The Canucks’ prospects camp in Abbotsford will feature five players, including Adam Novotny, Braeden Cootes, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Ilya Safonov and Aleksei Medvedev.
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The Vancouver Canucks will hold their prospects camp this weekend at Rogers Forum in Abbotsford, as part of a development-focused approach during their rebuild.
This year’s camp is again scheduled without the Young Stars Classic in Penticton. Instead, the prospects are set to play two weekend games against the Seattle Kraken’s younger players, with games scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Adam Novotny, a winger the Canucks acquired in this past summer’s draft, is among the notable names in the group. He was described as the biggest prospect in camp from that draft class and was identified as a Czech player who stood out with the Peterborough Petes.
Novotny’s camp evaluation centres on his skating and physical frame, with the assessment that his stride and body profile suggest he can continue to grow into his game. He has signed a three-year entry-level contract, but it does not start until he begins playing pro games. The camp material also indicates it is expected he will return to Peterborough this season.
The camp group also includes Braeden Cootes, a centre who made a jump to Canucks training camp last year. He skated in three regular-season NHL games after his prior season in juniors. His next step is described as returning to refine his game, including having spent time in the WHL after last season, beginning with Seattle before moving to Prince Albert after a trade. The camp notes that he was named the WHL’s most sportsmanlike player and played at the world juniors.
Kirill Kudryavtsev is the defence prospect being highlighted. The camp material describes him as a steady presence for two seasons and says he has appeared in five NHL games. At 22, he is expected to challenge for a spot on the Canucks’ blueline at some point this season, though the expectation is that he will likely return to the AHL at least initially.
The group also features Ilya Safonov, a centre described as big and lanky. At 25, he signed a one-year, two-way contract in June after spending six seasons in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan. The camp overview raises whether he could earn an NHL roster spot directly from the prospects camp or whether the more likely path is beginning in the AHL.
Finally, Aleksei Medvedev is the goalie in the group. He was selected in 2025, and the camp material says his most recent year included ups and downs in London, Ont., with questions raised about whether any struggles were psychological or technical.
The prospects camp is presented as an early test of how players handle professional-size and professional pace, and where they may fit in the organization’s development path—whether that leads to the AHL early, a longer adjustment period, or a challenge for NHL roles later in the season.
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