Canucks stock watch: Who's trending up in preseason, and who's trending down?

Braeden Cootes’ breakout preseason surge boosts his odds of cracking Vancouver’s roster; punters might back Canucks player-prop markets (Cootes to record an NHL point) or favor Vancouver’s depth-driven moneyline futures. Strong showings from Lekkerimäki and Pettersson suggest Canucks lines and goals markets could tighten, while inconsistent fringe players weaken value on roster-dependent props.

Canucks’ Preseason Weekend: Mirror-Image Results, Real Roster Questions

Friday’s 4-2 win over Seattle and Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Edmonton painted a simple picture: individual performances, not scores, will decide Vancouver’s final 23-man roster. The weekend crystallized who’s pushing for NHL jobs and who may need more seasoning. With the final week of preseason looming, veterans will tighten structure and young hopefuls must sustain form against stiffer competition.

Stock Up

Braeden Cootes — Emerging as a Centre Option

The 18-year-old scored in both tracked preseason games and has shown mature details beyond raw scoring. Cootes wins board battles with smart positioning and uses his edges and speed to offset lack of NHL size. His faceoff rate north of 50 percent in tracked appearances signals he could handle regular shifts without heavy deployment protection. If he maintains this level, Cootes has a real shot to break camp with Vancouver.

Otto Lekkerimäki — Elite One-Shot Upside

Lekkerimäki has settled into form after a slow start, flashing a powerful, accurate shot that generated dangerous chances and a quality empty-net finish in Edmonton. He’s been effective on the power play and hasn’t been a defensive liability in five-on-five minutes. Waiver exemption and roster depth work against him, but his unique right-shot scoring threat gives Vancouver a reason to pause before cutting him loose.

Olli Pettersson — Right-Side NHL-Readiness

Pettersson handled top-four minutes and heavy matchup duty Sunday, proving his adaptability on the right side. His decision-making under forecheck pressure and breakout reads looked more NHL-ready than some peers. That versatility bolsters his case for a third-pair role alongside a veteran like Derek Forbort, complicating the club’s defensive cut decisions.

Stock Down

Vitaly Kravtsov — Costly Defensive Breakdowns

Kravtsov has shown flashes in camp, but defensive lapses directly led to goals in the Seattle game. With tight competition among wingers, costly mistakes are magnified. Others on the wing have been steadier, leaving Kravtsov on the outside looking in as the club trims its depth chart.

David Sasson — Centre Experiment Fades

The centre trial didn’t stick: Sasson struggled in the faceoff circle and reverted to wing minutes as the game wore on. He’s hardworking and projects to play NHL games eventually, but with waiver exemption and intense internal competition, his path to an opening-night roster spot looks blocked unless circumstances change.

Philip Åman — Reliable Depth, Limited Ceiling

Åman delivered a textbook defensive play and remains a solid penalty-kill option, but he’s been pigeonholed into fourth-line, identity minutes with limited opportunities alongside skilled players. Continued struggles in the faceoff dot and scarce high-end deployment mean he’s unlikely to force a roster dilemma for management.

Implications Ahead of Final Preseason Week

The next stretch will decide who earns NHL spots. Expect coaching structures to tighten and matchups to become sterner tests for young hopefuls. For bettors and line-watchers, emerging names like Cootes and Lekkerimäki could influence player-prop and early-season depth bets, while inconsistent fringe players reduce confidence in roster-dependent wagers.

These individual performances have crystallized the battle to make the Canucks' 23-man roster for opening night.

Theathleticuk