Vancouver Canucks Target High-Upside Players at 2026 NHL Draft

The Vancouver Canucks are entering the 2026 NHL Draft with a top-three selection, and with it comes a level of certainty that simply doesn’t exist later in that same round. The names at the top of the board are familiar, and teams are generally splitting hairs from the same handful of players. But once you move into the late first round and early second, the draft takes on an entirely different feel, and all bets are off. This year’s class, in particular, appears to have far less consensus than in previous years. Players once viewed as top-10 candidates could still be available in the mid-to-late 20s, while others have steadily climbed boards as organizations begin prioritizing different traits and philosophies. That uncertainty makes Vancouver’s additional selections at 24th and 33rd overall especially intriguing. Do the Canucks ultimately swing for upside and bet on players with legitimate top-six or top-four potential? Or do they opt for safer projections with clearer paths to NHL roles? There’s no right answer, but if Vancouver decides to chase ceiling over certainty, these five forwards could be among the most fascinating names available when they’re on the clock. J.P. Hurlbert, a left wing from the Kamloops Blazers, is one of the more intriguing first-round names being thrown around the entire 2025-26 season. With a high offensive pedigree but unclear surrounding tools, his stock has been volatile. Yet, always within the initial top 32. After a year with the U.S National Development Program, the Allen, Texas native chose the unique – at least these days – path to join the Western Hockey League circuit. It proved to be a wise decision, as he exploded on the scene to finish fourth in league scoring and just three points shy of eclipsing the 100-point mark. As you can imagine, that did wonders for his draft stock. Despite finishing top-five in goals with 42 tucks, it wasn’t just the goals, either. He drove offence in multiple ways and was sought to be Kamloops’ primary engine and a major factor in the team’s push to the postseason. It doesn’t take long to find Hurlbert’s calling card – his release. He’s considered a one-shot scorer and can fire at will from any angle and awkward layout. He’s a heavy weapon on the flanks and can score goals in a variety of ways that should translate to the highest of levels. He’s constantly scanning the ice, finding a soft spot in coverage for a one-timer or slipping a pass through a collapsing defensive structure. Offensively speaking, he’s an easy bet to make within the range that Canucks will be sitting. The biggest question surrounding his game, and one that could drop him from a prospect in the teens, revolves around overall projectability. The floor feels difficult to pin down. At times, Hurlbert can lean heavily on offensive instincts while the finer details of his game take a backseat. Whether it’s defensive consistency, physical engagement, or decision-making away from the puck, there are obvious needs for further development.