NHL.com’s August 29, 2026 prospect ranking puts centre Caleb Malhotra first among Vancouver’s prospects, followed by Braeden Cootes, Adam Novotný, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and goaltender Aleksei Medvedev. That is one outlet’s dated editorial assessment—not an official Canucks depth chart or a consensus ranking. Vancouver also selected nine players in the 2026 NHL Draft, while a September showcase roster provides a wider but still partial snapshot of the younger group.
How to read the Canucks’ prospect picture
A prospect ranking is a useful point-in-time guide, not a promise about future NHL roles. NHL.com’s August 29, 2026 feature supplies the top-five ordering below; it is an external editorial list, not a club-issued ranking. The players are also at different stages and in different leagues, so their point totals are not directly comparable. Consider each player’s current league, role, development route, availability and the date of the assessment alongside the ranking.
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The arrival seasons mentioned below are NHL.com writer projections, not confirmed promotion dates or guarantees of making the roster.
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1. Caleb Malhotra, centre
NHL.com ranked Malhotra first after a 2025–26 season with 84 points—29 goals and 55 assists—in 67 Brantford OHL regular-season games, plus 26 points in 15 playoff games. The feature highlights his two-way game and developing playmaking. It says he is headed to Boston University in 2026–27, making the NCAA his next development stop rather than an immediate NHL assignment.
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Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson described the club’s longer-term approach to his development: “We’ll make decisions with him and his team with the thinking of not the next 12 months, but the next 12 years.”
2. Braeden Cootes, centre
Cootes played three NHL games in 2025–26 before returning to the WHL. After a trade from Seattle to Prince Albert, he recorded 23 points in 20 WHL playoff games. NHL.com describes him as a defensively responsible, right-shot centre and identifies the AHL as a likely starting point, while noting he will have a chance to compete for an NHL role.
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Johnson framed the decision as a development choice, not a short-term roster promise: “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.”
3. Adam Novotný, forward
Novotný scored 65 points—34 goals and 31 assists—in 58 Peterborough OHL games in 2025–26. NHL.com points to his shot and skating and projects an NHL arrival in 2028–29. Vancouver selected him 24th overall in the 2026 draft.
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4. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, forward
Lekkerimäki recorded three points in 13 Vancouver NHL games and 20 points in 21 Abbotsford AHL games during 2025–26. Injuries and illness limited his season; he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on February 26. NHL.com lists him as a possible NHL arrival in 2026–27, which is a projection rather than confirmation that he will make or stay on the roster.
5. Aleksei Medvedev, goaltender
In 36 London OHL games in 2025–26, Medvedev posted a 16-15-3 record, a 3.26 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. NHL.com describes those results as a step back from his prior season, while noting Vancouver remains impressed by his size and skills. The feature projects an NHL arrival in 2028–29.
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What Vancouver added in the 2026 draft
The Canucks selected nine players on June 27, 2026. Malhotra went third overall and Novotný 24th overall. The remaining selections were:
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| Overall pick | Player |
|---|---|
| 33 | Brooks Rogowski |
| 41 | Niklas Aaram-Olsen |
| 78 | Dmitri Ivchenko |
| 97 | Yaroslav Bryzgalov |
| 129 | Connor Davis |
| 176 | Lucian Bernat |
| 184 | Samuel Eriksson |
Vancouver’s draft 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 the team’s reported 2025–26 season statistics, not forecasts of NHL production.
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What the September prospects showcase does—and does not—show
Vancouver announced a 24-player roster for its September 12–13, 2026 prospects showcase in Abbotsford: 14 forwards, seven defencemen and three goaltenders. The Canucks scheduled games against Seattle’s prospects on both days. The roster includes some players discussed above and offers a broader look at the younger group, but it is an event selection—not a complete list of everyone in the organization’s prospect pipeline or a permanent eligibility list.
Where and when to watch
For Canadian NHL games in 2026–27, the NHL’s viewing guide points to Sportsnet networks and Sportsnet+ for national games and directs fans to local-market information for regional broadcasts. Sportsnet+ describes an NHL offering that includes Canucks games. Rights and availability depend on location; those NHL viewing sources do not establish that Canucks prospect games or Abbotsford AHL games will be carried.
The NHL guide lists NHL.TV on DAZN for specified international territories. Check the applicable local listings and rights for your location before relying on a service to carry a particular game.
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