Happy 2025 NHL Draft day Vancouver Canucks fans. As of writing, Vancouver will still be picking during the first round, which will start at 4:00 pm PT later today. In honour of the draft, let’s take a look at the 2024–25 Canucks who were drafted by the team and have stuck around since.
The Canucks’ “Veterans”
Thatcher Demko was the player who was drafted by Vancouver first of all players who played for the Canucks in 2024–25. The 36th overall pick in 2014, Demko has been with the organization for over 10 years and has long been considered a staple in the team’s future. Despite a 35-win, five-shutout season in 2023–24, injuries forced Demko out of the starter’s role in 2024–25. After Vancouver re-signed Kevin Lankinen in February, many wondered what Demko’s fate would be. However, recently, reports have circulated that the team is working on extending him past the 2025–26 season.
The second longest-tenured Canucks draft pick currently with the team is Brock Boeser, who was selected 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. A season ago, Boeser reached a career milestone by notching his first 40-goal season. While Boeser is coming up on his 10-year anniversary with the team, some of the roster moves the Canucks have made as of late seem to indicate that he may not be returning to the team come the 2025–26 season.
Finally, Vancouver’s 66th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft was Guillaume Brisebois, who has been a steady presence within the organization since being drafted. He has consistently filled a depth role with both Vancouver and their AHL affiliates — the Utica Comets as well as the Abbotsford Canucks. After winning the Calder Cup with Abbotsford this week, Brisebois’ contract has officially expired, with the defenceman now becoming a UFA.
Semi-Recent Draft Picks
Next on this list is Elias Pettersson, who was picked fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Pettersson, previously a 100-point player and near 40-goal scorer in 2022–23, has been hit with injuries as of late which have impacted his on-ice play, among other things. Even so, many in the organization, as well as Pettersson himself, have insisted that he will have a bounce-back year next season.
"He's Got A Lot To Motivate Him, And I Believe He'll Do It.": Canucks Jim Rutherford Discusses His Expectations For Elias PetterssonThe 2024-25 season was disappointing for center Elias Pettersson. He dealt with injuries throughout the year, while his rift with J.T. Miller reached a level that forced the organization to trade the 32-year-old to the New York Rangers. Overall, Pettersson recorded 45 points in 64 games, which was the second-lowest of his seven-year NHL career.
In 2018, the Canucks were gifted a miracle in Quinn Hughes dropping to seventh overall. The defenceman, who has arguably been the team’s best player in every season since donning Canucks blue and green, won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2023–24. He led his team in points this season with 16 goals and 60 assists despite only playing in 68 games. A major record holder for the Canucks in most of their defensive categories, Hughes has been one of — if not the best — picks by Vancouver in modern history.
In 2019, the Canucks used their 40th overall selection to draft Nils Höglander, a scrappy forward who flew out of the gates with an impressive rookie season, but faltered slightly in his second and third NHL seasons. The forward had a massive rebound season in 2023–24, scoring 24 even-strength goals. Höglander’s energetic presence on the ice has helped him carve out a position in the team’s lineup.
Vancouver could not have possibly known that they would be drafting the future 2025 Calder Cup Playoff MVP 156th overall in 2019, but when they selected Artūrs Šilovs with that pick, they did. Šilovs has proved himself in important moments for his various teams, from helping Team Latvia capture their first IIHF World Championship bronze medal in history in 2023, to backstopping the Canucks to Game 7 of the 2024 Pacific Division Finals. Along with Brisebois, he won the 2025 Calder Cup after starting all 24 postseason games and recording five shutouts.
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Vancouver’s Recent Draft Selections
Of Vancouver’s four recent draft picks who played for the NHL club in the 2024–25 season, three were drafted in 2022. The first was Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who quickly became the team’s top prospect after they selected him 15th overall. A prolific goal-scorer, Lekkerimäki finished his rookie season with the AHL Canucks with 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games played. He made his NHL debut on November 12 against the Calgary Flames. In Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run, he put up three goals and four assists in 16 games.
The second player with the name “Elias Pettersson” to ever be drafted to the Canucks was the defenceman, who was taken 80th overall in 2022. Pettersson made his NHL debut in January and stuck in the lineup consistently after that. During a successful few months with Abbotsford in 2024–25, Pettersson earned a place at the 2025 AHL All-Star Challenge, but was unable to attend as he was already playing with the Canucks. With a goal and two assists in his first 28 NHL games, as well as a calm but physical demeanour in all situations, Pettersson looks to have solidified himself within the team’s defensive core.
Picked 208th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft with Vancouver’s final selection, Kirill Kudryavtsev may not have Hughes-level point totals, but he has made his mark as an impactful player who could become the steal of his draft. Kudryavtsev made his NHL debut at the end of the 2024–25 season and was a major presence in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run.
"I Know That You Just Never Give Up": Kirill Kudryavtsev Discusses His Development In The OHL This Season And How He Is Ready To Do Whatever It Takes To One Day Make The NHLInitially drafted in the seventh round by the Canucks, Kudryavtsev has developed into a draft-day steal and finished his third OHL season with five goals and 47 points in 67 games.
Finally, the most recent Canucks draft pick to play a game for the team in 2024–25 was Ty Mueller, who was selected 105th overall in 2023. The centre played in his first AHL season in 2024–25, scoring 12 goals and 27 assists in 64 games played. He participated in the AHL All-Star Challenge in place of Pettersson, and made his NHL debut on April 12 against the Minnesota Wild. As a rookie, Mueller flourished under the guidance of head coach Manny Malhotra, and became a dependable presence in Abbotsford’s lineup.
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