The Vancouver Canucks still don’t have the strongest prospect pool overall, but they do have some blue-chippers dotting the landscape, namely Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander – their two most recent first-round picks. They will be part of this list for a while unless Lekkerimaki surprises and plays more than 25 games this season, which is unlikely.
With that said, let’s take a look at the current top-15, shall we?
15. Vilmer Alriksson, Left Wing/Centre – 2023, 107th Overall
One of the more intriguing stories in Canucks prospect news last season was the progression of 2023 fourth-round pick Vilmer Alriksson. Coming over from Europe and the Swedish junior league, it would have been understandable if he struggled to produce and be an impact forward on North American ice. But he did the opposite and thrived to the tune of 17 goals and 33 points in 67 games, usurping the 12 goals and 21 points he put up in 2022-23 with Djurgardens. He was one of the leaders offensively for the Guelph Storm, and despite some slumps in the middle of the season, he showed some promise as a future NHLer.
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Alriksson impressed at the recent Canucks development camp, showing off his speed, stickhandling, and ability to protect the puck from defenders. At 6-foot-6, he’s built like a power forward, but isn’t known for his physicality or fighting skills. He fought once in the OHL and held his own against 6-foot-5 Roman Schmidt, which seemed to deter other players from getting in the ring with him. Fighting isn’t something that is required in the NHL anymore, but it’s good to see that he’s not afraid of that type of thing. All in all, while he’s still a project, the potential seems to be there for him to become another late-round gem for the Canucks. They like his development so far, and with his eagerness to learn, he could be in line for an even better season in the OHL in 2024-25.
14. Josh Bloom, Left Wing – Acquired From the Sabres in 2023
Josh Bloom had a rough start to his first season in the professional leagues, splitting his time between the American Hockey League (AHL) Abbotsford Canucks and the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings. Between the two franchises, he only scored three points in 22 games and struggled to find his footing on either team. He was then sent back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he rejoined the Saginaw Spirit –…
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