It feels like a given that the Vancouver Canucks will trade their first-round pick this year.
The Canucks have been clear that they and that they’ll likely need to make a trade to get one, and the 15th-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is one of their biggest trade chips.
But before deciding to trade the 15th-overall pick, the Canucks need to seriously consider the consequences.
The Canucks traded their first two picks in the 2024 draft, then traded away their third-round pick from that draft, Melvin Fernstrom, in the Marcus Pettersson deal. The previous regime traded away multiple first and second-round picks, resulting in a shallow prospect pool that has impeded the Canucks’ attempts to build from within.
Trading away the 15th-overall pick could still be the right move, but the Canucks need to count the cost, which means taking a look at who might be available to them at that pick.
So, let’s take a look at who the draft experts have ranked 15th overall to see who the Canucks could pick or who they might be giving up if they trade the pick away.
1 | Radim Mrtka, RHD
Ranked 15th overall by
On a surface level, Radim Mrtka has the kind of attributes that NHL teams love in a defenceman: he’s 6’6” and he’s a right-hand shot.
That alone could lead to a lengthy NHL career, which is part of the reason why he’s consistently ranked in the top half of the first round by every independent scouting service and draft expert.
The lanky defenceman came to North America from Czechia this past season to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL and quickly settled into a top-pairing role after being buried on Czech league depth charts. Mrtka led all first-time draft-eligible defencemen in points per game in the WHL this season with 35 points in 43 games.
The offence isn’t even the strongest part of his game. Mrtka’s mobility and size make him a nightmare for opposing forwards to get around on the rush, as he eliminates most plays in the neutral zone before they can even get to his blue line. Despite his size, Mrtka’s game doesn’t rely on big hits, but instead uses his reach and physicality to deny space, win puck battles, and protect the puck before moving it up ice.
The question for Mrtka is his upside. With his physical attributes, it seems clear that Mrtka has an NHL future, but can the flashes of top-end skill become a more consistent part of his game, turning him into a true, top-pairing defenceman?
“If it all comes together, he could be special,” said an anonymous NHL scout quoted in Elite Prospects’ draft guide. “How much are you willing to gamble on that?”
2 | Cole Reschny, C
Ranked 15th overall by , , and
Cole Reschny is a divisive prospect.
The young forward was a force to be reckoned with in the WHL this past season, piling up 92 points in 62 games, good for second in scoring among first-time draft-eligible prospects behind Benjamin Kindel. But his smaller stature at 5’10” and underwhelming skating have some experts questioning just how translatable that offence will be.
Those who are high on Reschny believe he has what it takes to produce despite his deficiencies.
“It’s pretty atypical for a forward who is small in stature and not a great skater to find success at the NHL level, but Reschny has shown time and time again that he has a high enough hockey IQ to overcome these limitations,” reads his report from Smaht Scouting, and they’re far from alone in believing in Victoria Royals centre.
“He’s my favourite forward outside the first tier,” said one anonymous NHL Scout quoted in Elite Prospects’ Draft Guide. “Small, but big-time IQ, big-time skill, big-time compete.”
Reschny is a savvy playmaker, who can pick apart opposing teams with his patience and pinpoint passing. He’s a smart player off the puck, finding openings in space and thinking one step ahead of the defence to find the next player with the puck to set up a scoring chance.
“He lacks prototypical NHL size and he’s not a natural burner as a skater, but he moves pucks effectively and decisively,” said FloHockey’s Chris Peters.
Reschny’s intelligence applies at both ends of the ice, as he’s attentive to details defensively, and wins far more battles than his size would suggest he should.
“Reschny projects as a mid-six connective forward, with a chance of achieving the higher end of that projection by adding more dynamic elements,” reads his scouting report from Elite Prospects.
3 | Jack Nesbitt, C
Ranked 15th overall by
Jack Nesbitt is a big, physical two-way centre, who Pronman compares to Morgan Geekie, who is coming off a 33-goal season for the Boston Bruins.
Nesbitt combines his 6’4” frame with great hockey sense and a detailed defensive game. He has the size to knock opponents off the puck along the boards in the defensive zone and to protect the puck in the offensive zone, then uses his vision to find the open man before going to the net to tip in pucks and bang in rebounds.
Nesbitt’s production is solid, though not spectacular, at 25 goals and 64 points in 65 games, but he shows flashes of higher-end ability.
“He can beat players one-on-one at a high rate off the rush and shows a lot of offensive creativity inside the offensive zone,” said Pronman. “He's smart and makes a lot of intelligent plays, showing the vision to score in the NHL.”
The issue for Nesbitt is his skating.
