Merrimack recruit Yaroslav Bryzgalov was drafted No. 97 overall in the fourth round by the Vancouver Canucks during the second day of the NHL Draft in Buffalo.
Bryzgalov is the first Merrimack player or recruit selected by the Canucks since Joe Cannata in 2009.
The 19-year-old Belarusian forward was one of the top rookies in the WHL this past season, racking up 13 goals and 42 assists for 55 points in 64 games.
NHL Network had this to say about Bryzgalov after he was drafted:
“Relentless forechecker. Delivers heavy contact. Smart distributor who consistently finds seams.”
While Merrimack has not officially announced its incoming class for the 2026–27 season, I have Bryzgalov projected for this year’s roster based on his stellar 2025–26 campaign and today’s draft results. However, Vancouver will undoubtedly have some input on his immediate future now that he is officially part of the organization.