Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Some new details have emerged about General Manager Patrik Allvin’s big scouting trip to Europe as he looks for potential players he could target at the 2026 Draft.
“Dhaliwal mentioned someone told him Allvin is going to Sweden at some point to watch Stenberg.” @Taj1944 said on X.
With the Vancouver Canucks likely to select in the top-three, potentially even first overall if they win the NHL Draft Lottery in mid-April, watching Ivar Stenberg makes a ton of sense and if selected by Patrik Allvin, he could be a franchise altering player, but it looks like the General Manager also had other plans while over in Europe.
New details emerge about General Manager Patrik Allvin’s big scouting trip to Europe
During Friday’s edition of Halford and Brough, Rick Dhaliwal gave an update on gave an update on Patrik Allvin’s scouting trip to Europe, sharing that watching Ivar Stenberg was a priority for him, but he also made a stop in Switzerland for the Five Nations Tournament, which the United States won in overtime against the hosts.
For those who aren’t familiar, the Five Nations Tournament features plenty of draft eligible prospects and it’s safe to say that Patrik Allvin was keeping an eye on other players that the club could select in rounds two to seven in June, given that a lot of the top names, like Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck were not made available by their club teams.
Dhaliwal also spoke about how important the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is the Vancouver Canucks, as it’ll play a big factor in how successful the club’s rebuild will be, especially if they’re able to land one of the top-two picks and get the chance to choose Ivar Stenberg or Gavin McKenna.
The Canucks also hold a second first round pick thanks to the Quinn Hughes trade with the Minnesota Wild, but at this point it’s unclear where that selection will be as it depends how the club performs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
One player that Rick Dhaliwal mentions the Vancouver Canucks have liked in the past is forward Tynan Lawrence, however he’s struggled since making the jump to the NCAA with Penn State University mid-season, with just two points in 12 games thus far.
Rebuilding is never fun for fans, but for the Canucks to build a sustainable and long-term contender, this was needed and hopefully, Patrik Allvin and the front office identify the right draft prospects to help this club in the not-so-distant future.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Major move on the way as new details emerge on the Vancouver Canucks recent scouting trip overseas
Will the Vancouver Canucks draft someone out of Europe in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft?