After camp, Victor Mancini and Kirill Kudryavtsev are the finalists for the Canucks’ seventh defence spot, with both expected to play in Vancouver’s upcoming game versus Calgary.
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The Vancouver Canucks have a largely set group on the back end heading into the regular season, leaving one final opening: the seventh defenceman role. After camp wrapped, attention narrowed to Victor Mancini and Kirill Kudryavtsev as the two players still competing for the spot.
According to the Canucks’ training-camp picture, five defencemen were viewed as essentially pencilled into the opening-night roster: Luke Schenn, Jamie Oleksiak, Filip Hronek, Zeev Buium and Tom Willander. Elias Pettersson was also described as being in a strong position, leaving Mancini and Kudryavtsev to fight for the remaining spot.
The two finalists are being evaluated through different strengths. Mancini is described as a right-shot defenceman whose size, skating and physical engagement could translate into NHL impact. Kudryavtsev is characterized as relying more on intelligence, positioning and consistency to stabilize the lineup.
Mancini’s game is viewed as built on physical tools and puck-moving ability, including carrying the puck through the neutral zone and turning defensive-zone retrievals into offensive opportunities. The concern noted for Mancini is decision-making—specifically the tendency to focus on the puck rather than survey the ice early enough to make the best option. His defensive-zone retrievals have also been flagged as an area requiring improvement.
Kudryavtsev, by contrast, is being described as leaning on anticipation and play-reading rather than trying to overpower opponents. The evaluation highlights his skating, an active stick and his ability to disrupt plays by cutting off passing lanes and being in position before a play develops. His offensive value is framed around smart first passes during breakout sequences, along with an effort to improve his shot.
The main limitation attributed to Kudryavtsev is size. He is described as just under six feet and not matching the traditional physical profile of an NHL defenceman, with larger forwards able to pin him along the boards more easily. Still, the assessment says quick feet can help him escape pressure on the perimeter.
The team’s broader approach to development is also part of the context, including an emphasis on performance determining opportunity and the desire to limit unnecessary movement between the NHL and AHL. That framing suggests the seventh-defenceman decision could affect how quickly Vancouver is willing to give a younger defender sustained responsibility.
In preseason play, Mancini entered camp on a one-way contract and appeared to have the inside track, but he struggled through camp and in Vancouver’s preseason debut. Ahead of the next matchup, both Mancini and Kudryavtsev were expected to be in the lineup for a game against the Flames.
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