Heading into the 2026-27 season, it's clear that the Vancouver Canucks are seeking to have a better year compared to 2025-26. While it's clear that they are in a rebuild, there are some things to get excited about for the upcoming season.
One of those things is the next core of the Canucks' future. The Canucks boast a good number of players 25 years old or younger. In fact, the Canucks have 10 guys who fit that mold. Today, we will focus on three of those players that fans should watch in 2026-27.
Marco Rossi
It's a no-brainer that Canucks fans should be excited to see what Marco Rossi can do in his first full season in Vancouver. Rossi is entering his second year in his three-year, $15 million deal, which pays him $5 million annually.
Rossi was part of the trade that sent Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12, 2025, along with two other players and a 2026 first-round pick. After joining the Canucks, he tallied eight goals and 22 points in 33 games, all while with a fractured foot.
Even though he dealt with a fractured foot, Rossi showed what it takes to be a first-line center. As of now, it seems he could be slotted as the second-line center behind Elias Pettersson. But make no mistake: if his upward trajectory continues, don't be surprised if he moves up to the top line.
Rossi is only 24 years old and will be a restricted free agent (RFA) after the 2027-28 season, when he will be arbitration-eligible. If there is someone the Canucks can build around for the foreseeable future, especially with his projected talent, it's Rossi.
Tom Willander
The next player that fans should watch for is defenseman Tom Willander. Willander is entering the second season of his three-year, $2.90 million entry-level contract (ELC). His current ELC sees him paid $972,500 annually.
During the 2025-26 season, Willander had five goals and 21 points in 70 games. While it wasn't the rookie he hoped for, it did give the Swedish defenseman some perspective on what it means to be an everyday NHLer. Furthermore, he showed that he could handle top-four defensive minutes for the Canucks and is poised to have more of a role next season.
Furthermore, with the Canucks signing Jamie Oleksiak, his 6'7, 252-pound frame could open up more space offensively for Willander. Willander has shown capabilities to play a two-way game, but is more offensively inclined, so pairing him with Oleksiak could unlock another level.
Plus, now with a season under his belt, Willander has a chance for a better sophomore season with the Canucks. If he can play 80 to 82 games in the upcoming 84-game season, could we see 10 or more goals and 30 or more points?
Zeev Buium
The last player we will focus on is San Diego, CA native Zeev Buium. Just like Rossi, the 20-year-old Buium was part of the trade that sent Hughes to the Wild in December 2025. In his 45 games with the Canucks, the defenseman had three goals and 12 points. While with the Wild, Buium had three goals and 14 points in 31 games.
Talk about an interesting rookie season for the 12th overall pick during the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Buium averaged 18:28 of ice time with the Wild, but saw it jump up to 20:21 when he joined the Canucks. He saw a ton of time on the first defensive pairing with Filip Hronek. The consensus is that Buium will be back with Hronek again in 2026-27.
On top of that, Buium will be entering the final year of his three-year, $2.90 million deal. Compared to Willanders' ELC, Buium's ELC deal sees him being paid $966,667 per season. Furthermore, he will be an RFA at the age of 21 after this upcoming season.
Talk about a big contract year for Buium, who is set to begin his second full NHL season and his first full year with the Canucks. It'll be interesting to see where the Canucks and Buium stand regarding an extension after this season. While the American defenseman will be an RFA, you know the Canucks want to get this done sooner rather than later. When it comes to a future No. 1 defenseman, they don't want to mess this one up.
All in all, there is a ton to be excited about this upcoming season, even if it's a rebuild year. There are some young, exciting players to watch as fans get to see the next core in Vancouver. While they might be a season or two from the playoffs, there is something to tune into for the Canucks in 2026-27.
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