Vancouver Canucks NHL Draft 2026 Picks, Mock Draft, Outlook
The Vancouver Canucks (25-49-8) enter the 2026 NHL Draft with two first-round picks and a chance to reshape the organization after finishing with the fewest points in the Western Conference.
Vancouver finished eighth in the Pacific Division and ended the season with a minus-100 goal differential, positioning the franchise near the top of the draft board.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut even with NHL Lottery was a loss. Despite having the best odds to win the No. 1 Pick, the Canucks dropped.
Vancouver owns the No. 3 overall selection in the draft and also control Minnesota’s first-round pick at No. 24 overall. Vancouver acquired the Wild’s selection as part of the blockbuster Quinn Hughes trade completed Dec. 12. That deal sent Hughes to Minnesota in exchange for Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium and the first-round pick.
Recent Vancouver drafts have helped build much of the organization’s current core. The Canucks selected Elias Pettersson in 2017, Quinn Hughes in 2018 and Jonathan Lekkerimaki in 2022. Vancouver also used its first-round pick in 2025 on Braeden Cootes after selecting defenseman Tom Willander in the first round in 2023.
The 2026 NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Here’s everything to know about the Vancouver Canucks’ NHL Draft outlook.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Do The Vancouver Canucks Pick In The 2026 NHL Draft?
The Vancouver Canucks currently hold the No. 3 and No. 24 picks in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Vancouver secured the No. 3 overall selection after finishing with a 25-49-8 record during the 2025-26 season. The Canucks also own Minnesota’s first-round pick at No. 24 overall from the Quinn Hughes trade completed earlier in the season.
NHL Mock Draft 2026: Who Will The Vancouver Canucks Pick?
The Vancouver Canucks are projected to select Ivar Stenberg in the 2026 NHL Draft with the No. 3 pick and Ilia Morozov with the No. 24 pick.
FloHockey’s latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft projects Vancouver to take the Frolunda HC winter with the No. 3 overall pick. The mock draft described Stenberg as a complete passer, with arguably the best vision in the 2026 draft class. Additionally, the Miami (OH) center has one of the best motors of the draft class.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWho Did The Vancouver Canucks Draft In 2025?
The Vancouver Canucks selected Braeden Cootes in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Vancouver’s 2025 draft class featured six selections led by Cootes at No. 15 overall. The Canucks also drafted Alexei Medvedev, Kieren Dervin, Wilson Bjorck, Gabriel Chiarot and Matthew Lansing.
Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds
Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights
Kieren Dervin, C, St. Andrews College
Wilson Bjorck, C, Djurgardens Jr.
Gabriel Chiarot, R, Brampton Steelheads
Matthew Lansing, C, Fargo Force
Has A Vancouver Canucks Player Ever Won The NHL Calder Memorial Trophy?
Yes, Vancouver Canucks players have won the NHL Calder Memorial Trophy.
Elias Pettersson won the Calder Trophy in 2019 after a standout rookie season with Vancouver. Pavel Bure also won the award in 1992 as one of the most dynamic rookies in NHL history.
Who Are The Vancouver Canucks Minor League Hockey Team Affiliates?
The Vancouver Canucks’ minor league affiliates are the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League and the Kalamazoo Wings in the ECHL.
The Abbotsford Canucks serve as Vancouver’s primary development team and have become a key part of the organization’s prospect pipeline. The Kalamazoo Wings operate as the club’s ECHL affiliate, providing additional development opportunities for younger players and depth prospects within the Canucks system.
Vancouver Canucks Missed The NHL Playoffs In 2026
The Vancouver Canucks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the 2025-26 season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementVancouver finished 25-49-8 with 58 points and placed 10th in the Pacific Division standings. The Canucks allowed 316 goals during the season and finished with a minus-100 goal differential.
When Is The NHL Draft?
The 2026 NHL Draft will take place June 26-27 in Buffalo, New York.
The NHL Draft will be held at KeyBank Center and marks the 64th NHL Draft in league history. Players born between Jan. 1, 2006, and Sept. 15, 2008, are eligible for selection.
How To Watch 2026 NHL Draft Show With The Athletic Live On FloHockey
Watch 'The Athletic Hockey Show x FloHockey NHL Draft Live' on FloHockey this Friday, June 26 from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, June 27 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe special NHL Draft broadcast will stream live on the FloHockey website, FloSports app, the FloHockey 24/7 channel on Prime Video, Fubo, YouTube, Bell Fibe (Canada) and the Roku Channel (Canada), as well as The Athletic's YouTube channel.
Subscribe to FloHockey today so you never miss a moment. All games will be available on FloHockey.tv or via the FloSports mobile and connected TV apps.
NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey
The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL, minor-league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
