RSS Canucks Team Notes

[Vancouver Canucks]

Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #14 – Mattias Ohlund

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #14: Mattias Ohlund

Before we begin, did anyone else know that Ohlund’s first name is actually Kenneth? Or was that just me?

Anyway.

Drafted 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Draft, the Canucks had to wait until October of 1997 to see the debut of their young Swedish defenceman. However, showing his maturity and poise on display, Ohlund quickly became a top-pairing blueliner for the Canucks. In his rookie campaign, Ohlund scored seven goals and 30 points while averaging 22:43 minutes of ice time in 77 games. Ohlund went on to finish second to only Sergei Samsonov for the Calder Trophy.

His second year was steady, as Ohlund increased his point totals by five and pushed his average time on ice to over 26 minutes, cementing himself as the Canucks’ top blueline minute muncher. Ohlund’s 1999-2000 season was cut short after a deflected puck struck him in the eye. He would require surgery that would restrict him to just 42 games, but he still managed to produce 20 points.

Returning fully healthy for the 2000-2001 season, Ohlund was awarded with an ‘A’ on his sweater, as he retook his role as a leader and the team’s top defenceman. He recorded 28 points in 65 games and helped Vancouver reach the playoffs for the first time since 1995-1996. Unfortunately for Ohlund and the Canucks, they would get swept by the Presidents’ Trophy and eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. Although they didn’t register one win, Ohlund finished with four points in four games.

Ohlund remained as consistent as could be over the following three seasons (2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004), registering anywhere between 29 and 36 points. During that stretch, he set a new career-high in goals with 14 in 03-04, while averaging his consistent 25+ minutes per night in all three seasons. He was never a prolific point producer, despite quarterbacking the power play, but his reliable defensive play made him a coach’s dream, as he could be trusted in all situations.

Following the lockout, Ohlund’s role with the team shifted somewhat. He was still the undisputed number one Canucks defenceman – logging over 25 minutes for yet another season – but this time he was paired with young blueliners Kevin Bieksa and Lukas Krajicek to help mentor them as they develop. That seemed to work as the Canucks finished with the most points in franchise history. Ohlund led all Canucks defencemen in postseason points, tallying seven over 12 games.

Now in his 10th NHL season at the age of 31, his body is starting to catch up to him. Ohlund played just 56 games as he suffered through knee and elbow injuries, yet finished one point behind Sami Salo for the lead in points by a defenceman. However, the Canucks fell short of the playoffs, finishing last in the Northwest Division.

In what turned out to be his final season in Vancouver, Ohlund managed to play a full 82 games, but lost his power play spot to a young Alex Edler. His point totals dipped to just 25, but still provided veteran leadership, guiding the next wave of great Canucks blueliners. However, the club fell short in the second round yet again, which was the furthest the Canucks would go in the postseason with Ohlund on the team. In that offseason, Ohlund would sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final two years of his career before retiring in 2011.

Ohlund spent 11 years in Vancouver, playing in 770 games, which ranks ninth all-time. When he left Vancouver, Ohlund ranked first in goals and points by a Canucks defenceman. Today, he ranks second in goals (93), sixth in assists (232), third in points (325) and first in average time on ice (24:34) – although another defenceman could rank higher before they started tracking ice time in 1997-1998 – of Canucks rearguards.

The Swedish defenceman will be remembered for his leadership and dedication to the Canucks, as well as his ability to log heavy minutes night in and night out. And every time you go into Rogers Arena, you’ll be reminded of his Canucks legacy, as in December 2016, Ohlund was inducted into the Ring of Honour.

Our previously ranked top 50 Canucks of all time:

#50 – Curt Fraser
#49 – Dave Babych
#48 – Martin Gelinas
#47 – Chris Oddleifson
#46 – Jannik Hansen
#45 – Ivan Boldirev
#44 – Gary Smith
#43 – Jacob Markstrom
#42 – Orland Kurtenbach
#41 – Harold Snepsts
#40 – Darcy Rota
#39 – Thatcher Demko
#38 – Geoff Courtnall
#37 – Dennis Ververgaert
#36 – Petri Skriko
#35 – Dan Hamhuis
#34 – Doug Lidster
#33 – Patrik Sundstrom
#32 – Brendan Morrison
#31 – Richard Brodeur
#30 – Sami Salo
#29 – André Boudrais
#28 – Kevin Bieksa
#27 – Don Lever
#26 – Bo Horvat
#25 – Brock Boeser
#24 – Dennis Kearns
#23 – Ed Jovanovski
#22 – Greg Adams
#21 – Cliff Ronning
#20 – JT Miller
#19 – Tony Tanti
#18 – Jyrki Lumme
#17 – Elias Pettersson
#16 – Alex Burrows
#15 – Alexander Mogilny

