Canucks Prospects Report: Willander, Cootes, Medvedev & More

The Vancouver Canucks' top prospects Tom Willander and Braeden Cootes have had strong starts to the season, highlighting this edition of the Canucks Prospects Report. Both players are showing promise in Vancouver and Seattle respectively.

First-Round Picks Performance

Tom Willander, one of Vancouver’s latest first-round picks, did not make the Canucks' NHL roster out of training camp. However, he has impressed early in the American Hockey League (AHL), drawing comparisons to Troy Stecher, who played only four AHL games before being called up due to injuries. If Willander continues with his strong performances, he could follow a similar trajectory.

Willander has demonstrated elite skating and mobility and appears to have earned the trust of head coach Adam Foote and the coaching staff. His average ice time has been 14:42 minutes per game, including an early career-high of 19:12 against the St. Louis Blues.

Other Prospects Making Noise

Braeden Cootes, the other recent first-round pick, is performing well with the Seattle team.
Second-round pick Alexei Medvedev is attracting attention in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Late-round picks are also showing potential in Brampton and Kingston.
2024 draft pick Riley Patterson is getting accustomed to his new environment in Niagara.

Willander has showcased his elite skating and mobility and seems to already have the trust of Adam Foote and the coaching staff.

Related: Canucks Centre Trade Targets include Stamkos, Zacha, and Kadri.

Author’s summary: Vancouver Canucks prospects Willander, Cootes, and Medvedev are making significant early impacts with strong performances across different leagues, hinting at bright futures.

The Hockey Writers — 2025-11-07