We are back with the 2025 summer edition of our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.
Today, we present to you our sixth-ranked player in the system, an undrafted local product who’s played a significant part in the Abbotsford Canucks’ success.
Our previously ranked prospects:
- #20 – Ilya Safonov
- #19 – Aku Koskenvuo
- #18 – Parker Alcos
- #17 – Wilson Björck
- #16 – Anri Ravinskis
- #15 – Josh Bloom
- #14 – Kieren Dervin
- #13 – Danila Klimovich
- #12 – Riley Patterson
- #11 – Anthony Romani
- # 10 – Vilmer Alriksson
- # 9 – Ty Young
- # 8 – Ty Mueller
- # 7 – Sawyer Mynio
If you’re curious about our ranking criteria, you can find them in our HM installment.
Arshdeep Bains
Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 24 | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 183 lbs | Shoots: Left | Drafted: Undrafted | Mid-season rank: 7
With 21 games of NHL experience and nearly 25 years old, this will be Arshdeep Bains’ final appearance in our prospect rankings.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, the Surrey native has become a heart-and-soul leader in Abbotsford.
Thanks to an incredible run where he played a pivotal role in his Abbotsford Canucks taking home the franchise’s first AHL Calder Cup, he goes out with a bang to jump a spot to take our sixth spot.
His postseason performance was as impressive as they come, finishing second in the league with 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) while leading all players with 17 assists.
While it took until the sixth game of the Conference Finals for his first goal, Bains stepped up big when his team needed it the most to erupt for seven goals and 13 points in his final eight games.
Even before the goals came pouring in, he was doing all the little things right, providing consistent effort and stepping up in other areas. His combination of offensive production, smart habits, and relentless energy made him a driving force in Abbotsford’s championship run.
Looking back to the regular season, he led the Abbotsford Canucks with 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games while leading the forward group with a plus-8 on the year. That’s two years of being in the top two in team scoring.
He’s now second in franchise history with 136 points (40 goals, 96 assists) in 175 games.
Bains’ game is defined by an ability to step when needed. At least, that’s the case while competing at the AHL level. He’s a tenacious worker, drives play, and creates opportunities with a knack for making the correct passes.
His skating, although not elite, is strong enough to compete at the AHL level, enabling him to win out battles, beat out defenders and contribute in all situations. Bains’ leadership shines through in his ability to elevate linemates and provide a necessary spark when his team needs it. Whether that’s the penalty kill, power play or critical moments, he’s a go-to option in every sense for the affiliated Canucks.
The big question now is whether he can do that at the NHL level, or is he a classic “tweener” who falls somewhere in the middle.
It’s no secret that in the 21 games he’s played with the big club, that same strong game displayed in the minors has yet to present itself fully. Adjusting to the NHL’s speed and physicality has been noticeable. Still, with another summer of training under his belt, the goal is to make the Vancouver Canucks out of training camp.
And now heading into his fourth season with the club, Bains will be given a chance to make Vancouver’s roster out of training camp. Especially given his waiver-eligible status.
With the club offering a two-year extension to stay in the organization, it’s clear that this regime believes he can get to that level in the NHL.
“Arshdeep had another solid season in Abbotsford as he continues to develop and mature,” General Manager Patrik Allvin mentioned in the initial team press release. “His game found another gear late in the AHL playoffs when he stepped up and helped lead the way offensively with several big goals. Arsh is now familiar with our system and style of play, and we expect him to push hard for a spot in September.”
Ceiling: Although his NHL tenure hasn’t been glowing, we still believe there is a player worthy of top-nine deployment. If he could adjust to the physicality and speed of the game, his combination of skill and work ethic has the potential to become a two-way contributor with the Canucks.
Floor: At the very least, he has proven he can be a productive AHL forward—his ability to drive play and contribute offensively at the AHL level.
ETA: With a solid Calder Cup run on his resume and a new contract in hand, the time for Bains to crack the roster full-time is now. His waiver status will make things tricky throughout the season, but he’ll be a candidate all year long.
That’s our #6 spot.
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