Are These Four Canucks Players Being Considered For Pick #3? – Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

There may be some clarity on the approach the Vancouver Canucks will take with the third overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK News recently reported that the Canucks have dinner meetings with four prospects at the draft combine in Buffalo this week. Although only these four are confirmed, that does not mean that meetings with other potential elites have been selected.

These dinner meetings are not always the best indicators of where the party is leaning. Juraj Slafkovsky didn’t eat with Montreal Canadiens management before they picked him first in 2022, although they did have a phone call, which he described as “tasting better” than dinner. However, it appears that these are the top four players that are clearly on the Canucks’ radar.

Could McKenna land in Vancouver?

Since the draft lottery in early May, Gavin McKenna is unlikely to fall into the Canucks’ lap at third overall. However, according to San Jose Sharks insider Sheng Peng, the Canucks are the only team that has a scheduled dinner meeting with McKenna at the conference, which will delight the ears of the Canucks faithful.

McKenna is one of the most talented offensive prospects we’ve seen in years, leading the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers and putting in an impressive performance with Penn State in the second half of the year. His accurate and deep toolbox of skills has him compared to the likes of Nikita Kucherov and Patrick Kane.

It’s worth noting that, according to reporter Chris Johnston on his podcast, the Toronto Maple Leafs have staff to meet with McKenna in his hometown of Whitehorse.

Ivar Stenberg: Clear Favorite?

Similar to McKenna, the Canucks’ chances of snagging Stenberg come down to the decisions of the teams they pick ahead of them. Stenberg is probably the most NHL-ready player in this draft class.

A highly skilled player, Stenberg had one of the best draft seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 33 points in 43 games, the best mark since his future employers, Henrik and Daniel Sedin. He also had strong international performances, leading Team Sweden to a gold medal in points at the World Juniors and scoring a point per game at the IIHF World Championships.

The Sharks have a dinner meeting with Stenberg, according to Peng. The Sharks also hosted a dinner with Carson Cares and Keaton Verhoeff. They are known for drafting the best player available, which they proved again last year by drafting senior center Michael Misa, despite the organization’s depth at the position. It’s hard to find quality defensemen though, and that’s what the Sharks need.

Malhotra connection

Perhaps the most talked about option is Caleb Malhotra. Malhotra is the son of the recently appointed coach of the Canucks, Manny Malhotra. The Sedins acknowledged this, saying they would trust the scouts and not let family connections affect their decision.

There’s a lot to like about Caleb. He plays the perfect game like his father did, but he also has a great offensive touch. The playoffs, in particular, shot up his draft stock in a month, with 13 goals and 13 assists in 15 games. He’s built for big time, which could be huge for the Canucks if he ends up returning to the postseason.

This isn’t the best institutional framework, which is another big improvement in Malhotra’s stock. A star center is usually the cornerstone of a rebuild, and the Canucks want that. For now, though, the likely scenario is that Malhotra becomes a solid two-way center, perhaps more of a second-line pivot.

Can the Canucks Go the Defense Route?

Chase Reid’s name has yet to come up as a possible target for the Canucks. That being said, he’s probably the best defenseman in the program, moving up the boards this season. Talented right defensemen are among the most sought-after treasure chests in a vast ocean of draft prospects.

Like McKenna and Stenberg, Reid could easily slot into the second round, which may be why he wasn’t tied to the Canucks like other prospects. The Sharks could use a well-rounded righty who can replicate their power play. If he is, however, and Stenberg and/or McKenna are not, the Canucks should pounce. He would join a promising little blue line and be the best piece of it.