CA’s top 20 Canucks summer prospect rankings: #11 Anthony Romani

By the numbers, it’s clear to see what the Pickering, Ontario native’s M.O. is, and that’s point production. He’s a lethal threat in the offensive zone, utilizing an incredible release to beat the netminder with ease. He understands how to leverage his space, and manipulate screens and netminder before finding small spots in the corners.

He’s an incredible catch-and-release shooter and has a knack for changing things up and finishing in a variety of ways. His tools aren’t one-dimensional, either. Beyond his shot, he’s an intelligent playmaker who sees the ice well, using give-and-goes and quick reads to navigate the offensive zone. With his opposition forced to respect his shot, he opens up lanes by selling a shot before threading a quick cross-ice feed across the ice.

Although his skating improved throughout the 2024-25 season, it remains an area, along with his physicality, that will continue to be a work in progress for him. His lack of explosiveness and inefficient stride pass at the  Junior level, but may begin to hinder his effectiveness as he climbs the ranks.

Luckily, he’ll have all the time to address both deficiencies next year. Committing to Michigan State, Romani will take the NCAA route to face a higher calibre of player, which feels like the perfect middle ground for where his game is currently. It will serve as a fantastic measuring stick to determine whether his game is pro-ready at this moment.

“It is a super cool opportunity for me. I think when that whole rule change happened, I was excited for it, and it was something I was interested in,” said Romani in a Canucks.com interview. “We thought it would be a good option going into next year. As time went on, I talked to some schools. I was lucky enough; when I was injured, I was able to visit Michigan State and a couple of other schools. It was really cool to see the facilities and all they had to offer.”

Ceiling: Romani’s NHL ceiling is that of a middle-six winger and power-play contributor, capable of providing consistent offence if paired with complementary linemates. His scoring touch and hockey sense suggest he could become a valuable secondary scoring threat, provided he addresses his skating and defensive shortcomings.

Floor: The commitment to the NCAA will be a very interesting gauge of where his game truly is. He has been a force in the OHL for two seasons now, but can he take that into the NCAA? At the very least, we can see Romani forming a fruitful career as an AHL scorer.

ETA: Whether he will be in Michigan for one or two seasons remains to be seen, but we expect a two- to three-year timeline before we are ready to discuss NHL deployment.

That’s our #11 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.