“Nesbitt’s stiff, narrow skating stride and handling abilities don’t always cooperate with his ideas,” reads his scouting report from Elite Prospects. “Making plays in motion, under pressure, and with defenders on his back can prove challenging for him, limiting his offensive generation.”
That’s something Pronman also had to admit, despite rating Nesbitt higher than other draft rankings.
“His skating stride is heavy, though, and he will struggle to get by NHL defensemen with his foot speed,” said Pronman. “The hope is that the rest of his game is so good he it won't be a major issue. He has top-six forward potential and could be a second-line centre.”
4 | Braeden Cootes, C
Ranked 15th overall by
The Vancouver Canucks took Braeden Cootes out to dinner at the draft combine, which drew a spotlight on the WHL centre. It makes sense that the Canucks would be interested in Cootes, as the majority of independent draft rankings have him slotted right around where the Canucks are picking, and he’s a centre that fits the style of game they want to play.
“A one-man forecheck, Cootes’ motor and energy are undeniably elite,” reads his scouting report from Elite Prospects. “In a single shift, he can amass multiple retrievals, guiding opponents into a big hit, spinning off a check and passing, winning another race by winning inside position metres before the boards, and repeating over and over until the puck finds twine.”
Cootes is a detailed defensive centre, who supports his defencemen down low, takes away passing and shooting lanes, and excels on the penalty kill. That alone makes him a safe bet for a long NHL career. The question is upside.
“Coaches can count on his detail in all three zones and tap him for roles in all situations,” said Jason Bukala. “Cootes isn’t the most elite offensive player in the draft class, but his game resembles that of a young Brendan Gallagher.”
Cootes had 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games, well behind the likes of Benjamin Kindel or Cole Reschny in the WHL, but a lot of that comes down to playing for a mediocre Seattle Thunderbirds team. At the World Under-18 Championship, Cootes went off for a team-leading 6 goals and 12 points in 7 games, captaining Team Canada to the gold medal.
It doesn’t hurt that Cootes is a right-hand shot and excels in the faceoff circle. It also doesn’t hurt that he played his youth hockey at the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford.
Cootes projects as a potential third-line centre in the NHL, but there’s a chance his playmaking and skill will make him a top-six forward. It may come down to his hockey IQ.
“His skill is elite, he’s a strong skater, he wears the C, and he brings it every game,” said one anonymous NHL scout quoted by Elite Prospects. “He just makes the game harder than it needs to be, though. He’s probably going to be a checker despite his size just because he doesn’t have much feel for the game.”
5 | Carter Bear, C/LW
Ranked 15th overall by
Carter Bear is a fierce competitor, whose motor is unmatched in this draft class. His tenacity is his calling card but he’s not just a mindless grinder. He marries that tenacity to a diverse skill set, with the vision to be a playmaker.
“Instead of driving every time, he slows down, waits for support, and finds the trailer,” reads his scouting report in Elite Prospects’ draft guide. “Just like many NHL top-six playmakers, Bear deceives opponents with look-offs and shot fakes, manipulates their feet with changes of pace, and creates lanes instead of forcing pucks through.”
Bear also has a knack for scoring around the net, never giving up on a rebound chance. He finished his season with 40 goals and 82 points for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL.
“The controlled chaos Bear plays with thrives in the NHL playoffs,” said Tony Ferrarri at The Hockey News. “He plays at a breakneck pace, throws his weight around and loves to attack off the rush.”
Bear’s motor and hockey IQ also translate to the defensive end of the ice, making him one of the better two-way forwards in the draft, willing to do whatever it takes at both ends of the ice to win games.
There are a couple of question marks for Bear. He’s slight and needs to add strength. His motor covers up some deficiencies in his skating that could get exposed at higher levels. But it’s hard not to love someone who competes like Bear, which could mean he’s off the board before he ever gets to the Canucks at 15th overall.
6 | Bill Zonnon, LW
Ranked 15th overall by
Bill Zonnon typically first catches the attention of scouts with his motor and forechecking, which has some draft experts projecting him to be a prototypical bottom-six forward. That type of projection lends itself more to a late first-round or early second-round pick.
“He plays a versatile game that impresses both on but especially off the puck, where he keeps his feet moving, works, finds space, gets to loose pucks, forces turnovers, and tracks,” said The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, who ranked him 31st overall. “Nobody works harder.”
Lying underneath that hard-working game, however, is a clever playmaker, who leverages his abilities on the forecheck to create scoring chances. He put up 28 goals and 83 points in 64 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, with his 55 assists ranked fifth in the QMJHL, and first among first-time draft-eligible prospects.
