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The Vancouver Canucks could set themselves up for long-term success in what has otherwise been a sour season.
The Vancouver Canucks are going through one of the toughest seasons in recent history. Yes, the club has endured some tough campaigns. But this one has been especially challenging.
That said, the Canucks could be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. As that light gets brighter, it looks like it’s shining on Gavin McKenna.
Entering Tuesday night’s action, the Canucks sat last in the NHL with 37 points. Even the Winnipeg Jets have managed to rebound and jump to 31st in the league. Landing in last place overall means the Canucks have the best chance to nab the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
According to Tankathon, the Canucks have the inside track for the top selection in this year’s draft. Finishing last overall would give Vancouver a 25% chance of landing the top selection in the NHL Draft Lottery.
That’s not too bad of a prospect.
Getting that top selection would mean potentially landing Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff. While the point of this conversation is not to debate who’s the top pick, the purpose lies in establishing that the Canucks could get a franchise player.
Such a situation could accelerate the Canucks’ rebuild. The team already has key pieces like Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Tom Willander to complement veteran mainstays like Jake DeBrusk, Filip Hronek, and Brock Boeser.
This especially deep draft could yield the sort of player the Canucks need to build their team around.
Finishing Last Does Not Guarantee Canucks 1st Overall Pick
It’s worth pointing out that finishing last does not guarantee a team the top overall pick. What it does is ensure that the team gets the best odds to land that pick. In short, if the Canucks finished last overall, it would give them a 1-in-4 shot at landing the top pick.
But as past NHL Draft Lotteries have shown, the last-place team can end up with the second or third-overall selection.
The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks have consistently picked in the top three, even when finishing last overall on multiple occasions.
But when looking at the times when Chicago and San Jose have picked first, they’ve landed franchise players. That’s the prospect the Canucks can look forward to. Of course, the plan is not purposely tanking.
Vancouver Has Never Picked First Overall in NHL Draft
The Vancouver Canucks have never picked first overall in the NHL Draft. The closest they’ve come is second overall in 1970.
The other time the Canucks picked second overall was in 1999 when then-GM Brian Burke orchestrated a complex move to land the second pick to complement their own third-overall selection. The move resulted in Vancouver drafting the Sedin twins.
Meanwhile, the defunct Atlanta Thrashers took Patrik Stefan first overall. That 1999 NHL Draft remains one of the worst in history. Although, that 1999 draft worked out pretty well for the Canucks.
Fast-forward nearly 30 years, and the 2026 edition could be even better for the Canucks. The club would have a unique opportunity to turn its fortunes around, much like the New York Islanders did this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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