Anthony Romani is heading back to Michigan State, giving the Canucks prospect another NCAA year instead of a jump to pro hockey.

That decision matters because Romani had another path. Vancouver’s 2024 sixth-round pick could have pushed toward a first pro contract after a strong freshman season, but he is choosing development over speed.

And there was enough on the board to make that jump a real conversation. Romani finished 2025-26 with 14 goals and 14 assists in 37 games for Michigan State, solid production on a deep roster and a good first NCAA read for a winger coming out of the OHL.

That is what makes this feel like a calculated call, not a retreat. He is not going back because his freshman year stalled. He is going back because there is still more to build in a program that gave him real minutes, real pressure, and a fast education.

Michigan State also gives him a strong place to keep growing. The Spartans were an NCAA tournament team this season, and Romani was already fifth in team scoring heading into that stretch.

That is a good environment for a prospect Vancouver does not need to rush. Romani is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, and still early in his development curve compared with a player already grinding through a full AHL schedule.

Why Anthony Romani’s return makes sense for Vancouver

This move gives the Canucks more patience and gives Romani more runway. Another year in college means more puck touches, more special-teams work, and more chances to round out the details that separate a promising scorer from a pro-ready winger.

It also keeps the bigger picture intact. Romani’s path has already moved quickly, from a 111-point OHL season in 2023-24 to a late push with Barrie in 2024-25 and then straight into major college hockey.

That jump alone told you the Canucks liked the player’s trajectory. Returning to Michigan State says they are willing to let that track breathe a little longer instead of forcing the next step early.

There is also simple hockey logic here. Romani is coming off a season where he proved he belongs in the NCAA. The next test is not survival. It is whether he can drive games more often and turn a strong freshman year into a dominant sophomore one.

For Vancouver, that is a worthwhile bet. A prospect who returns to school with confidence, production, and a bigger role in front of him can be more valuable a year from now than one pushed into pro hockey a year too soon.

So the headline here is not that Anthony Romani is staying put. It is that one of the Canucks’ more interesting forward prospects is betting another year at Michigan State will put him in a stronger position when the pro jump finally comes.

Did Anthony Romani make the right call by returning to Michigan State?

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