The 麻豆传媒映画Canucks’ development camp kicks off today at UBC, with 33 prospects hitting the ice at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from June 30 to July 3.
The majority of those prospects are already part of the Canucks’ system, including all six of the players selected by the Canucks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, such as 15th-overall pick Braeden Cootes, as well as the player the Canucks acquired via trade right after the draft, Ilya Safonov.
But it’s only barely a majority. Seventeen of the 33 prospects are already in the Canucks system, but 16 of them are undrafted and unsigned invitees.
Our campers for the week! 鉀猴笍
— 麻豆传媒映画Canucks (@Canucks)
These invitees are always intriguing, because they represent an opportunity to add a player to the Canucks’ prospect pool without using a draft pick or spending an asset in a trade.
Admittedly, most invitees are unsigned and undrafted for a reason, but every once in a while, there’s a diamond in the rough, such as Troy Stecher, who was an invitee to the Canucks’ 2014 development camp before eventually signing with the Canucks two years later.
Sixteen invitees is double the amount the Canucks had at development camp last year, which is an interesting development all on its own. A larger group of invitees increases the chances that one of them could be a legitimate prospect worth signing.
So, who are these 16 invitees? Let’s get to know them a little bit better.
FORWARDS
Mirko Buttazzoni - Left Wing
5’11” - 190 lbs - Sep 12, 2004 (20)
Langley, BC, Canada
UMass-Lowell Riverhawks, NCAA
Mirko Buttazzoni is the older brother of Diego Buttazzoni, who landed in PITB’s top 20 names for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Both Buttazzonis are local kids from Langley, so it was a short trip down Highway 99 for the elder Buttazzoni to attend development camp.
Buttazzoni is coming off his freshman year with the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in the NCAA, where he played on the top line and finished second on the team in scoring with 19 points in 32 games. As one might imagine from those numbers, the Riverhawks were a very low-scoring team.
Before heading to college, Buttazzoni was a beast in his final year in Junior A. He led the AJHL in points per game with 71 points in 45 games for the Brooks Bandits, then added another 22 points in 20 games after the Bandits’ move to the BCHL, for a total of 93 points in 65 games.
Mirko will be joined by Diego at UMass-Lowell next season, which isn’t actually the first time the brothers have played together. The two brother played a few games together with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the BCHL a few years ago, with .
Ray Fust - Left Wing
6’4” - 205 lbs - Oct 23, 2002 (22)
Bellinzona, Switzerland
Clarkson University, NCAA
Ray Fust may have been born in Switzerland, but he’s a dual Swiss/Canadian citizen and has been in North America for the past six years. He even spent some time in the Canucks’ backyard, playing 20 games with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL in the 2020-21 season.
Fust has spent the past three seasons in college hockey, playing two seasons with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then transferring to Clarkson University for one season. He has transferred again ahead of next season, heading to Sacred Heart University.
That inability to find firm footing with one college program casts some doubt on Fust being an NHL-caliber prospect, as does his production in college hockey: a total of 22 points across 80 games in three years.
Still, Fust has good size at 6’4” and 205 lbs, and plays a power forward game, looking to finish off plays around the net. Perhaps he’ll find a larger role on Sacred Heart than he did with Clarkson, where he primarily played on the fourth line.
“Ray brings size, skill, and scoring touch to our team,” . “He has the strong combination of physical presence and offensive instincts that will allow him to effectively protect the puck and battle in tight areas, especially along the boards and at the net front."
Fust also has a bit of international experience, representing Switzerland at the 2021 World Junior Championship, where he had 1 point in 4 games.
Amine Hajibi - Left Wing
6’1” - 185 lbs - May 4, 2005 (20)
Montreal, QC, Canada
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL
Amine Hajibi is one of the more intriguing invitees at this year’s development camp, as he has many of the attributes of a legitimate NHL prospect.
Hajibi led the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in scoring in his second and third years of draft eligibility, earning some attention from scouts, even if he didn’t get picked. He scored 20 goals and 54 points in 58 games this past season, which was good for 14th in USHL scoring.
Amine Hajibi () picks his spot for his second of the night 馃幆
— USHL (@USHL)
Elite Prospects’ 2024 draft guide praised Hajibi’s defensive game as “tremendous” and highlighted his playmaking ability off the rush.
