So what's up with Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio?

The new cat dad has been turning heads.


Photo: Abbotsford Canucks/Flickr

Sawyer Mynio was not expected to be a top defenseman when the American Hockey League season began. Though with injuries and call-ups plaguing both the big club and the Abbotsford team, Mynio had some big shoes to fill for his rookie season.

Mynio was part of the Calder Cup winning team last season, sitting in the pressbox with other healthy scratches as the playoffs continued on. Most of his season was spent in the WHL. He was the co-captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds alongside 2025 first round Canucks draft pick Braeden Cootes before being traded to the Calgary Hitmen for the remainder of his WHL career. During that time he was also part of Team Canada for the 2025 World Junior Championship.

So how has he been doing in his rookie AHL year?

Well, better than one might expect.

The 20 year old d-man is currently third in points for all league rookie defensemen and tied third for points among the Abbotsford Canucks this season. Sitting at 10 points, Mynio has been able to net 2 goals of his own (including his first career AHL goal) as well as 8 assists.

His goals came early on in the season, back when the Vancouver Canucks were calling up more and more defensemen and thrusting Mynio into longer ice time. Despite the pressure, the rookie has proven himself to be a valuable part of the Abbotsford team.

Sawyer Mynio is not a large player by any means. He stands at 6’1 and only weighs 181 lbs, but what he has is his skating. His aggression and mobility on the ice has made him someone to watch this season. Being able to skate up and down the ice is what makes him special and a player to help brace the team, especially in that early season.

Others have taken note of this breakout season. People like head coach Manny Malhotra, reporter Dave Hall, and play-by-play caster Brandon Astle have shared their comments on Mynio’s game so far. Often praising the way he has been developing in the AHL with Astle even saying “He hasn’t looked out of place at all, in fact he keeps getting better and better.”

Is Mynio NHL ready?

No, and that’s okay. There’s no expectation for him to be reaching the NHL right now, even as injuries and trade talk circle around the big club like vultures. He helped hold down the fort during the string of bad luck and losses that Abbotsford took in the beginning of the season and continues to help even as the older defensemen trickle back to the club.

Sawyer Mynio was given a shot to prove himself at the beginning of the season and he didn’t take it for granted. With each game he only continues to show his play off more for everyone to see. There’s something special brewing in Abbotsford with him, especially with the season still just getting started.

Keep your eye on him, we have a great kid coming.