Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site’s 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today’s player is Canucks forward Ilya Safonov.
Safonov’s 2025-2026 Season
After attending development camp, Safonov headed back to the KHL to play for Ak Bars Kazan. The 25-year-old had an impressive campaign, recording 33 points in 68 games. Safonov also competed in two games for Russia at the U25 level.
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As for the playoffs, Safonov was once again impactful. He recorded nine points in 20 games and helped Ak Bars Kazan qualify for the Gagarin Cup. Unfortunately, Safonov and his teammates fell just short of a championship, as Ak Bars Kazan lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in six games.
Once his season was complete, Safonov signed with Vancouver. His deal was a one-year, two-way contract worth $950,000. At the end of the 2026-27 campaign, Safonov will be a restricted free agent.
Safonov’s 2026-27 Predictions
Safonov will be a candidate for the Canucks’ fourth line and extra forward slot. He has good size at 6’4″, 205 pounds, and can play both center and on the wing. Overall, Safonov’s defensive play and physicality could earn him a spot on the opening-night roster.
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As for the entire season, Safonov may be shuttled between the NHL and the AHL. For example, he could spend two or three weeks practicing and serving as an extra forward for Vancouver before being sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks to get some game action. Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how Safonov’s game translates both to the AHL and the NHL.
Ilya Safonov at Vancouver Canucks Development Camp (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)
Canucks 2026–27 Player Previews:
Braeden Cootes
Linus Karlsson
Nikita Tolopilo
Victor Mancini
Kevin Lankinen
Filip Chytil
Thatcher Demko
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Elias Pettersson (D)
Marco Rossi
Max Sasson
Jamie Oleksiak
Drew O’Connor
Luke Schenn
Paul Cotter
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Brendan Gallagher
Liam Öhgren
Tom Willander
Jake DeBrusk
Zeev Buium
Brock Boeser
Filip Hronek
Elias Pettersson
Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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