What Canucks, Flames, Jets, Oilers need from the draft
While it's wise to draft the best player available, every NHL team's roster and prospect pipeline has certain distinct needs. Continuing with the Western Conference, we assess what the Canadian franchises should prioritize adding June 27-28.
Read our evaluation of the Eastern teams.
Vancouver Canucks
Top prospect: RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki (2022, No. 15 overall)
Picks in Rounds 1-3: No. 15, 47, 65
Priority: Center (prospect or impact NHLer)
There's a solid chance the Canucks trade the 15th pick for immediate help. It would be sensible to pursue a second-line center who could fill the void in the lineup behind Elias Pettersson and provide an offensive spark. Vancouver slipped from sixth to 23rd in scoring in 2024-25, looked lost when Quinn Hughes was injured, and was the only NHL team that didn't have a forward exceed 50 points.
Keeping the pick and drafting a gifted player also has merit. The Canucks haven't selected in three of the past five first rounds because of trades for J.T. Miller, Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Elias Lindholm.
If general manager Patrik Allvin stands pat, he can weigh the attributes of several enticing centers. He could prize Braeden Cootes' two-way prowess, Cole Reschny's motor and playmaking, or Jack Nesbitt's blend of size and puck skill.
Any of them could be tapped to get the puck to Lekkerimaki, the slippery finisher who's scored efficiently in the Swedish Hockey League and for Vancouver's powerful AHL team.
Calgary Flames
Top prospect: RHD Zayne Parekh (2024, No. 9)
Picks in Rounds 1-3: No. 18, 32, 54, 80
Priority: Center
The prospects Vancouver would consider in the middle of Round 1 also appeal to the Flames, who crave offense. Calgary benefited from Dustin Wolf's great goaltending in his rookie season and was squeezed out of the playoffs via a tiebreaker despite outscoring only the Ducks, Predators, and Sharks.
The Flames were a fun story in 2024-25, but they lack star power and won't contend for Stanley Cups with an aging core. They need to continue to trend younger by dealing movable veterans (Rasmus Andersson would net a large return) and drafting building blocks who can complement Parekh, a mesmerizing offensive talent.
GM Craig Conroy exchanged Jacob Markstrom for New Jersey's first-rounder and owns Florida's top pick because of the Matthew Tkachuk trade. Sending Andrew Mangiapane to Washington brought in Colorado's second-rounder.
With that capital, Conroy will have numerous shots to add a projected middle-six center to a system that's stocked with wingers and blue-liners.
Winnipeg Jets
Top prospect: C Brayden Yager (2023, No. 14)
Picks in Rounds 1-3: No. 28, 92
Priority: Defenseman
The Jets' best prospects still need seasoning, but Yager, Colby Barlow, and Brad Lambert will fill key forward roles for years to come. And while defense is a strong suit at the NHL level, the veteran stalwarts in front of MVP netminder Connor Hellebuyck are bound to eventually slow down.
At this stage of Winnipeg's competitive cycle, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could be persuaded annually to trade his first-rounder for a rental. He did this to land Sean Monahan in 2024 and dealt upcoming second-rounders for Tyler Toffoli, Brandon Tanev, and Luke Schenn, who are either gone or won't leave a lasting imprint in Manitoba.
That heightens the importance of the 28th pick. Based on draft history, Cheveldayoff can expect about seven defensemen to be off the board by then. Potential targets won't possess Josh Morrissey's elite smarts and vision, but Sascha Boumedienne and Henry Brzustewicz are strong skaters and puck retrievers who could make developmental leaps.
Edmonton Oilers
Top prospect: C Matt Savoie (2022, No. 9)
Picks in Rounds 1-3: No. 83
Priority: One future NHLer
The Stanley Cup runner-up's amateur scouts should have low expectations for this draft. The Oilers dealt all their own selections in Rounds 1 through 5, and the only pick they have in that window is a Blues third-rounder obtained as compensation for the Dylan Holloway offer sheet.
It would be a win if that pick reaches the NHL. The youngest of six homegrown draft selections on Edmonton's roster is Evan Bouchard, the No. 10 choice in 2018. The only subsequent Oilers picks who've stuck in the league - Holloway and Philip Broberg - were poached by St. Louis. Acquired via trade last year, the shifty and competitive Savoie is the lone prospect within striking distance of the big club.
Edmonton needs to re-sign Bouchard and extend Connor McDavid on a record contract this summer. GM Stan Bowman can surround them with free agents who harbor championship dreams. His objective for the draft is to find one guy who'll play in the same lineup someday.