2026 OHL In the System: Vancouver Canucks

This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for OHL in the System!

 

With the 2026 NHL Draft now in the rearview mirror, all 32 NHL clubs have officially shifted their focus to the offseason. As organizations prepare for development camps and the season ahead, we kick off this year’s edition of OHL In the System by taking a closer look at the Vancouver Canucks and the current and future OHL talent within their organization.

 

Caleb Malhotra (C) – Brantford Bulldogs (2025-26)

Selected: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (2026)

OHL Career Stats: 67 GP, 29G, 55A, 84 PTS., +33

Age: 18

Caleb Malhotra was the highest OHL player selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, going third overall to the Vancouver Canucks. The 6-foot-2 centreman from Toronto, Ont., was an Emms Family Award finalist as OHL Rookie of the Year after emerging as one of the league’s top young forwards. Following a 10-point start through his first 11 games, Malhotra caught fire, setting a Bulldogs rookie record with 84 points (29-55–84) in 67 regular-season contests. The selection also carried a special family connection, as his father, OHL alumnus Manny Malhotra, had recently been named head coach of the Canucks. Malhotra is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 season.

 

Adam Novotný (LW) – Peterborough Petes (2025-26)

Selected: 1st Round, 24th Overall (2026)

OHL Career Stats: 58 GP, 34G, 31A, 65 PTS., -2

Age: 18

With the 24th overall pick, the Vancouver Canucks selected forward Adam Novotný of the Peterborough Petes. The Czech native enjoyed an outstanding rookie season in the OHL, recording 65 points (34-31–65) while registering 278 shots on goal – the second-highest total in the league – in 58 regular-season games. Novotný also represented Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three assists while leading the tournament in shots on goal.

 

Brooks Rogowski (C) – Oshawa Generals (2024-26)

Selected: 2nd Round, 33rd Overall (2026)

OHL Career Stats: 112 GP, 26G, 39A, 65 PTS., -27

Age: 18

Selected 33rd overall by Vancouver, Brooks Rogowski is coming off a strong sophomore season with the Oshawa Generals. The 6-foot-7 forward recorded 42 points (15-27–42) in 46 games despite missing time through injury. Originally a second-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection out of Detroit Catholic Central High School, Rogowski also won a gold medal with the United States at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

 

Lucian Bernat (C/W) – Owen Sound Attack (2026-27)

Selected: 6th Round, 176th Overall (2026)

2025-26 Career Stats (Tappara U20): 37 GP, 15G, 16A, 31 PTS., -2

Age: 18

Owen Sound Attack recruit Lucian Bernat was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Ranked 39th among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded 31 points (15-16–31) in 37 games with Tappara U20 during the 2025-26 season. The Bratislava, Slovakia, native also represented his country at the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, registering one goal and three assists in seven games.

 

Aleksei Medvedev (G) – London Knights (2024-26)

Selected: 2nd Round, 47th Overall (2025)

Signed: July 10, 2025 

OHL Career Stats: 70 GP, 3.03 GAA, .902 SV%, 38-23-4-1

Age: 18

Playing in his second season with the London Knights, Aleksei Medvedev once again shared the crease, posting a 3.26 GAA and a .891 save percentage across 36 regular-season games. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Vancouver last season and is expected to return to London for the 2026-27 campaign.

 

Kieren Dervin (C) – Kingston Frontenacs (2024-26)

Selected: 3rd Round, 65th Overall (2025)

OHL Career Stats: 63 GP, 18G, 27A, 45 PTS., -4

Age: 19

In his first full season with the Kingston Frontenacs, Kieren Dervin played top-line minutes, finishing third in team scoring on a low-scoring Frontenacs squad. The Gloucester, Ont., native made significant strides after spending most of the 2024-25 season with St. Andrew’s College. Dervin was also a finalist for the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player Award after taking just 20 penalty minutes all season, helping Kingston finish as the league’s least-penalized team. He is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2026-27 season. 

