VANCOUVER — Amazing but true: over a period of five entry drafts, from 2020 until 2024, the Vancouver Canucks picked three times in the top 70. In total.

They had two first-round selections, neither in the top 10, and one second-round choice during this dark age. Is it any wonder the Canucks’ prospects pantry was as empty as beer kegs in Boston after Scotland’s Tartan Army ended its week-long World Cup encampment?

The Canucks’ first pick in 2020 was No. 82 (Joni Jurmo), and their top selection in 2024 was No. 93 (Melvin Fernstrom). In 2021, they gave themselves one chance to pick among the first 136, and it was 41st (Danila Klimovich).

Blasting Canuck scouting and drafting is a popular and breezy pastime on the west coast. But truly, director of scouting Todd Harvey’s biggest problem was being employed by an organization that gave him little to work with.

Still, recently fired general manager Patrik Allvin’s legacy in Vancouver could turn out to be the bonanza of 2026 draft picks he accumulated for Harvey and new GM Ryan Johnson.

Watch the 2026 NHL Draft on SportsnetThe Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 pick as the next group of NHL stars gets set to enter the league. Live NHL Draft coverage begins with the first round on Friday followed by Rounds 2-7 on Saturday. Catch it all on Sportsnet and Sportsnet .Broadcast schedule

Watch the 2026 NHL Draft on Sportsnet

The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 pick as the next group of NHL stars gets set to enter the league. Live NHL Draft coverage begins with the first round on Friday followed by Rounds 2-7 on Saturday. Catch it all on Sportsnet and Sportsnet .

Just in time for the Canucks’ first rebuild this century, the organization has two first-rounders on Friday and a pair of second-round selections on Saturday, all of them in the top 41. Their third-overall pick on Friday — bumped down from No. 1 for the sake of any fan engagement in what the National Hockey League calls the draft lottery — is the highest pick for the Canucks since former general manager Brian Burke orchestrated a Sedin monopoly in 1999 when twins Daniel and Henrik were seized second and third.

The twins are now Canuck co-presidents.

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