Vancouver Canucks fantasy projections for 2026-27 

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff ranks the top five Vancouver Canucks players for standard leagues and provides skater points and goalie wins projections for the 2026-27 season.

1. Elias Pettersson, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 137

Pettersson led the Canucks with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 74 games last season and scored 15 goals for the second straight season. Pettersson, who had three consecutive 30-goal seasons from 2021-24, including a career-high 39 goals and 102 points in 2022-23, had a career-low 11.4 percent shooting percentage last season. He had a team-high 18 power-play assists and has had at least 20 power-play points in four of his past five seasons. The 27-year-old was the only player in the NHL last season to have at least 15 goals, 50 points, 100 blocked shots (108) and 60 hits (67). Despite missing 26 games the past two seasons, Pettersson is the only player in the League to have at least 30 goals, 65 assists (66), 140 hits (141) and 180 blocked shots (185) during that span. Pettersson has bounce-back potential and is undervalued in fantasy leagues with hits, blocked shots and face-off wins. 

NHL.com point projection: 59

2. Jake DeBrusk, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 181

DeBrusk, who scored an NHL career-high 28 goals in his first season with the Canucks in 2024-25, last season led Vancouver in goals (23), power-play goals (19; tied for third in NHL), power-play points (24) and shots on goal (219). DeBrusk, who has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons, is tied for second in the NHL in power-play goals (33) since the start of the 2024-25 season. The 29-year-old is one of seven players to have at least 95 goals (97), 750 shots on goal (764), 350 hits (354) and 150 blocked shots (152) the past four seasons. DeBrusk averaged a career-high 16:52 of ice time per game last season, including 17:15 per game during his final nine games in April in which he scored seven goals. He's a fringe top 125 forward in NHL.com's fantasy rankings at the position for this season. 

NHL.com point projection: 50

3. Brock Boeser, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 184

Boeser ranked third on the Canucks in points (48) and shots on goal (166), was second in goals (22) and finished first among Vancouver forwards in average ice time (19:03) in 75 games last season. Boeser, who had NHL career highs in points (73) and goals (40) in 2023-24, has scored at least 20 goals in three straight seasons and seven of his past nine. The 29-year-old had 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in his first 50 games last season, but led the Canucks with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in his final 25 games after the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

NHL.com point projection: 54

4. Filip Hronek, D

NHL.com fantasy rank: 206

Hronek set NHL career highs in points (49; second on team), power-play points (21; third), blocked shots (100; third) and average ice time (25:00; sixth in NHL) in 82 games last season. Hronek also led the Canucks in assists (41) and led Vancouver defensemen in goals (eight). After the break for the Olympics, Hronek ranked third in the NHL in average ice time (26:18) and finished highly at his position in power-play points (11; tied for third), shots on goal (57; 10th) and points (17; tied for 16th) in 25 games. Hronek was one of two defensemen last season to have at least 45 points, 100 hits (133) and 100 blocked shots (other: Moritz Seider). The 28-year-old is a fringe top 40 defenseman in NHL.com's fantasy rankings, especially in fantasy leagues with hits, blocked shots and shots on goal.

NHL.com point projection: 50

5. Marco Rossi, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 212

Rossi had 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 50 games last season, including 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 33 games with the Canucks after they acquired him as part of the Quinn Hughes trade with the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. Rossi had NHL career highs in points (60), goals (24), power-play goals (seven) and power-play points (16) with the Wild in 2024-25. Rossi, who will turn 25 years old Sept. 23, ranked second on the Canucks with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in Vancouver's final 25 games of the season, mostly playing on a line with Boeser as well as on the first power-play unit. Rossi and defenseman Zeev Buium, whom the Canucks also acquired in the Hughes trade, are in the top 100 of NHL.com's fantasy keeper and dynasty rankings, which are the best 25-and-younger options for long-term formats.

NHL.com point projection: 54

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Other VAN players on preseason fantasy draft lists:

Bounce-back candidate: Thatcher Demko, G (win projection: 14)

Breakout candidates: Linus Karlsson, F (point projection: 42); Zeev Buium, D (point projection: 40)

Hit and block specialist: Luke Schenn, D