 

Gabriel Chiarot (RW) – Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads (2023-25), Kitchener Rangers (2025-26)

Selected: 6th Round, 175th Overall (2025)

Signed: Sept. 22, 2025 

OHL Career Stats: 176 GP, 46G, 35A, 81 PTS., +34

Age: 19

Acquired by the Kitchener Rangers at the trade deadline, Gabriel Chiarot capped off his OHL career by helping the Rangers capture both the OHL and Memorial Cup championships. Between Brampton and Kitchener, he recorded a career-high 36 points (20-16–36) in 62 regular-season games before adding 11 points (5-6–11) during the playoffs. Chiarot is expected to begin the 2026-27 season with the Abbotsford Canucks.

 

Riley Patterson (C) – Barrie Colts (2023-25), Niagara IceDogs (2025-26)

Selected: 4th Round, 125th Overall (2024)

Signed: Sept. 22, 2025 

OHL Career Stats: 192 GP, 94G, 111A, 205 PTS., +13

Age: 20

Acquired by the Niagara IceDogs during the offseason, Riley Patterson enjoyed a career year, leading the club with 84 points (40-44–84) in 60 regular-season games. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Vancouver in September before making his professional debut with Abbotsford at the end of the season. Patterson is expected to remain with the AHL club in 2026-27.

 

Anthony Romani (RW) – North Bay Battalion (2021-25), Barrie Colts (2024-25)

Selected: 6th Round, 162nd Overall (2024)

OHL Career Stats: 223 GP, 110 G, 94 A, 204 PTS, +44

Age: 20

After completing his overage season with the Barrie Colts, Anthony Romani spent the 2025-26 campaign at Michigan State, recording 28 points (14-14–28) in 37 games. He earned multiple Big Ten Star of the Week honours and was named to the Great Lakes Invitational All-Tournament Team. Romani is expected to return to the Spartans for his sophomore season.

 

Vilmer Alriksson (LW) – Guelph Storm (2023-25), Brampton Steelheads (2024-25)

Selected: 4th Round, 107th Overall (2023)

Signed: Sept. 30, 2024 

OHL Career Stats: 110 GP, 32 G, 36 A, 68 PTS, -5

Age: 21

In his first full season with Abbotsford, Vilmer Alriksson recorded nine points (6-3–9) and 56 penalty minutes in 43 regular-season games. The 6-foot-6 winger is expected to return to Abbotsford for a second straight season.

 

Kirill Kudryavtsev (D) – Soo Greyhounds (2021-24)

Selected: 7th Round, 208th Overall (2022)

Signed: Mar. 10, 2023 

OHL Career Stats: 202 GP, 18 G, 118 A, 136 PTS, +27

Age: 22

Playing in his second full season with Abbotsford, Kirill Kudryavtsev built on a strong rookie campaign by recording 20 points (2-18–20) while taking just four penalty minutes. His strong play earned him a late-season call-up to Vancouver, where he appeared in three NHL games and recorded his first NHL points with two assists.

 

Cooper Walker (C) – Guelph Storm (2019-23)

Acquired: July 23rd, 2025

OHL Career Stats: 179 GP, 38G, 56A, 94 PTS., -11

Age: 23

In his first full season with Abbotsford, Cooper Walker recorded six points (2-4–6) in 37 regular-season games. The former Guelph Storm captain remains under contract with Vancouver through the 2026-27 season.

 

Jack Thompson (D) – Sudbury Wolves (2018-22), Soo Greyhounds (2021-22)

Acquired: June 12, 2026 

OHL Career Stats: 180 GP, 40G, 65A, 105 PTS., +7

Age: 24

Jack Thompson appeared in 14 games with Abbotsford this season, recording 13 points (3-10–13). He also skated in 42 games with the San Jose Barracuda, posting 12 points (3-9–12). The 6-foot-1 defenceman has appeared in 34 career NHL games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks, recording 10 points (4-6–10). Thompson signed a one-year, two-way contract with Vancouver this summer.

 

Tomorrow on In The System, we’ll take a look at the OHL Talent inside the Chicago Blackhawks organization!