“Layered on top of his motor and forecheck abilities is a set of refined passing abilities,” reads Elite Prospects’ scouting report. “Zonnon can pass in any direction, do it quickly under pressure, thread the puck under or around sticks, and he understands how to create space for others by attracting defenders. On the power play, his deceptiveness shines. He transforms himself into a true orchestrator, opening lanes, freezing defenders, and threading pucks across the box to open shooters.”
It’s a skillset that lends itself easily to an NHL projection and makes him stand out from the typical high-scoring QMJHL prospect.
“While the QMJHL typically allows low-pace offensive players to thrive, Zonnon broke the mold by playing a relentless, physical game that pushes defenders onto their heels and forces mistakes,” said Ferrari.
Zonnon isn’t just a one-dimensional offensive threat either, as he is adept at scoring goals as well, particularly around the crease, but he can also pick a corner from distance with his shot.
“His checking game is absurd, he has a cornerstone offensive skill in his playmaking, and his shooting habits continue to trend in the right direction,” said Elite Prospects’ Hadi Kalakeche in one scouting report. “More deception, more angle changes, better posture, better shot selection.”
Zonnon has a high floor, as his physical game looks like it’s tailor-made for the NHL, but there’s a chance that he can leverage his intelligence and offensive skills to be more than just a bottom-six grinder. With his work ethic, that could be a chance worth taking.
7 | Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD
Ranked 15th overall by and
If a team is looking for a big, physical, punishing defenceman, they need look no further than Kashawn Aitcheson, who throws big hits and is more than willing to drop the gloves after doing so.
“Loving nothing more than seeing attackers approach with their head down, Aitcheson hunts big open ice hits, connecting those every chance he gets, and sometimes stretching the window of legality,” reads his profile from Elite Prospects. “Saying that he makes his presence felt would
be underselling it.”
Multiple scouting reports call Aitcheson a throwback defenceman, with his downright mean approach to defending his end of the ice, crushing opponents in the neutral zone, closing off the blue line with authority, and domineering forwards in front of the net.
That throwback approach extends to his shot, as he has an old-school cannon of a slap shot that he likes to unleash at every opportunity.
But Aitcheson has shown he can find other ways to score by jumping up in the rush or activating in the offensive zone to get to more dangerous areas of the ice. He typically played on the right half boards on the power play, hammering one-timers from the right faceoff circle, rather than just blasting away from the point.
“He’s a punishing two-way defender who hits, fights, and drags teammates into the battle,” said Cam Robinson at Elite Prospects. “With clutch goal-scoring instincts and the ability to kill plays with force, he’s a throwback wrecking ball built for playoff hockey.”
Aitcheson’s ability to adapt his scoring approach will be key to his projection, as that will partly determine whether he has legitimate top-pairing upside.
His approach certainly worked for the Barrie Colts this season, as his 26 goals was third among OHL defencemen and first among first-time draft-eligible defencemen. His 59 points in 64 games also ranked first among first-time draft-eligible defencemen.
There are some lingering questions about his skating and ability to transition the puck up ice, but there’s a lot to like about his competitiveness and willingness to bring the pain and force his opponents to keep their heads up.
“I don’t think his offence will come along with him, but the physicality and intensity will for sure,” said one anonymous NHL scout quoted by Elite Prospects. “Fans are going to love this guy.”
8 | Logan Hensler, RHD
Ranked 15th overall by
Logan Hensler might not be the most exciting prospect, but he’s a reliable defensive defenceman, whose path to the NHL is easy to see.
The 6’2”, right-shot defenceman has the mobility and size to play a shutdown role in the modern NHL. He closes gaps quickly and eliminates space to break up plays at the blue line, and protects the home plate area of the ice effectively.
In transition, Hensler can skate the puck out of danger or make a clean first pass after drawing in a defender, making him a good fit to play with a more adept offensive defence partner.
“His tools remain fairly vanilla, outside of the skating,” said Cam Robinson in one scouting report for Elite Prospects. “But with his size, mobility, and willingness to keep things simple with the puck, there’s still a foundation to build on. Cleaning up his reads and improving his physicality along the walls will be key to unlocking his potential as a low-event, shutdown presence in the NHL.”
Hensler played big minutes as an 18-year-old in the NCAA this past season, playing against older competition than many of his peers. Being one of the youngest players in college hockey, however, may have made it hard for Hensler to assert himself and show that he has more offensive upside.
On the other hand, maybe that offensive upside just isn’t there. That’s the gamble with Hensler.
“He’ll play in the NHL for a long time, log big minutes, and help teams win,” said an anonymous NHL scout quoted by Elite Prospects. “Not flashy, but very solid.”
