Heading into the 2026-27 season, Vancouver Canucks forward Liam Öhgren is looking for some stability. After being part of the Quinn Hughes trade with the Minnesota Wild, Öhgren is looking to have a breakout year in his first full season with the Canucks.
After tallying eight goals and 18 points in 51 games in 2025-26, what could the Canucks and fans expect from the Swede this upcoming season?
Breakout 2026-27 season for Liam Öhgren?
Since making his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season, it's been an interesting few years for the 22-year-old. Between 2023-24 and part of 2025-26, Öhgren played 46 games for the Wild, tallying three goals and seven points. In 18 games with the Wild alone last season, he had zero points before having 18 points with the Canucks to finish 2025-26.
The hope for Öhgren this upcoming 2026-27 season is some stability and normalcy in playing time. With the Wild, he averaged 14:31 of ice time in four games in 2023-24, 11:06 in 2024-25, and 9:32 last season before being traded to the Canucks. After joining Vancouver, he averaged 14:27 while playing some top-six minutes.
Last season, he mostly played on the second line with Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser. There have been some depth charts listing Öhgren with those two again for 2026-27. It makes sense on paper to have Öhgren with Rossi and Boeser again, especially in a contract year.
Currently, Öhgren is entering the last season of his three-year, $2.66 million entry-level contract (ELC) that he signed back in July 2022 with the Wild. The annual average value (AAV) on his current deal pays him $886,666. After this season, Öhgren will be a restricted free agent (RFA).
According to AFP Analytics, they have him projected to sign a two-year, $3.056 million extension, which would pay him $1.528 million per season. If Öhgren has a breakout season, there is a chance his AAV could be higher after 2026-27.
That said, as long as head coach Manny Malhotra can provide Öhgren with proper top-six ice time, along with time on the power play in some way, he could have a huge season with the Canucks. Over the past few seasons, Öhgren hasn't had the opportunity to really showcase his skills. Between playing in small sample sizes and being traded, he hasn't had a stable season.
If the 2026-27 season can be a stable one where he can just focus on playing in the NHL full-time and get regular ice time, Canucks fans could be in for a breakout season from the Swedish forward. It'll be interesting to see how the 2026-27 season goes for Öhgren. But if he gets the top-six and power-play minutes, watch out for Öhgren to make some noise for the Canucks.
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