A deep dive into the Vancouver Canucks' WHL prospect pool.
Welcome to this edition of the 2026 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2026 off-season, we will be looking at current or recently graduated WHLers who have been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today's organization is the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks have three prospects who played games in the WHL last season. Vancouver has also drafted at least one WHL prospect in each of the last five drafts. Here is a look at Parker Alcos, Braeden Cootes and Yaroslav Bryzgalov.
Kicking off the list is Alcos, who played last year for the Kelowna Rockets and Edmonton Oil Kings. The 20-year-old defenceman was drafted in 2024 and recorded 30 points in 63 games last year. Alcos will be headed to the NCAA for the 2026-27 campaign, where he will join Quinnipiac University.
Up next is Cootes, who made his NHL debut last year. The 19-year-old center was drafted in 2025 and finished the campaign with 63 points in 45 games split between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince Albert Raiders. Cootes is projected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster but could also spend the majority of the year in the AHL.
Finally, the organization's newest member is Bryzgalov. The 19-year-old winger was drafted in 2026 and recorded 55 points in 64 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Bryzgalov is scheduled to return to the WHL before heading to the NCAA in 2027-28.
Yaroslav Bryzgalov of the Medicine Hat Tigers (Photo Credit: Medicine Hat Tigers/WHL)Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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