9 | Justin Carbonneau, RW
Ranked 15th overall by and
A lot of the prospects ranked 15th overall are safe picks: two-way centres with detailed defensive games or big shutdown defencemen. That’s not Justin Carbonneau. He’s a highlight-reel winger, who scores goals and lots of them, but he’s definitely not safe.
Carbonneau tallied 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL, good for second in the league in points behind Jonathan Fauchon, who turned 21 mid-season.
“Carbonneau possesses some of the best offensive instincts in this draft class and he has the skill to put them into action,” said Sam Cosentino.
The winger has clear elite skill, with superb hands that allow him to beat seemingly every defenceman he faces one-on-one, but he combines those soft hands with a heavy physical game, using his 6’1” frame to win battles along the boards and protect the puck as he drives to the net.
“Carbonneau’s a talented offensive-zone player with naturally quick hands, a quick release that can beat goalies from midrange and change angles on defensemen and strong athletic tools as a solid kid and sturdy skater with a pro frame,” said Scott Wheeler.
“His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and effort in his shifts,” said Corey Pronman.
The trouble for Carbonneau is that he can get blinders on and try to do everything himself. That can be seen as a positive by some scouts, who want to see a degree of confidence in a young winger, but it can get him into trouble.
“When everything clicked, he looked like one of the best play-drivers in the CHL, soaring past the opposition,” reads his profile from Elite Prospects. “When it didn’t, his game came crashing down. The turnovers multiplied, rendering him ineffective and raising questions about his hockey sense.”
“Carbonneau plays a rather individual style of game, looking to often take on a lot of pressure himself and creating scoring chances for himself rather than looking for the best play available, often involving teammates,” said Thomas Gagné of Smaht Scouting. “That leads to entire games where he’s essentially a non-factor, because if he can’t get going that way, he can’t impact the game in any other way with consistency.”
10 | Jackson Smith, LHD
Ranked 15th overall by and
Jackson Smith is a rarity on this list, as he’s one of the few prospects ranked at 15th that most other independent draft rankings project to be a top-ten pick.
Smith has elite skill, fantastic skating, and is a 6’3” defenceman, with a knack for knocking pucks off sticks with his quick stick and mobile gap control. Elite Prospects ranks him as the best neutral zone defender in the draft and the second-best offensive defenceman, ranking him 6th overall.
But there are some concerns around his game that could see him slide, with some questioning his puck management and decision-making, which can lead to a lot of turnovers and the type of high-event hockey that makes coaches nervous.
“His reads and processing still need some fine-tuning, he can skate himself into trouble, he can take bad routes defensively, and I’m not sold on him as a true power-play guy up levels,” said Scott Wheeler.
“He’s big and athletic, good pedigree, moves well, can make plays. I get the appeal, but I think he’s going to disappoint someone,” said an anonymous NHL scout quoted in Elite Prospects’ draft guide. “He’s more style than substance. Prone to frequent mistakes on both sides of the puck. I wouldn’t touch him in the top 10.”
Outside of the top 10, however, taking a chance on a player with elite upside becomes a lot more palatable.
Smith had 11 goals and 54 points in 68 games for the Tri-City Americans, good for 10th among WHL defencemen, and first among first-time draft-eligible defencemen. He then added 4 goals in 7 games for Team Canada at the World Under-18 Championship.
There’s the potential for Smith to be an all-situations defenceman capable of breaking games wide open with his skill, but there’s also the potential for him to give his head coach new grey hairs every game.
“He plays a reliable game at both ends, but a lack of high-end awareness and offensive instincts may cap his long-term upside,” said Cam Robinson.
11 | Sascha Boumedienne, LHD
Ranked 15th overall by
The Vancouver Canucks are very familiar with Sascha Boumedienne, as he was not only a teammate of their top prospect Tom Willander, but also his usual defence partner.
That meant the 18-year-old Swede was frequently playing 20+ minutes per night against older players in NCAA competition and holding his own. The 6’2” left-shot defenceman had 3 goals and 13 points in 40 games, making him the top-scoring first-time draft-eligible defenceman in college hockey.
Boumedienne then had a dominant performance at the World Under-18 Championship for Sweden, putting up 14 points in 7 games to finish second to his teammate, Filip Ekberg, in scoring.
“Right away, it’s easy to see the evolution of his general involvement across a given game, especially compared to viewings at the Hlinka Gretzky and early NCAA efforts,” said Elite Prospects’ Daniel Gee in a scouting report from the World Under-18s. “He’s not just active, he’s uber involved at this point.”
Despite the breakout performance at the World Under-18s, Boumedienne projects as more of a defensive defenceman, who can also break the puck out effectively. Still, showing that range of skill, from puck-handling to his shot, speaks well to Boumedienne’s likelihood of succeeding in the NHL.
