3 Canucks who could be traded before the 2026 NHL draft

The Vancouver Canucks were one of the NHL’s biggest sellers during the 2025-26 season. They traded away multiple players this campaign, with Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood, and Tyler Myers being the most notable.

With the Canucks rebuilding, it is very possible that we could see more of their players traded before the 2026 NHL draft if Vancouver wants to add more picks. Let’s look at three Canucks who could be moved because of it.

Elias Pettersson, C

Elias Pettersson has needed a fresh start for a long time now, and it is fair to wonder if this could be the summer where he finally gets it. If the Canucks are willing to retain some of his salary, he could generate a good amount of interest from teams looking for a new top-six center. 

Pettersson had another tough year by his standards in 2025-26, posting 51 points in 74 games. Yet, when noting that he had 89 points in 2023-24 and 102 points in 2022-23, there could be some teams willing to take a chance on him. 

MORE: Top Four NHL Center Trade Candidates Of 2026 Off-Season

Jake DeBrusk, LW

Jake DeBrusk is one of the NHL’s most-talked-about trade candidates heading into the summer. The 2015 first-round pick expressed discontent over the idea of playing for a rebuilding team this season, so it is fair to assume that he would like a change of scenery.

He also stands out as one of the Canucks’ top trade chips to dangle, as he is a top-six winger with a good contract.

In 81 games this campaign, DeBrusk led all Canucks players with 23 goals and finished fourth in points with 42. 

MORE: 2026 NHL draft: Can the Canucks still find a franchise-altering player?

Drew O’Connor, LW

Drew O’Connor had a solid season for the Canucks in 2025-26, scoring a career-high 17 goals and recording 29 points in 82 games. With this and O’Connor entering the final season of his deal in 2026-27, it is fair to wonder if the Canucks could look to flip him ahead of the draft. 

O’Connor would be a solid pickup for a contender that is looking to improve its bottom six. This is because the 28-year-old forward provides solid secondary scoring, kills penalties, and throws the body. 

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