“In transition, Hajibi looks like an NHL player,” said Elite Prospects. “He controls the neutral zone with his lateral passes, inside cuts, and wide drives. Powerful crossovers allowed him to constantly attack defenders at angles. Just when defenders think they’ve shut him down, he cuts back and finds the trailer or powers through their check. No matter the play, he consistently draws attention to himself, creating more space for his teammates.”
馃毃NU commit Haeden Ellis nets his 1st USHL goal for Cedar Rapids, with an assist from fellow Husky-to-be Amine Hajibi!
— Hoser (@HuskyHoser)
According to Elite Prospects, what’s missing from his game is the ability to create offence off in-zone possessions. That’s something he’ll need to add to his game as he heads to Northeastern University to play college hockey.
Still, with his size, pace, defensive details, and skill, there’s a player worth watching here. He has the potential to thrive in the NCAA and become a coveted free agent.
Colin Kessler - Left Wing
6’1” - 181 lbs - Jun 7, 2004 (21)
Anchorage, AK, USA
University of Vermont, NCAA
Colin Kessler is coming off a solid and productive freshman season with the University of Vermont, putting up 12 goals and 23 points in 34 games to finish second on the Catamounts in scoring.
POWER-PLAY GOAL FOR COLIN KESSLER 馃毃馃棧锔�
— UVM Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey)
Vermont takes a 3-1 advantage in the opening frame!
Kessler was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and was named as one of Vermont’s two nominees for the Hobey Baker Award.
Kessler is a playmaking winger, with the ability to come up with the puck on the forecheck and in battles along the boards, then find a teammate for a scoring chance.
“Deceptive release on his shot that is difficult for goalies to pick up,” reads his scouting report from DraftPro Hockey’s 2022 draft guide. “Gets good power behind his shot and is dangerous with the puck on his stick in tight.”
That scouting report noted some defensive issues and his off-puck positioning, calling him a “long-term project,” but that was three years ago. It will be interesting to see how he’s developed and whether he’s worth a longer look for the Canucks.
Zachary Morin - Left Wing
6’2” - 174 lbs - Jan 25, 2007 (18)
Lachenaie, QC, Canada
Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
It’s somewhat surprising that Zachary Morin wasn’t picked in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He was ranked fairly high on several independent draft rankings, as high as 49th overall in The Hockey News’ Draft Preview.
Scouts have had their eyes on Morin for years, as he has a ton of offensive skill and dominated youth hockey growing up. But scouts soured on Morin this past year, as his skill didn’t translate into as many points as hoped, and some questioned his effort and attitude.
“He just hasn’t taken that next step,” said one anonymous scout quoted in The Hockey News. “He has all the talent in the world, but he just hasn’t taken it to the next level.”
Morin had just 16 goals and 36 points in 56 games for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL, which just wasn’t enough production to overcome the other concerns about his game. The primary issue is that Morin has a low motor and plays at a low pace. He’s a great skater, but often lapses into a coast on his skates.
But when Morin is on, he shows flashes of legitimate potential.
“An opportunistic scorer, Morin roams the offensive zone, knowing how and where to attack to get passes and rebounds in the slot,” reads his profile from Elite Prospects. “And he can also distribute effectively, catching pucks all around him, rushing them through the neutral zone, and redirecting them to teammates. While he’s not a power forward, when defenders close on him, he cycles passes to space and can extend possession with his frame.”
There’s a lot of upside to Morin, and one has to wonder how passing through the draft without getting picked will affect him and change his approach on and off the ice.
“He’s a riskier prospect than most, but there’s a valuable reward if he develops well,” . “If he reaches his potential, you have a sizeable forward with smooth hands and solid offensive acumen. Morin is an offensively well-rounded prospect with middle-six upside, but his development will depend on whether he figures out how to be more impactful off the puck and fine-tunes his pace.”
Ben Muthersbaugh - Left Wing
5’11” - 187 lbs - Feb 15, 2004 (21)
Gilford, NH, USA
Union College, NCAA
Something I’m noticing here: every forward the Canucks invited is listed as a left winger.
Ben Muthersbaugh is no exception, and is coming off an excellent freshman season with Union College in the NCAA, where he had 13 goals and 28 points in 36 games.
Ben Muthersbaugh is at it again!
— Union College Men's Hockey (@Unionmhockey)
That was primarily fueled by a hot start to the season, as he had 8 goals and 16 points in his first 10 games, then slowed down as the season progressed. That said, Muthersbaugh continued to pile up the shots on goal, with a couple of seven and eight-shot games.