“Boumedienne looked like a modern shutdown defenceman in this game,” said Elite Prospects’ Mitchell Brown in one scouting report. “A very attentive player, he scans non-stop and proactively picks up rotations and switches. Intensely fights for positioning, getting inside when possible and bringing players into the wall when not. Times his close-outs as the second in, to appear just as the opponent slips around the first defender.”
Boumedienne’s skating was an issue earlier in the season, but seemed to improve by leaps and bounds as the season progressed, to the point that some scouts noted it as a clear strength of his game. That willingness to work on his weaknesses should make NHL teams more confident about picking him in the first round.
“Despite lacking specialization, Boumedienne’s secondary production and playmaking, combined with his adaptability in a structured college system, enhance his appeal as a safer pick,” said Shane Malloy.
There’s something appealing, from a Canucks perspective, of picking a player who already has chemistry with one of their top prospects. It’s easy to imagine a future second pairing of Boumedienne and Willander.
12 | Jake O’Brien, C
Ranked 15th overall by
There’s a chance that Jake O’Brien will be a top-ten pick, because he put up big numbers in the OHL this season and has high-end playmaking ability.
O’Brien put up 32 goals and 98 points for the Brantford Bulldogs, racking up assists while feeding teammate and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis, whose 71 goals were the most in the OHL since John Tavares scored 72 goals in 2006-07 as a 16-year-old.
Only the consensus second-overall pick, Michael Misa, had more points than O’Brien in the OHL this season.
“There’s not a more generous player in the draft class than Jake O’Brien,” reads his profile from Elite Prospects. “Passing is his first, second, and third play. Displaying close to x-ray vision, he spots the tiniest seams between skates, under sticks and above them. He sees through multiple
defenders and behind his back, spotting teammates running at the back post and attacking a few steps late.
“His playmaking is second to none in the draft class, and, in terms of creativity, he may be in a tier of his own.”
Not everyone is sold on O’Brien being a top-ten pick, however. He’s 6’2”, but slight, and doesn’t play much of a physical game. His shot also lacks pop, so there’s a question of whether he’ll be versatile enough offensively to be a true top-six centre in the NHL.
Still, his well-rounded game gives O’Brien a high floor. Adding more size and strength ought to help his shot, so there’s some high potential. If he slides out of the top ten, whichever team gets him could have a steal on their hands.
“The team that drafts him will bank on his evolution,” said Elite Prospects. “If he does take significant steps in his scoring and physicality, he could become a top-line, play-driving centre and elite power play quarterback.”
13 | Benjamin Kindel, RW
Ranked 15th overall by
There’s a local connection with Benjamin Kindel, as he played his youth hockey with the Burnaby Winter Club.
Kindel had a huge season for the Calgary Hitmen, putting up 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games, then adding 8 goals and 15 points in 11 games in the playoffs. He was the highest-scoring first-time draft-eligible player in the WHL this season.
That scoring came from a complete slate of offensive skills, as he’s got a superb shot but also excellent vision, with a subtlety and intelligence to his playmaking that makes him a nightmare for defenders, who never know what he’s going to do next.
“Kindel has a great tactical understanding of the game,” said David St-Louis in one scouting report for Elite Prospects. “He knows how to manipulate defenders, when to change speed to orchestrate rush plays, when to attract the opposition, and when to make quick plays to open teammates. When he can’t connect with them directly, he makes plays to space, bouncing pucks off the boards in spots where teammates can reach.”
There’s not much subtlety to the rest of his game, as he plays with a high pace, constantly moving whether with or without the puck, and battling at both ends of the ice to win pucks.
“Calgary relies on him to be a major contributor at even strength, on the powerplay, and on the penalty kill,” reads his report from Smaht Scouting. “He’s a quick, elusive player whose meticulous two-way approach to the game makes his offensive production even more impressive.”
So, what’s the problem?
Well, he’s only 5’10”, and he doesn’t have the separating speed or elite hands to make up for that smaller size. The big question for Kindel is whether he can continue to produce offence when the game gets bigger and faster, with less space.
Still, sometimes you have to bet on a player who simply can’t stop scoring, especially when that player has the type of work ethic that Kindel has. That’s a player worth betting on and believing that he can continue to improve.
“He is a highly creative and poised playmaker and, because of this, is subtly dominant in transition, in creating off the rush, or in setting-up in the OZ,” said Luke Sweeney at Dobber Prospects. “While his tools and size may hold him back from true stardom, Kindel has all the makings of a bona-fide top-six Swiss Army Knife.”
