The Vancouver Canucks are officially set to pick third overall in the 2026 NHL Draft after the lottery balls didn’t bounce their way on Tuesday night. Picking third is still a pretty good spot to be in. However, it does leave the organization with an interesting decision heading into June.
Right now, the expectation around the league is that the Toronto Maple Leafs will take Gavin McKenna first overall. After that, the real intrigue starts with the San Jose Sharks at number two. Most projections have the Sharks selecting Ivar Stenberg, and honestly, it makes sense. The Swedish forward has been one of the most talked-about prospects in this class because of his vision, hockey IQ, and production in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Furthermore, the Sedin’s connection seems to have already started popping up. This, true or not, is obviously going to catch attention in Vancouver.
If the Canucks truly believe Stenberg is the perfect fit for their future, they should at least be exploring what it would take to move up one spot.
Canucks Should Consider Trading Up
From San Jose’s perspective, there is at least some logic to a deal. The Sharks have already spent the last few years loading up on elite young forwards like Macklin Celebrini and Michael Misa. However, what they still really need is a true long-term cornerstone on the blue line.
If they moved back just one spot to third overall, they would still have a chance to land a high-end defenseman like Chase Reid or Alberts Smits. In other words, they could still address a major organizational need. Additionally, they could pick up another asset from Vancouver in the process.
For the Canucks, the motivation feels pretty obvious. Stenberg looks like the type of player who could fit seamlessly into the way they want to play moving forward. He’s responsible defensively, produces offensively, and already looks comfortable playing against men overseas. There’s also a belief that his path to the NHL could be quicker than some of the other players near the top of this draft class.
What Would it Cost?
The big question, of course, is what San Jose would ask for to move down one spot.
The Sharks are not going to hand over the second overall pick for free, even in a draft where the top three appear fairly strong. Therefore, Vancouver would almost certainly have to include a meaningful piece alongside the third overall selection.
That likely means one of their better young defensive assets would come up in conversations. The Canucks have done a nice job building depth on the back end with prospects like Tom Willander and Zeev Buium. Still, they’ll need to consider moving a higher-end prospect if they are completely convinced Stenberg can become a top-line winger.
Still, this is the kind of aggressive move teams sometimes have to make when they believe their competitive window is starting to open. If Vancouver sees Stenberg as a future star, they may decide the price is worth paying. With the draft now just weeks away, it would not be surprising if the Canucks and Sharks have already started talking.
Canucks Should Explore Trade With Sharks for 2nd Overall Pick