CA’s top 20 Canucks summer prospect rankings: #8 Ty Mueller

We are back with the 2025 summer edition of our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.

Today, we present to you our eighth-ranked player in the system, a two-way centre who burst on the scene with an impressive rookie season with the Abbotsford Canucks.

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

If you’re curious about our ranking criteria, you can find them in our HM instalment here. Let’s get into it.

Ty Mueller

Ty Mueller leaps over several prospects to earn his first top-10 appearance in our CanucksArmy prospect rankings.

It’s the perfect blend of raised upside, while inching closer and closer to NHL deployment.

In fact, he was already awarded a two-game NHL audition late in the 2024-25 season following a strong rookie season with the Abbotsford Canucks.

The Canucks don’t have a ton of centre depth, especially those who are promotion-ready, so Mueller is on the cusp of becoming a realistic mid-season call-up option.

Having been passed over twice at the NHL draft, many questioned the Canucks’ thought process when they selected him in the fourth round at the 2024 entry draft – just 16 picks after Sawyer Mynio and two picks ahead of Vilmer Alriksson. His quick ascent is a good reminder not to judge a draft selection too early, as all three of those names are now considered legitimate prospects.

Coming out of his draft, Mueller’s draft-plus-one season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2022-23 showcased his two-way game, earning him a career-high point total and a Hobey Baker nomination at age 20.

With three years of collegiate hockey under his belt already, Mueller joined the Abbotsford Canucks late in the 2023-24 season, just in time for a playoff push. Unfortunately, Mueller was recovering from a broken finger suffered during his own playoff push with the Mavericks, which put a halt to his pro debut.

Absorbing the pro environment from the press box, however, he was gaining valuable insights and setting the stage for a breakout 2024-25. In his first full AHL season, Mueller hit the ground running, fitting seamlessly into Abbotsford’s lineup.

From the early stages, he was deployed in all situations. He anchored the team’s top penalty-kill unit, took key defensive-zone faceoffs, and contributed offensively with modest but important contributions. Five of his 12 goals were game-winning tallies. With Vancouver’s frequent call-ups thinning Abbotsford’s roster, Mueller stepped up as the team’s top center at times, handling increased minutes like a true pro.

And when veterans returned, he adapted effortlessly back to second- or third-line roles, earning the trust of coach Manny Malhotra with his versatility and ability to be a chameleon. Whether it be playing up the middle, on the wing, power play, penalty kill or final moments of the game, he provided it all.

Mueller finished tied for third on the team with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 64 games, second with a plus–15 rating, and maintained a 52% faceoff win rate.

His postseason performance was equally strong, with six of his nine assists being primary helpers, and he led the team in faceoffs taken, hovering around the 51% mark.

By season’s end, he added a 2024-25 AHL All-Star Game appearance, Abbotsford’s Unsung Hero Award, and a Calder Cup to his resume. Not bad.

Taking home the Unsung Hero award was a fitting nod to the playing style which he brings on a night-to-night basis. His game isn’t flashy; instead, it’s a Swiss Army knife-type, capable of playing heavy minutes in any situation. While his 39 points don’t scream offensive dynamo, his production is steady, with points coming from smart plays and hard work in tight areas.

Ceiling: Given his two-way, play-anywhere style, Ty Mueller gives off real Pius Suter-lite vibes. Will he get to that point? Perhaps. But there is something that screams “responsible NHL role player” about his game. We see the potential for him to slide in as a third-line player, with the ability to chip in on the scoresheet from time to time.

Floor: At the very least, he’s shown that he’s most definitely a strong and reliable pivot at the American League level. If he doesn’t crack the NHL full-time, there is a good chance he will stick as a classic NHL/AHL tweener.

ETA: With his NHL debut already in the rearview, we can assume that Ty Mueller is very much on the team’s radar as a potential option. While he will push for a spot this fall, you can expect him to return to Abbotsford as a call-up option throughout the season. Don’t be shocked to see him push for a permanent spot in Vancouver by the following training camp (2026).

That’s our #8 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.

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CA’s top 20 Canucks summer prospect rankings: #8 Ty Mueller

Ty Mueller

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