Canucks assign defensive prospect Sawyer Mynio to AHL Abbotsford

The 20-year-old defensive prospect wrapped up his time in juniors earlier this year and will now be playing his first full pro season. Mynio previously appeared in one game with the Abbotsford Canucks in the 2023-24 season.

Mynio landed seventh on CanucksArmy’s summer prospect rankings back in July. He was the third-highest-ranked defenceman, behind Tom Willander (#1) and Kirill Kudryavtsev (#5), a testament to the strength of their defensive pool moving forward. Here’s some of what CanucksArmy’s Dave Hall had to say about what he called a “smooth-skating and aggressive defender with a booming one-timer”:

Thought to be drafted as a top-notch penalty killer, it’s clear that the added responsibility and ice-time have brought out budding offensive potential. Thanks to his plus-rated skating, he navigates the ice with incredible ease and can transport the puck to kick-start plays up the ice. …

On the defensive side, he shuts down opponents with an incredible mean streak. He plays the game with an edge, and despite not sporting the heaviest of frames, he’s a gamer who does not consider losing a battle an option. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in nastiness.

He’s a go-to penalty killer and can play the defensive shutdown game against the opposing team’s top brass. At least at the junior level, that’s always been a part of the game.

The 6-foot-1, 173 lb. blueliner was drafted by the Canucks organization in the third round of the 2023 draft while playing in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Across four seasons with the Thunderbirds, Mynio had 30 goals and 114 points in 196 appearances. Adding 40 postseason matches, he also helped the team win the WHL championship in 2023, advancing all the way to the Memorial Cup Final. In January, he was traded to the Calgary Hitmen, where he finished up his junior career with nine goals and 26 points in 31 games, adding six points in 11 postseason matches. Hailing from Kamloops, B.C., Mynio also played with Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors, notching one assist in three games played.

Headed to Abbotsford, Mynio will have to adapt to translating his aggressive game to a league with bigger, more physical, and more experienced players. With lots of competition for roster spots on the blue line in Vancouver, he’s got work to do this year to make a case to start in the NHL anytime soon.