The Vancouver Canucks have several prospects who will be competing in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) playoffs when they begin on Thursday. With four preparing for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs and two in the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs, this is a great time to keep an eye on which players could make the jump to the NHL sooner than later.
Braeden Cootes, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
After making the Canucks’ roster out of training camp, 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes was sent back to the WHL for the season, playing with the Seattle Thunderbirds until he was traded after the World Juniors to the Prince Albert Raiders in a sizable deal.
Since the trade, Cootes has recorded 14 goals and 26 assists in 28 games with his new club, and he has 63 points in 45 games overall this season. He has taken a step offensively with the Raiders, which is great news for a Canucks organization that has big plans for him once he is ready to be a permanent NHLer.
Cootes and the Raiders will take on the Red Deer Rebels starting on Friday, March 27. Prince Albert is favoured in this matchup as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 52-10-5-1. Adding Cootes has helped their team flourish, as he has been a great offensive weapon. Expectations are high for the team heading into these playoffs, as they are considered contenders for the Ed Chynoweth Cup and potentially the Memorial Cup.
Parker Alcos, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Drafted in the sixth round in 2024, Parker Alcos has been gaining attention since he joined the Canucks organization. Standing at an intimidating 6-foot-4, the right-handed defenceman from Port Moody, B.C., has shown a lot of potential at the junior level.
Alcos began his CHL career with the Edmonton Oil Kings and has managed to stay healthy and log lots of very important minutes. He doesn’t hit the scoresheet a ton, but this season, he has stayed on the right side of plus/minus. In 31 games with Edmonton, he had a plus-29 rating, and after he was traded to the Kelowna Rockets, he managed a plus-14 rating in 32 games. That’s a plus-43 rating on the season, which is very good for a defenceman who sees so much ice time.
Kelowna is set to take on the Kamloops Blazers on Friday, in a B.C. matchup between two evenly matched teams. Kelowna finished fourth in the Western Conference, and Kamloops finished fifth. Expect this series to be filled with momentum swings and great play from both sides. Alcos and the Rockets’ defence will have the big challenge of shutting down future first-round pick J.P. Hurlbert, as he has given defenders nightmares this season with 42 goals and 97 points with the Blazers.
Riley Patterson, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)
Patterson has gained a lot of momentum and improved drastically since being drafted in the fourth round in 2024. After playing at almost a point-per-game pace in his draft year, he took a minor step back in 2024-25, with 59 points in 64 games for the Barrie Colts, but he had a great playoffs, recording 12 points in 16 games.
This season, playing under a new system with the Niagara IceDogs, he scored 40 goals for the first time in his OHL career and added 44 assists in 60 games. He signed his entry-level contract (ELC) during training camp and is expected to join the Abbotsford Canucks next season. But before Patterson begins his pro career in the American Hockey League, he still has unfinished business in the OHL.
He and the IceDogs will play their first-round series against the Barrie Colts. Game 1 is on Thursday, and Patterson, I’m sure, will have a bit of extra motivation as he takes on the team that traded him. The IceDogs are coming in as the underdogs, but they are loaded with talent, including players like Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata and projected first-round pick Ryan Roobreck. An upset could be on the table for Niagara.
Kieran Dervin, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
A third-round pick in last year’s draft, Kieran Dervin has been quietly effective on a retooling Kingston Frontenacs team this season. After committing to Penn State for the 2026-27 season, he decided to join the Frontenacs near the end of last season after the NCAA rule change.
He only managed 10 games with Kingston in 2024-25, recording three points. His big offensive output came when he was part of St. Andrews College, where he scored 79 points in 50 games. In his first full season with Kingston, Dervin had a bit of injury trouble, but he is now the second-highest scorer on the team with 42 points in 53 games.
Related: Canucks Prospects Report: Romani & Lansing Make It to NCAA Regionals
Dervin will be heavily relied upon in their first-round series. The Frontenacs will face the higher-seeded Ottawa 67’s beginning on Friday, March 27. Kingston has done a really good job of playing a team-friendly game after trading off some of their key players from last season. By sticking to their game plan and committing to their cohesive structure, they will have a good shot at giving the 67’s a run for their money.
Alexei Medvedev, London Knights (OHL)
The usually dominant London Knights took a bit of a step back after their run to the Memorial Cup last season. The Knights traded captain Sam O’Reilly to the Kitchener Rangers and finished this season fourth in the Western Conference. Fourth is still good enough for home ice in the first round, as the team will be taking on the Soo Greyhounds in round one on Friday, March 27. Medvedev has been a big part of London’s season and has split the crease almost evenly with Sebastian Gatto.
Medvedev’s numbers have dipped this season with a .891 save percentage in 36 games, but the playoffs are where he has an opportunity to write a new story. Gatto has a better save percentage, so there is a chance that Medvedev begins this series on the bench. But with his experience and past performances with the Knights, Medvedev should get the start for a few games during London’s playoff run. If anything, Head Coach Dale Hunter might decide to continue splitting starts between his goaltenders as he has done all season.
Gabriel Chiarot, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Gabriel Chiarot of the Kitchener Rangers was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 Draft and signed his ELC after training camp. Vancouver must really like what Chiarot brings since they signed him quickly after he was selected late. He split time this season between Brampton and Kitchener, playing 31 games with both teams, and helping the Rangers capture the top spot in the Western Conference. He has never put up a ton of points, but he makes up for his lack of offence through his bottom-six physicality.
Chiarot and the Rangers are heavily favoured to beat the Saginaw Spirit in the first round beginning on Friday. Not only should they win the series, but they are expected to be the front-runners for the OHL championship. Chiarot will be a big factor in their run, no matter how far they go, but a deep run would be great in preparing him for Canucks training camp in the fall.
Performances in the CHL playoffs are unlikely to show how a player will turn out at the NHL level, but it is a great stepping stone for them. They learn a lot, gain experience, and it often brings out the best in them. The Canucks have several prospects looking to go far in these playoffs, and management will be watching.