Muthersbaugh has been so that will be something to look for at camp, where the Canucks will be watching to see if his college production was a flash in the pan or a sign of NHL potential.
DEFENCE
Carsen Adair - Left Defence
6’3” - 190 lbs - Feb 14, 2007 (18)
Clavet, SK, Canada
Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL
Carsen Adair was a first-time draft-eligible prospect in this past draft but passed through unselected. That’s not entirely surprising. He was ranked 203rd among North American skaters by Central Scouting and the only independent draft ranking to list Adair was FC Hockey, who had him ranked 299th.
Still, any time you’ve got a 6’3” defenceman with decent skating ability, it’s worth taking a longer look. Adair is a physical defensive defenceman, who loves to take the body, but doesn’t have much offensive upside, managing just 9 points in 66 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL.
“He is a tough, physical defenseman who plays with an aggressive edge and has the ability to deliver big open-ice hits,” . “However, his offensive contributions are limited, and he can find himself in penalty trouble if he doesn’t maintain discipline.
“Has good size, decent strength, and plays a gritty, physical game. He isn’t afraid to use his body to make an impact. Where he gets caught is when he is looking to reach, and smaller, more agile players will slip the puck through his triangle. He has a little trouble recovering if he cannot recover with force.”
Matthew Grimes - Left Defence
6’1” - 185 lbs - May 19, 2007 (18)
Locust Valley, NY, USA
Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL
Presumably no relation to , Matthew Grimes passed through the 2025 draft in his first year of eligibility.
FC Hockey, at least, had a high view of Grimes, ranking him 84th on their list heading into the draft. as a “poised, two-way defenceman, whose game is built on fluid skating, composure, and transitional efficiency.”
Grimes says , praising his skating and seeing him as an overlooked and underrated defenceman.
It should be noted that as high as FC Hockey was on Grimes, no one else had him ranked on their lists. Part of the problem may have been getting buried on a USHL team that had a lot of other quality defencemen. Limited minutes could have made it tough for him to shine.
At the very least, he’s worth a longer look to see if FC Hockey’s assessment is accurate.
“Defensively, he excels in gap control and east-west coverage but can struggle in net-front battles and physical engagements,” says FC Hockey. “With added strength, he projects as a reliable, possession-focused, middle-pair NHL defenceman.”
Stefan Milosevic - Left Defence
6’4” - 220 lbs - Dec 2, 2003 (21)
Ystad, Sweden
BIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan
It wouldn’t be a Canucks camp without a big Swedish presence and Stefan Milosevic is exactly that: a big, Swedish presence.
Milosevic is 6’4” and 220 lbs and, appropriately, plays a physical, defence-first game. The 21-year-old put up 8 points in 48 games for BIK Karlskoga in Sweden’s second-tier men’s league, the HockeyAllsvenskan, and also played five games in the top-tier SHL with Skellefteå AIK.
“He simply just doesn't get beaten in battles involving physical contact,” reads one Draft Pro Hockey scouting report from his draft year in 2022. “His balance is great and so is his strength…With the puck, he is so calm — it's almost as if he knows that no matter if he receives a hit, he won't get knocked off the puck thanks to his strength. His confidence and calmness gives him the opportunity to make simple plays, but also to solve situations where he is needed to create some space for himself in order to find a new passing lane.”
The question marks for Milosevic start with his skating, which was noted as a weakness in his draft year. As is always the case with big, defensive defenceman, there will also be questions about his puck skills and whether he can transition the puck up ice effectively.
But his size and style of game making him an intriguing prospect to watch.
“Milosevic is the type of defenseman to use when you want to shut down an opponent’s offensive threats effectively,” from FC Hockey’s Fredrik Haak. “He has a strong frame and great reach, making him tough to face.”
Mack Oliphant - Right Defence
6’3” - 194 lbs - Dec 28, 2002 (22)
Northbrook, IL, USA
College of the Holy Cross, NCAA
Mack Oliphant will attract some attention, as he was tied for 12th in scoring among NCAA defencemen this past season, putting up 29 points in 36 games.
The 6’3”, right-shot defenceman is on the older side at 22, but there’s a lot to like about the steps he took this his season, as he added a little more offence to an already solid defensive game, which provides scouts with a little more confidence about his ability to transition to the pro game.
