Prospect Profiles: Alexei Medvedev

The Goalie of the Future

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Vancouver Canucks goaltending prospect Alexei Medvedev continues to justify why the organization invested a high second-round pick in him. Selected 47th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Medvedev has followed up an exceptional rookie campaign with another solid season for the OHL’s London Knights, reinforcing his status as the Canucks’ most intriguing long-term project in net. On July 10, 2025, Medvedev signed his entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks, a key step that locks in his development within the organization and gives the team control over a high-upside goaltender for the foreseeable future.

Standing 6’3” and catching left, Medvedev burst onto the scene as a rookie during the 24/25 season before being drafted by Vancouver. Posting a .912 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against average, and a 22–8–2 record over 34 games. It was a debut campaign that could hardly have gone better. Medvedev earned OHL First All-Rookie Team honours, captured the Dinty Moore Trophy as the league’s top rookie goaltender by goals-against average, and capped the year with a Memorial Cup championship. It was an outstanding introduction to major junior hockey, one that significantly boosted his draft stock and positioned him as one of the premier goaltending prospects available before the Canucks ultimately selected him.

Now in his second OHL season, Medvedev has continued to shoulder a substantial workload for a strong London Knights club. Through 25 games, he holds a 13–10–1 record along with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. While those numbers represent a modest step back from his rookie campaign, the broader context is important. Medvedev has transitioned from a breakout rookie into the Knights’ primary goaltender, taking on a heavier workload and the responsibility of consistently performing at a high level. That type of adjustment is typical for young netminders and does little to alter his long-term projection.

One of Medvedev’s most appealing traits remains his athletic profile. He’s an explosive goaltender who plays bigger than his frame, relying on strong lateral movement, quick reactions, and a competitive edge to make difficult saves look routine. Born just five days before the draft cutoff, he was one of the youngest players in his draft class. Had his birthday fallen a week later, he would have been eligible for the following draft, where there’s a legitimate argument he could have pushed into first-round territory.

Medvedev is expected to remain in the OHL with London, continuing to log meaningful minutes in a structured, winning environment. He also holds a unique place in franchise history as the first Russian goaltender ever drafted by the Vancouver Canucks. While the organization already has a crowded goaltending depth chart, Medvedev was clearly high on Vancouver’s board, and his selection marked the team’s first goalie pick since Ty Young in 2022. He is still just 18 years old, and with goaltenders typically following a longer and more gradual development curves, he should fit perfectly into the "rebuild window".