NHL Prospect Watch: Vancouver Canucks

Ahead of the 2025-26 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for each of the NHL’s 32 teams. This series will highlight current and former WHL players who are signed to an NHL contract, have recently been drafted by an NHL team, or meet the NHL’s definition of a rookie.

We’ve got a healthy dose of Western Hockey League flavour out on the West Coast.

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Braeden Cootes

The newest members of the Vancouver Canucks contingent of WHL prospects, Braeden Cootes was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Hailing from Sherwood Park, Alta., the 6-foot-, 185-pound forward has proven himself to be a natural leader in the WHL after serving as captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds during the 2024-25 season. Representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, he was also named captain, and tallied 12 points (6G-6A) to lead his country to a gold medal.

Cootes enjoyed a career campaign last season, recording 63 points (26G-37A) in 60 games. Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (10th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Cootes has collected 99 points (40G-59A) in 131 career regular season contests.

Internationally, he helped Canada claim gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Memorial Cup, notching one assist in three games.

Following the 2025 NHL Draft, Cootes wasted no time signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks, putting pen to paper July 8.

Parker Alcos

A 19-year-old product of Port Moody, B.C., Alcos was selected by the Canucks in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft.

A defensive-minded, right-shot blueliner, the 6-foot-3, 181-pound Alcos has logged a steady and consistent career with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

The 2023-24 season represented Alcos’ rookie season and he skated in 67 games, earning a career-best 15 points (1G-14A). He followed up with 57 appearances in 2024-25, logging 13 points (1G-12A).

With the Oil Kings poised to be a contender in 2025-26, Alcos is set to reprise his important role on the Edmonton blueline.

Sawyer Mynio

A two-time WHL All-Star and a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds WHL Championship team in 2022-23, defenceman Sawyer Mynio is ready to graduate to the pro ranks following four successful seasons in the WHL.

The 20-year-old product of Kamloops, B.C., was originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects and very quickly established himself as a presence in Seattle. As a rookie, he appeared in 21 WHL playoff games as the Thunderbirds advanced to WHL Championship Series, only to fall to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The next season, he dressed in all 68 regular season games, tallying 31 points (5G-26A) and securing an impressive plus-50 rating. The 2023 WHL Playoffs saw Mynio and the Thunderbirds once again advance to the WHL Championship Series, this time defeating the Winnipeg ICE to secure the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

At the 2023 NHL Draft, the Canucks called Mynio’s name in the third round (89th overall).

Taking on a more veteran role, Mynio began to show more of his offensive ability in 2023-24, registering 53 points (16G-37A) in 63 games for a much younger Thunderbirds squad.

He split his final season in the WHL between the Thunderbirds and Hitmen – a highly-coveted blueliner ahead of the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline. In 49 regular season outings, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound defenceman posted 45 points (14G-31A).

Mynio also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, appearing in three games and contributing one assist.

Having signed his NHL entry-level contract with the Canucks back in September 2023, the 20-year-old Mynio is expected to join the Abbotsford Canucks for the 2025-26 season.

Jett Woo

Former Moose Jaw Warriors and Calgary Hitmen defenceman Jett Woo, 25, just enjoyed his most successful pro season yet, helping the Abbotsford Canucks win an AHL Championship. Serving as an alternate captain, Woo recorded 18 points (2G-16A) in 67 regular season games before chipping in with six points (1G-5A) in 22 post-season contests.

Selected by the Canucks in the second round (37th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Woo has carved out a solid role with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, appearing in 267 career AHL regular season games since first making his pro debut with the Utica Comets in 2020-21.

Originally selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2015 WHL Prospects Draft, Woo enjoyed a 242-game WHL career, tallying 160 points (33G-127A) along the way. He was named to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team in 2018-19, after posting 66 points (12G-54A) in 62 games with the Warriors.

Ty Young

A 21-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., netminder Ty Young is set to embark on his second pro season within the Vancouver Canucks season.

Making his pro debut in 2024-25, the 6-foot-3, 181-pound puckstopper appeared in 11 games with the Abbotsford Canucks, going 8-3-0 with a 2.72 goals-against average (GAA) and .904 save percentage (SV%). He spent the rest of the campaign with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, going 10-9-2 with a 2.53 GAA and .926 SV%.

Selected by the Canucks in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Young signed his NHL entry-level contract September 24, 2023.

Young is proof that it doesn’t matter what round you find yourself selected in at the WHL Draft. Chosen by the Prince George Cougars in the eighth round (158th overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft, Young went on to appear in 97 career regular season games with the Cougars, going 44-35-8 with a 3.36 GAA and .896 SV%.