In some ways, Jim Rutherford is an optimist.

The Vancouver Canucks president has stated that the Canucks rebuild hopefully won’t take longer than two to three years.

While that’s most likely a pipe dream, one way for the club to accelerate things is if they can hit on some of their later-round picks.

Well, the Canucks might be able to hit on one with Anthony Romani.

The Pickering, Ontario native was selected as an overager in the sixth-round (162nd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft.

His offensive gifts were evident, especially after registering 58 goals and 111 points in 68 OHL games during the 2023-24 season.

It was a performance so strong that Romani ended up on Team Canada’s radar for the World Juniors. However, a broken clavicle forced him to the sidelines for an extended stretch.

Not to be deterred, Romani finished his OHL career with 12 goals and 24 points in 16 playoff games before making the move to Michigan State University this season.

The 20-year-old scored in his debut for the prestigious hockey school, but he’s really found another gear of late.

Anthony Romani makes it 1-0 in the first!

Strbak and Augustine with the assists after a great stretch pass from Max pic.twitter.com/5SfN1ZVfj3

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 30, 2026

Since Dec. 6, Romani has nine goals and 14 points in his last 10 games. And on Friday, he recorded his first career hat-trick in the NCAA.

Despite being on a Michigan State team loaded with former first-round picks, such as Porter Martone, Ryker Lee, Charlie Stramel, and Cayden Lindstrom, Romani still ranks fourth in team scoring.

His development has been a tiny beacon of light for the Canucks as they look to reset their organization. And, the 6-foot-1 right-winger possesses some key traits that are lacking in the Canucks organization.

Romani has a wicked release on his shot, which has translated to the NCAA this season. He also has good speed, evident by the fact that he does a lot of his damage off the rush.

Speed and scoring, you say? Certainly sounds like something the Canucks desperately need.

Right now, the Canucks are in no rush to bring Romani into the organization. Based on old rules, the Canucks would have had to sign Romani by June 1, 2026, since he was drafted from the CHL.

Now that CHL players are permitted to join clubs in the NCAA, as Romani has done, the Canucks now have until June 1, 2028, to sign him to a contract.