It’s time to wrap up our analysis of young players who have the most to prove their teams in the season ahead. We’ve looked at each of the Atlantic, Central, and Metropolitan divisions, and that leaves the Pacific.

There’s no shortage of notable names who face pressure in the Pacific to show something in 2026-27. However, this series focuses specifically on under-25 players returning to their same teams as last season, unlike a candidate such as Edmonton’s Devon Levi, who finally got a fresh start with a shot at offering sorely needed relief in net for the Oilers. To make the list they also must have yet to fully cement themselves, as opposed to a player like Quinton Byfield, who already has three straight 79+ game campaigns under his belt despite the much-anticipated offensive explosion in Los Angeles having alluded him so far.

Not every team in the division has a perfect match for that criteria, so three particular names are highlighted below.

Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

Having turned 24 during the off-season, Yaroslav Askarov finally got his long-awaited stay in the NHL this past season, playing in 47 games which was a slight advantage over his teammate Alex Nedeljkovic’s 40. Showing brilliance at times in his usual flashy style, there were also expected growing pains. The Russian dealt with injuries in the spring and didn’t have the best ending to the season upon his return, allowing 38 goals in his last 10 starts. San Jose has not been the kindest place for goaltenders over the past several years, but the club took a significant step forward with 39 wins, by no means a bottom feeder any longer.

All of that being said, it would have been nice to see the talented netminder have a little more sustained success like his team did. Askarov’s .884 save percentage and 3.63 goals-against-average were both below Nedeljkovic. His -18.9% goals saved above expected was third worst in the NHL, according to Moneypuck statistics. The Sharks knew his elite potential wouldn’t be unlocked immediately when they traded for the former 11th overall selection of Nashville, and the expectation is that there will be a turning of the page in 2026-27. It’s all business now, as general manager Mike Grier overhauled the team’s defense core, and suddenly the team is spending close to the cap with their sights on the playoffs. Askarov has one more year at his current $2MM value before becoming a restricted free agent, and it’s time to prove himself. One can argue that he’s the final piece to the rebuild, so if Askarov comes through this year and puts it all together the sky is the limit on the team for the next decade. Clearly that’s a lot at stake for the 6’3″ aggressive right-catcher.

Shane Wright – Seattle Kraken

It’s not too late for something to change in the coming weeks, but Shane Wright is on track to return to the Kraken when it sure didn’t seem possible two months ago. No trade partner has been found yet, despite an apparent agreement that he’d be moved “this summer”. It’s an unpleasant situation all around, but if the center is back for his fifth season in the organization, the best thing he can do for both sides is prove his talent, which prompted the league’s newest team to draft him fourth overall in 2022 to become a cornerstone. Once regarded as a can’t-miss #1 overall level prospect in the OHL, certain scouts weren’t sold on his final junior season. Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to prove them wrong yet, looking on the up two years ago with 44 points, but regressing this past campaign with just 27 points in 74 games.

Even if the points have been hard to come by on a team which finished fifth worst last season in offense, what’s most concerning is Wright’s struggles in other areas. His face-off win percentage dipped to 39.7% this past year, not the best look for anybody banking on him to become a #1 center. It’s not like he was stuck in bad situations either, starting an eye-popping 71.3% of his total shifts in the offensive zone. In his unconventional bottom-six role, Wright’s 13:48 was 11th out of Kraken forwards, not encouraging especially on a team which was desperate for offense down the middle. That hasn’t really changed after their summer moves either, so while a fresh start is surely in his best interest, Wright still has a wide open door to roll in training camp and earn a meaningful role in their lineup. At 22, in the last year of his entry-level contract, he can’t be written off without a shot on a new team. Yet whatever sweater he is putting on by 2027, it’s a crucial year for the Ontario native to find his stride and make a case to become a top-six center, a job title which is most sought after in today’s game.

Aatu Räty – Vancouver Canucks

Another once hyped-up prospect who will turn 24 in November, Aatu Räty had plenty of growing pains across his first full time NHL season, but considering how things were for Vancouver as a whole, judge at your own discretion. Once a legit top 10 prospect for the 2021 draft, the Finn fell to 52nd after coming away with six points in 35 games against grown men in Liiga. A key piece going to the Canucks in exchange for their captain Bo Horvat, there were still concerns about his skating ability, but as a strong AHL producer he was an exciting addition. Helping lead the Abbotsford Canucks to an AHL title two years ago with 40 points in 43 games, Räty became a consistent presence for the big club last season, suiting up for 66 games and offering four goals and 14 points.

The numbers weren’t all pretty, at times not trusted under one-and-done former head coach Adam Foote, but Räty’s game has reasons for optimism. Under Foote he was given a tough workload, starting just under 60% of his shifts in his own end. Even despite that, he came away with a 47.7% corsi-for at five-on-five which was below average, but it could have been worse given his deployment on the league’s worst team. The biggest highlight was Räty’s 60.5% face-off win rate, seventh best in the entire league. On that metric alone, he absolutely has an NHL future, just needing to iron out other aspects. It’s not like the potential is high-end as it was five years ago, but the 6’2″ lefty has what it takes to become at least a strong 3C for the Canucks. He’ll be reunited with Manny Malhotra, now head coach after the two excelled in the AHL together. If there’s any coach who can benefit such a player it’s especially one who was an elite face-off specialist during his own NHL career. Räty will have an opportunity to break out and cement himself as a mainstay in the Vancouver lineup.

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