Vancouver Canucks’ Targets With No. 41 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft – The Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are entering the 2026 NHL Draft with a rare abundance of early capital. Armed with four selections in the top 50, management has a premier opportunity to supplement a roster that balances high-end skill with structural resilience. Following up on our previous breakdown of the team’s options at 33rd overall, the focus shifts slightly lower in the second round to the 41st pick. Some of those names might still be available when the Canucks are on the clock for this pick, so here are five more they could be considering.

Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, Right Wing, Leksands IF U20

For a team looking to add dynamic scoring depth on the flanks, Jonas Lagerberg Hoen represents a highly enticing option. Operating out of the Swedish junior system, the right-winger has quietly established himself as one of the purest, volume-heavy shooters available in this range.

Lagerberg Hoen possesses a smooth and powerful skating stride that allows him to challenge defenders on the rush. He is particularly effective at generating speed through the neutral zone, forcing opposing defencemen onto their heels before cutting back to exploit open ice. His defining attribute, however, is his release. He has an innate ability to find quiet spaces in the offensive zone, readying himself to unleash a heavy snapshot or a precise one-timer.

At over 6-foot-2, he has the frame of a modern power forward, though he is still in the process of adding the necessary muscle to fully weaponize his size at the professional level. His defensive positioning is mature; he actively patrols the lower half of the ice to support his defencemen rather than cheating for transitions. If the Canucks want a winger who can eventually project as a goal-scoring threat on the second line and a major asset on the power play, Lagerberg Hoen is a gamble worth taking.

Alessandro Di Iorio, Centre, Sarnia Sting

If the Canucks decide to prioritize stability and intelligence down the middle, Sarnia Sting forward Alessandro Di Iorio fits the profile perfectly. In a draft class that is relatively thin on true, all-situations centres, Di Iorio offers a remarkably high floor due to the sheer completeness of his game.

Di Iorio is a highly cerebral player who rarely finds himself out of position. He acts as a crucial safety valve for his defencemen, consistently dropping deep into his own zone to aid in breakouts and secure the slot. While he lacks the explosive elite speed to regularly blow past defenders on his own, his pace of play is perfectly adequate, and his transition game is fueled by smart decision-making rather than raw velocity.

Offensively, he is an excellent distributor who excels at setting up plays in high-danger areas. He can protect the puck effectively along the boards and possesses a deceptive curl-and-drag wrist shot that keeps goaltenders honest. He projects as a dependable, middle-of-the-lineup centre who can kill penalties, play on the second power-play unit, and match up against the opposition’s best. He is the type of structured, reliable forward that coaching staffs love.

Casey Mutryn, Centre, USNTDP Juniors

For those who believe the Canucks still need to add more functional grit and defensive responsibility to their pool, Casey Mutryn is a name that demands attention. The captain of the US National Team Development Program is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive forwards in this entire draft class.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing over 200 pounds, Mutryn plays a physical, suffocating style of hockey. He uses his imposing frame and exceptional acceleration to separate opponents from the puck with heavy, clean body checks. His stick positioning and defensive instincts are highly advanced, making him an absolute nightmare for opposing puck carriers in the neutral and defensive zones.

Mutryn is a play-driver who excels at carrying the puck out of trouble, though his offensive numbers this past season were somewhat muted by a lower-scoring team environment. To reach his full NHL ceiling, he will need to refine his stick-handling in tight spaces and cut down on offensive-zone turnovers. Nevertheless, his work ethic and leadership traits make him an incredibly safe bet to become a highly effective NHL shutdown forward.

Ryder Cali, Centre, North Bay Battalion

Ryder Cali is one of the more fascinating growth-trajectory prospects out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). As one of the youngest players eligible for selection this year, Cali is already pushing 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, giving him immense physical upside as his body continues to mature.

Cali’s season was a tale of two halves, interrupted by a significant shoulder injury. Upon his return to North Bay, his confidence skyrocketed, and he operated at a point-per-game pace over the final stretch of the regular season. He is a powerful, straight-line skater who possesses soft hands for a player of his stature. This combination makes him lethal along the boards and below the goal line, where he can comfortably extend plays under heavy pressure.

At the international level, Cali demonstrated his versatility by playing a reliable, hard-nosed checking role for Team Canada. He is incredibly effective near the crease, utilizing excellent hand-eye coordination for deflections and clean-up goals. While he is still working on unlocking greater lateral agility and accelerating his shooting release, his combination of size, late-season offensive surge, and foundational defensive awareness makes him an incredibly attractive project for Vancouver’s development staff.

Adam Nemec, Right Wing, HK Nitra/Sudbury Wolves

Rounding out the list is Slovak winger Adam Nemec, a prospect whose draft year was defined by a massive developmental pivot. The younger brother of New Jersey Devils defenceman Simon Nemec began his season playing against grown men in the Slovak top tier with HK Nitra, but chose to move to North America midway through the winter to secure more significant ice time.

Upon arriving in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves following the World Juniors, Nemec truly began to flourish. Handed top-six minutes and heavy responsibility, he adjusted instantly to the smaller ice and the faster tempo of the major junior game. He proved to be a highly effective point-per-game producer for Sudbury down the stretch, using his high motor and creative playmaking to drive the Wolves’ transition game. His willingness to relentlessly forecheck and sprint back on the backcheck makes him a highly translatable pro prospect, and his seamless transition to Sudbury proves he can handle the North American style.

The Canucks’ selection at 41 will ultimately signal which philosophy they value most for the next wave of their roster. Whether they opt for the pure shooting talent of Lagerberg Hoen, the safe, two-way stability of Di Iorio, the physical shutdown capability of Mutryn, the raw power upside of Cali, or the pro-tested intelligence of Nemec, they have a prime opportunity to inject an impactful asset into the organization.

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