The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2026 NHL Draft with a massive opportunity. While the top-three pick brings a franchise cornerstone, it’s at 24th and 33rd overall where the real "steals" are found. With this year’s draft class lacking a clear consensus in the late first round, high-upside players are sliding—and Vancouver is in the perfect position to capitalize. In this video, we break down 5 high-ceiling targets for the Canucks at pick 24. From elite Western Hockey League (WHL) scorers like J.P. Hurlbert and Osoyoos-native Liam Ruck, to the high-octane offensive defense of Xavier Villeneuve, we’re looking at the players who could legitimately transform the Canucks' top-six or top-four in the coming years.
In this episode, we discuss:
✅ J.P. Hurlbert: The WHL’s elite release—is he the steal of the first round?
✅ Xavier Villeneuve: High-risk, high-reward. Could he be the next Quinn Hughes-style dynamo?
✅ Egor Shilov: The high-IQ Russian center with elite playmaking potential.
✅ Liam Ruck: 100+ points in the WHL—will the local star fall to Vancouver?
✅ Mathis Preston: The burner speed and hands that make him a constant threat.
Draft Prospects Mentioned: J.P. Hurlbert, Xavier Villeneuve, Egor Shilov, Liam Ruck and Mathis Preston.
Presented by: Draft Kings
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