P1 | 5:35
— Holy Cross M. Hockey (@HCrossMHockey)
Mack Oliphant goes for a quick trip around the zone before ripping one home! Tie game!
Oliphant played a key role on Holy Cross’s NCAA-leading penalty kill, which shut down an astonishing 91.1% of opposing power plays. An important element was that he managed to stay out of the box himself, taking just two minor penalties all season.
Oliphant has earned some accolades in college hockey, as he was named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team in his freshman year, and was an Atlantic Hockey Second-Team All Star this past season.
Duncan Ramsay - Left Defence
6’5” - 212 lbs - Feb 8, 2004 (21)
Halifax, NS, Canada
University of Vermont, NCAA
Yet another big defenceman, Duncan Ramsay comes in at 6’5”, 212 lbs. Ramsay also has a local connection, as he played a season with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL before heading to the University of Vermont.
Ramsay is a physical defensive defenceman, who has the mobility to make the most of his reach.
“He has impressive size, strength, and athleticism, but he’s more than just a physical specimen; he’s a tough, physical, shutdown defenseman who is just beginning his trajectory,” from Neutral Zone. “He moves very well for his size, appears to have fluid hips and can transition, pivot, maintain tight coverage on skilled and speedy forwards, and gap up and play physically on bigger, stronger power forwards.”
The offensive side of Ramsay’s game, however, is almost entirely non-existent. He has just 4 points, all assists, in 58 NCAA games over the past two seasons.
Scouts typically get excited about a 6’5” defenceman who can skate, but the lack of points in the BCHL or NCAA is somewhat concerning, as you begin to have questions about the puck skills and whether he’ll be able to handle and move the puck well enough to play at the pro level.
Zach Sandhu - Left Defence
6’2” - 194 lbs - Dec 20, 2005 (19)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Oshawa Generals, OHL
Zach Sandhu didn’t quite break out this past season in the OHL, but he certainly took a step forward. In his previous season, Sandhu had 3 goals and 10 points in 59 games in his draft year; this past season, he jumped up to 9 goals and 24 points in 64 games with the Oshawa Generals.
That’s a good sign for Sandhu, who is primarily a defensive defenceman, taking care of his own end of the ice and throwing big hits when the opportunity to do so presents itself.
Zack Sandhu catches Easton Cowan cutting across the middle with his head down and absolutely destroys him. Shoulder to chest. As clean of an open ice hit as you’ll see
— Generals Live (@GeneralsUpdates)
“Sandhu is a good defensive player, he made big hits in the game, and was a solid point player,” said Neutral Zone’s Alex Sorichetti . “He played his position well, was dependable, and was a solid passing option in the offensive zone. He was good at controlling the puck to break out of his zone and was a hard guy to play against overall.”
Other scouting reports paint a picture of a steady, reliable defenceman, who makes the safe play and avoids unnecessary risks, though he certainly marched a steady path to the penalty box this past season with 92 penalty minutes. He’s clearly a player who gets involved after the whistle.
A heavy-hitting defensive defenceman like Sandhu is worth a longer look, especially when he’s showing clear progression in the other parts of his game.
Xander Velliaris - Left Defence
6’3” - 205 lbs - Apr 23, 2007 (18)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Saginaw Spirit, OHL
There are some excellent names at the Canucks’ 2025 development camp, but Xander Velliaris might just take the cake. Somehow, he slipped under my radar in the best names of the draft countdown.
Velliaris also slipped right through the draft itself. He was ranked 249th by McKeen’s Hockey and 298th by FC Hockey, so he was certainly a long shot. The number of invitee defenceman seems notable given the Canucks didn’t draft any defencemen on the weekend; perhaps they’ll look to bolster their prospect pool by signing one of these invitees.
Velliaris might be a good bet to be that invitee. While he had just 9 points in 52 games in the OHL this past season, the 6’3” defenceman might have some untapped offside.
“At 6-foot-3 with mobility, physicality, and a willingness to make plays, Velliaris is always looking for opportunities to contribute offensively,” reads his profile from the Elite Prospects draft guide. “He activates into space, skates the puck out confidently on breakouts, draws pressure towards him, and cuts back after gaining the zone.”
Velliaris has the size, mobility, and physicality to defend well in his own end, but he’s still a work in progress on that side of the puck.
