September 24th, 2025
Jaden Teja
With Adam Foote being hired as the Canucks’ new bench boss, we’re all hoping for a much more successful 2025–26 season. A return to the playoffs relies heavily on players staying healthy and the resurgence of Elias Pettersson. But beyond that, the team needs contributions throughout the lineup. One thing I can say, I’m sensing we’ll see a few players make the jump from the AHL to the NHL this season.
After the Abbotsford Canucks' Calder Cup championship, we saw a lot of promise from the organization’s young talent. The Canucks have a ton of youth in their system throughout the lineup, many of whom are poised to take a step forward. Here are three Canucks I believe are ready to make the jump to the big club.
Räty made Vancouver’s opening night roster last season and bounced between the AHL and NHL early on. With J.T. Miller being shipped out, and both Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil going down with injuries, Räty was called up and asked to help fill the void down the middle. After putting up 40 points in 43 games with the Abbotsford Canucks, fans were excited to see what he could do with the big club. He posted seven points in Vancouver’s final 12 games of the season and had an impressive 59.6% success rate in the faceoff dot. With Pius Suter walking in free agency, Räty, still only 22, looks like a very strong candidate to fill the 3C role for the Canucks next season.
If any player showed that they are ready to make the jump to the next level, Linus Karlsson would be first on that list. Karlsson was Abbotsford's best player during their playoff run, leading the AHL in goals and points in the postseason. Soon to be 26, Karlsson has bounced between the AHL and NHL over the last two seasons, but after his playoff performance, I think he’s forced Vancouver's hand into giving him a legitimate shot with the big club. The Canucks’ bottom six isn’t the deepest by any means, so Karlsson should get opportunities during the preseason to show his worth and produce at a level that will keep him in the NHL. This is his best shot to make the roster, and he may not have many more.
When I heard the Canucks hired Adam Foote, one of the first players I thought could benefit from it was Victor Mancini. During his playing days, Foote was a 6'2", 220-lb shutdown defender. Mancini comes in at 6'3", 225 lbs. At his introductory press conference, Foote spoke about his experience playing against some of the greatest of all time, like Joe Sakic and Paul Kariya. I’m not saying I expect Mancini to become a top-pair shutdown guy, but if anyone can help round out his game, it’s Foote.
Mancini was Abbotsford’s best defenseman during their Calder Cup playoff run, playing physical, smart, and defensively sound hockey. While Vancouver’s defense looks fairly solid going into this season, Mancini has been a bright spot in training camp, and he scored in Vancouver's preseason opener. If this continues, I can absolutely see him not only making the team but becoming a dependable presence on the back end and establishing himself as an everyday NHLer.
These are just a few guys I think will take a step forward next season, but we’ll have to wait and see how things play out. Regardless, the Canucks should be excited about the young talent coming through their system.