Gabe Chiarot entered the offseason as a Memorial Cup Champion and looked to keep developing his game and take another step toward becoming a pro.
He’s proud of the progression in his game since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and had a heck of a 2025-26 season.
“From being drafted, getting signed, winning a Memorial Cup, honestly, it doesn’t really get much better than that. How I progressed last season was special, and I can still get better from here,” said Chiarot.
He is excited to take part in his second NHL training camp this fall with the Vancouver Canucks and feels much more comfortable about it.
“I’m not as nervous as when I was in my first camp, so that’s good. But also, just the familiarity with everyone, talking to them, and catching up. During my first camp, I was a little nervous to talk to people, but now it’s like, ‘oh, hey, how are you doing?’ To the guys I haven’t seen in a while,” said Chiarot.
Chiarot knows his game and is excited to show the coaches what he can do this fall. The soon-to-be 20-year-old plays an aggressive style, relying on pace and then having enough skill to make the opposition pay on the rush or off a turnover.
His summer goal was to build strength, add a bit of weight, and increase his foot speed so he can challenge for an AHL job in the fall. Chiarot turns 20 on September 17th, making him eligible for the AHL even without the newly instated teenager rule.
“I’ve never been a high-end prospect or a player that is to watch or whatever, so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I’ll always be that under-the-radar guy, and I know that,” said Chiarot.
“I want to turn heads and surprise people with how hard I work, and the little things I do. Those parts of my game are crucial to moving on to the next level. So, I’ll continue to do that.”
Chiarot was signed out of training camp last season and is continuing to develop his game and hone in on the strengths that will help him succeed at the pro level. He needs to hustle on every shift, create havoc on the forecheck, play with physicality, and be defensively responsible.
There’s always room to grow, and Chiarot believes his next step is bringing more offence into his game, but he doesn’t want to cheat his way to more points.
“I’m not trying to be someone I’m not, and I think that’s important to know. I think that’s where a lot of guys get in trouble when they’re moving on to the next level,” said Chiarot.
“Once I establish myself, I can start trying to grow my game a little bit and start producing more offensively.”
Chiarot will be in action at this weekend’s Prospects Showcase at the Abbotsford Centre, and he is always excited to play in front of Canucks fans. Saturday’s game starts at 4:00 p.m. PT, and Sunday’s puck drop is at 1:00 p.m.
