlighted his two-way play and developing playmaking and reported that he was headed to Boston University for 2026–27. Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson described a long-term approach: “We’ll make decisions with him and his team with the thinking of not the next 12 months, but the next 12 years.”
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2. Braeden Cootes, centre
Cootes played three NHL games before returning to the WHL in 2025–26. After a trade from Seattle to Prince Albert, he scored 23 points in 20 WHL playoff games. NHL.com described the right-shot centre as defensively responsible, said he would have an opportunity to compete for an NHL role, and identified the AHL as a likely starting point. Johnson told the publication: “Same thing (as Malhotra), I want to do right by Braeden and what is best for the next 10-12 years, not what is best for the next six months.” That reflects the club’s stated development philosophy, not a roster guarantee.
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3. Adam Novotný, forward
Novotný had 65 points—34 goals and 31 assists—in 58 regular-season games with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. NHL.com cited his shot and skating and projected an NHL arrival in 2028–29.
4. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, forward
Lekkerimäki recorded three points in 13 NHL games with Vancouver and 20 points in 21 AHL games with Abbotsford in 2025–26. Injuries and illness limited his season; he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on February 26. NHL.com listed 2026–27 as a possible arrival, which is an estimate rather than confirmation he will make or stay on the NHL roster.
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5. Aleksei Medvedev, goaltender
With the OHL’s London Knights, Medvedev posted a 16-15-3 record, a 3.26 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage in 36 games in 2025–26. NHL.com said those results were less strong than his previous season, while noting Vancouver remained impressed by his size and skills. The publication projected an NHL arrival in 2028–29.
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The Canucks selected nine players at the June 27, 2026 NHL Entry Draft, according to the team’s draft release. The first two picks were Malhotra, third overall, and Novotný, 24th overall.
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| Pick | Player | Position listed by Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Caleb Malhotra | Forward |
| 24 | Adam Novotný | Forward |
| 33 | Brooks Rogowski | Not stated in the team release |
| 41 | Niklas Aaram-Olsen | Not stated in the team release |
| 78 | Dmitri Ivchenko | Not stated in the team release |
| 97 | Yaroslav Bryzgalov | Not stated in the team release |
| 129 | Connor Davis | Not stated in the team release |
| 176 | Lucian Bernat | Not stated in the team release |
| 184 | Samuel Eriksson | Not stated in the team release |
The team release also reported 42 points in 46 OHL games for Rogowski and 55 points in 64 WHL regular-season games, plus 14 points in 15 playoff games, for Bryzgalov. Those are Vancouver’s reported 2025–26 season figures, not forecasts.
What does the prospect showcase roster tell you?
Vancouver announced a 24-player roster for its September 12–13, 2026 prospects showcase in Abbotsford: 14 forwards, seven defencemen and three goaltenders. The team scheduled games against Seattle’s prospects on both days. The showcase announcement is a dated event roster, not a complete inventory of the organization’s prospects or a permanent eligibility list.
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How should you compare prospects?
There is no single statistic that makes prospects from different leagues directly comparable. Consider the level and role in which a player produced, position, development route, availability and the date of the assessment. NHL, AHL, NCAA, major junior and European point totals come from different competition contexts. A ranking also reflects its author’s eligibility rules and assumptions; NHL.com’s top five is one editorial list, not a consensus.
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For this group, development routes already vary: Malhotra was headed to the NCAA, Cootes had NHL and WHL experience with an AHL path identified as likely, and Lekkerimäki had played in the NHL and AHL. Medvedev’s results are goaltending statistics rather than skater point totals. Keep those contexts attached to any comparison, and treat projected arrival seasons as estimates.
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