Analyst Claims the Vancouver Canucks Completed the Biggest Steal of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
Photo credit: DARYL BATT (battmedia.com)
A prospects analyst believes that GM Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks could have a "steal" with one of their picks from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in June.
Under Patrik Allvin and the team's scouting staff, one area that the Vancouver Canucks organization has been pretty good at lately is identifying future talent, with Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Braeden Cootes being good examples of that.
Cootes headlined Vancouver's 2025 draft class which included five strong selections on Day 2, among them being Swedish forward Wilson Bjorck, who they selected in the fifth round, 143rd overall.
One of Vancouver Canucks' 2025 draft picks could be potential "steal"
In an article for The Athletic earlier this month, prospects analyst Scott Wheeler took an in-depth look at Wilson Bjorck and even spoke with his coaches at Colorado College as he embarks on his first season in the NCAA.
"I think Vancouver has a steal in the fifth round if I'm being honest," Colorado College Head Coach Kris Mayotte said.
He added, "The thing that stood out to me most was he was never rushed,» Mayotte said. «And even when he had pressure, he was able to make the plays that he wanted through the pressure at an incredibly efficient level. It wasn't a high-risk, high-reward type of game, but he made some big-time plays at the same time.
When you look long-term at what he's going to bring to us and with the Canucks, the body being able to do it is going to be important, and I think that's what he has gravitated towards. We've only been doing it for a few weeks, but he's not slowing down, and he hasn't hit a wall or anything like that, which has been really impressive. He's a rink rat. He loves being on the ice and in the gym."
He added, "The thing that stood out to me most was he was never rushed,» Mayotte said. «And even when he had pressure, he was able to make the plays that he wanted through the pressure at an incredibly efficient level. It wasn't a high-risk, high-reward type of game, but he made some big-time plays at the same time.
When you look long-term at what he's going to bring to us and with the Canucks, the body being able to do it is going to be important, and I think that's what he has gravitated towards. We've only been doing it for a few weeks, but he's not slowing down, and he hasn't hit a wall or anything like that, which has been really impressive. He's a rink rat. He loves being on the ice and in the gym."
So far, Bjorck's freshman year at Colorado College is going swimmingly, with the Stockholm, Sweden native registering three points and is a plus-one in four games, with his first NCAA goal coming on Friday night against Bentley University.
"Wilson Björck sends a rocket to the top corner for his first NCAA goal 🔥" Dave Hall of Canucks Army said.
It's still quite early, but it seems like the Vancouver Canucks might have found another gem in the draft, one who could get a big opportunity in a couple months at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
Source: Scott Wheeler/The Athletic
Why the Vancouver Canucks could have a late-round 'steal' in Wilson Bjorck
Why the Vancouver Canucks could have a late-round 'steal' in Wilson Bjorck
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