Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimäki lead Top Vancouver Canucks prospects for 2025-26

Entering the 2025-26 season, the Canucks prospect pool is deeper than it has been for quite some time. Due to astute drafting, timely trades, and steady development, many of the youngsters are on the cusp of NHL readiness.

While the older players will form the basis of immediate hopes toward a Stanley Cup, the long-haul future rests with prospects like Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who should be contributing soon, with other forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders occupying the rest of the building for the next generation.

Anthony Romani, Wilson Björck, and Ty Mueller become Vancouver Canucks prospects getting respect

Further evidence of the team's depth lies beyond their marquee names, with Anthony Romani starting his NCAA career with Michigan State, intending to toughen up his game against stronger competition, while Wilson Björck makes the journey from Sweden to Colorado College in search of adapting to North American hockey.

Meanwhile, Ty Mueller, fresh off a Calder Cup championship with Abbotsford, might be one of the first from the Eagles to be called up if injuries start to mount.

While on the blue line, Sawyer Mynio and Kirill Kudryavtsev are proceeding steadily with defensive depth, having some NHL potential in Abbotsford. In the end, there is at least some glimmer of hope for the organization: The highest prospect in Alexei Medvedev is taking over the primary role in the London Knights, while Ty Young gets a bigger opportunity in Abbotsford.

All this combines to make some sort of balanced pipeline of prospects.

Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimäki are leading the Vancouver Canucks' next wave of Talent

Taking top billing in Vancouver`s prospect ranking, Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimäki are viewed as the pillars. Willander was taken with a radar shot as a right-side defenseman in 2023 and is projected as a steady top-four guy that could be considered for NHL minutes this year. Lekkerimäki is more of an explosive winger who is going to try and hold down a permanent spot after splitting last year between Vancouver and Abbotsford.Also Read: Fans join in the celebration of Wayne Gretzky’s family’s bright spotWith Willander and Lekkerimäki leading the charge, Vancouver Canucks' top prospects give the franchise a clear path to sustained success; a balance of skill, depth, and positional variety means that the Canucks are building for more than just short-term competitiveness.