With the NHL Draft just one month away, the Vancouver Canucks hold two first-round selections, including the No. 24 overall pick acquired from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade. While much debate surrounds the No. 3 choice, the Canucks' second first-rounder offers another opportunity to bolster their roster. Here are five players who could be in play for that selection.
Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants
Ranked No. 26 by Elite Prospects, No. 23 by Cam Robinson, and No. 26 by Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino, Preston posted 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 46 games with the Giants and Spokane Chiefs. He also added 2 goals and 4 assists in 5 games for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championship. Despite missing two months with a knee injury, the 5-foot-11, 177-pound winger from Penticton, B.C., is known for his speed, shot, and creativity. However, opinions vary; TSN's Craig Button has him at No. 44. Preston turns 18 in July.
Ilia Morozov, C, Miami University (Ohio)
Ranked No. 25 by TSN's Craig Button, No. 21 by Elite Prospects, No. 21 by Cam Robinson, and No. 24 by Sportsnet's Jason Bukala, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound center from Moscow, Russia, recorded 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 36 games. One of the youngest players in the draft (turns 18 in August), he was also the youngest in the NCAA this season, one of only five 17-year-olds to play. Morozov has his sights set on the first round, telling NHL.com, "I don't want to accept that I'm like a second- or third-round draft pick."
William Hakansson, D, Lulea (SHL)
Ranked No. 25 by Cam Robinson, No. 23 by Sportsnet's Jason Bukala, and No. 24 by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound defenseman from Solna, Sweden, had 0 goals and 2 assists in 22 SHL games, plus 2 goals and 2 assists in 16 games in HockeyAllsvenskan. He also recorded 2 assists in 7 games at the World Juniors. Described as a stay-at-home blueliner, Bukala notes he is "a big, strong, reliable, shutdown defender." With an October birthdate, Hakansson is one of the older first-year eligibles. Opinions vary; Button has him at No. 51.
Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Ranked No. 26 by TSN's Craig Button and No. 23 by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, the 6-foot, 188-pound center from Rolling Meadows, Ill., tallied 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 59 games, plus 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 playoff contests. He is committed to Michigan State University for next season. Hextall had 2 goals and 7 points in 5 games for Team USA at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping the Americans win gold. Lansing State Journal's Nathaniel Bott notes Hextall has "a tremendous motor."
Wyatt Cullen, F, USA National Team Development Program
Ranked No. 24 by TSN's Craig Button, No. 23 by Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino, and No. 21 by Sportsnet's Jason Bukala, the son of 21-year NHL veteran Matt Cullen registered 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 40 games. At 5-foot-11, 174 pounds, the Moorhead, Minn., native is one of the youngest in the draft, with a Sept. 8 birthdate. Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis describes Cullen as a "constant scoring threat" who also prides himself on a two-way game. He posted 3 goals and 9 points in 5 games at the Under-18s, finishing third in tournament scoring. He is slated to play next season for the University of Minnesota.
The Canucks' draft strategy may hinge on positional need, but with a roster that finished 14 points behind the next-worst team, talent acquisition is paramount. As the draft approaches, these five prospects offer intriguing possibilities for Vancouver's No. 24 pick.