“Some of his habits still require further development,” said Elite Prospects. “He can be overwhelmed by intense forecheckers, he’s prone to turnovers on the breakout, and a lack of consistent scanning means he doesn’t always pick up threats in time.”
Elite Prospects calls Velliaris a “long-term project,” but there’s legitimate NHL potential in his physical tools.
“Because he's so raw (a bit of a blank canvas), he's actually one of my favourite later round sleepers for this year,” . “He's big. He's mobile. He's shown offensive upside at times, be it as a powerplay QB or a transition player. He's shown to be physical and tough to play against. It's just that none of those things are happening consistently or at the same time. But, this could easily be someone who absolutely pops off down the line with the right development.”
That sounds like exactly the type of prospect the Canucks could potentially sign as an undrafted free agent after selecting zero defencemen in the draft.
GOALTENDERS
Matthew Hutchison - Goaltender
6’3” - 190 lbs - Oct 7, 2006 (18)
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
麻豆传媒映画Giants/Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
The Canucks looked into their backyard for this invitee — at least, he was in their backyard before a midseason trade from the 麻豆传媒映画Giants to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Matthew Hutchison is a big, athletic, competitive goaltender, which fits exactly the type of profile that goaltending scout Ian Clark typically likes. What’s lacking a little bit is consistency in his technique, which is something potentially fixable given the right development.
“Hutchison possesses an NHL goalie frame at 6’2.5″ and 189 lbs, and he uses it well to fill space when square to shooters,” from Neutral Zone. “His stance is upright and efficient, with smooth transitions into the butterfly and decent post-to-post movement.”
The numbers for Hutchison aren’t pretty: an .888 save percentage that was well below league average in the WHL.
“He allowed too many clean looks off the rush, often late reacting to lateral plays or shots through traffic,” said Neutral Zone. “He showed issues with locking down games or maintaining focus over 60 minutes. His rebound control and tracking can be erratic when under sustained pressure, and he’s still refining his puck-handling decision-making.”
There’s a base to work with for Hutchison, but he’s a long-term project. He’ll need to prove he can maintain a high standard of play over the course of a season.
Alexander Levshyn - Goaltender
6’3” - 163 lbs - Jul 8, 2006 (18)
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Toronto Patriots, OHJL
Alexander Levshyn is the second of two 18-year-old goaltenders invited to camp, joining 17-year-old draft pick Alexei Medvedev.
Levshyn has NHL height at 6’3”, but he’s very slight at 163 lbs, and will likely need to add more size and strength to have the necessary power to move around his crease quickly and efficiently in the pro game.
That said, Levshyn was outstanding in the OHJL this past season, posting a .935 save percentage that was fourth among OJHL goaltenders, with two of the goaltenders ahead of him in their over-age seasons.
Levshyn also represented Ukraine in the lower divisions of both the World Junior Championship and the World Championship. He helped Ukraine’s World Junior team earn a promotion from Division I B to Division I A for the first time since 2011 by winning all five of their games, with a .909 save percentage and one shutout.
Levshyn will presumably be back in net for Ukraine’s World Junior team next year as they aim to stay in Division I A or, potentially, get promoted back to the top level for the first time since 2004.
Long-term, Levshyn intends to go to Clarkson University in the NCAA, but not until the 2027-28 season, which presumably means he’ll spend two more seasons in the OJHL or, with the new NCAA eligibility rules, find a team in the OHL.
Roddy Ross - Goaltender
6’3” - 183 lbs - Jul 4, 2000 (24)
Meadow Lake, SK, Canada
University of Saskatchewan, USports
Roddy Ross is the lone invitee who was actually drafted, albeit not by the Canucks. Ross was a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2019.
Ultimately, the Flyers didn’t sign Ross, and he chose to go to the University of Saskatchewan after his WHL career ended, spending four years playing USports hockey.
This past season, Ross was a Second Team All-Canadian after his sparkling .928 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average led Canada West in both categories. He was also named Canada West Goaltender of the Year.
Beyond his accomplishments on the ice, Ross has received accolades for his work off the ice, especially his work with Indigenous youth. In March, Ross, a member of Canoe Lake Cree Nation, , recognizing his community leadership.
The 24-year-old goaltender then made his pro debut, posting a .957 save percentage in three regular season games in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder.
Ross would be worth a look just for his solid play on the ice, but his character makes it even more worthwhile for the Canucks to bring him to camp to see if there’s a place for him in their system.