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/top-50-vancouver-canucks-players-all-time-14-mattias-ohlund

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko headline top 10 rated Canucks in EA Sports NHL 26

We’re just a couple of weeks away from EA Sports releasing NHL 26, the 35th edition of the best-selling hockey video game of all time.




With vast improvements in artificial intelligence, Be a Pro, goaltender movements, and more, many are excited about how the new game will play.

Along with improvements in gameplay, the Vancouver Canucks have some of the highest-rated players in the new game.

Here are the top-10 rated Canucks in NHL 26:

1. Quinn Hughes (D, 95 overall)​

To very few people’s surprise, Hughes is the highest-rated Canuck in the game. The team’s captain is the highest-rated left-handed defenceman in NHL 26, sharing a 95 rating with Colorado Avalanche defender and reigning Norris Trophy winner, Cale Makar.

Hughes is tied with Makar as the fifth-highest-rated player in the game overall, just a couple of points back of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, rated 97 overall.

Hughes’ passing, agility and offensive awareness are all listed at 97, while his overall speed and puck control are up to a 96 rating. Regarding his abilities in his own zone, Hughes has a defensive awareness of 93, but is just an 83 for shot blocking and 86 for stick checking.

2. Thatcher Demko (G, 88 overall)​

Also receiving some high praise in the virtual world is Thatcher Demko. Even after a tough 2024-25 season, which saw the Vezina Trophy runner-up battle injuries and inconsistent play, he remains one of the highest-ranked goaltenders in the game. After possessing a 91 rating in NHL 25, Demko has been knocked down to an 88 rating, tied for eighth with Nashville Predators backstop Juuse Saros.

Of his attributes, Demko excels in his angles (92), while his rebound control and shot recovery each score 91.

3. Elias Pettersson (C, 87 overall)​

The elder Elias Pettersson also saw his overall rating drop after a rough season. The Swede was a 91, tied for eighth among centremen, in NHL 25. This year, Pettersson is down to an 87, tied for the 99th-best overall. If he can have a bounce-back, healthy 2025-26 campaign, Canucks fans can expect that rating to pop up.

Pettersson only has a few attributes over 90, with his slapshot power (91) and wrist shot power (90) complementing his puck control (91) and deking abilities (90).

4. Filip Hronek (D, 86 overall)​

Hronek may have had a slight bump from NHL 25, where the right-handed blueliner had an 87 rating, but there’s nothing wrong with where the Czech veteran is at now. An injury-riddled 2024-25 season has left many hoping that a healthier Hronek will have a bigger impact with the Canucks, potentially pushing the team back into playoff contention.

Hronek’s booming shot is being replicated in the virtual world, as his slapshot power boasts a 93 rating, complemented by a respectable wrist shot power of 90. Defensively, his awareness scored an 88 in the game, with his overall strength marked at an 87.

5. Brock Boeser (RW, 86 overall)​

Remember a few months ago when we weren’t even sure that Boeser would be on a list like this? Regardless, fans are hoping that a new contract for the Minnesota native will lead to him rediscovering the scoring touch that led to Boeser notching 40 goals during the 2023-24 season. Boeser fell from an 87 rating in NHL 25.

Even to the naked eye, Boeser’s shot is one of his strengths. That’s highlighted in the new game, as his wrist shot power has increased to 93, with slap shot power and accuracy both reaching at least 90 ratings.

6. Conor Garland (RW, 86 overall)​

The first of this group Canucks to have a bump in ratings, Garland is hoping he can continue to pile on the points in Vancouver. The winger from Massachusetts was an 85 in last year’s game, but his rating was bumped after posting 19 goals and 50 points in 81 games last season, Garland’s highest point total since the 2021-22 campaign.

Garland’s playmaking abilities are highlighted in the game, with a passing rating of 90 and offensive awareness of 89. He also has a high balance of 92, with acceleration and agility of 88.

7. Marcus Pettersson (D, 85 overall)​

One of the defensive Petterssons on the Vancouver roster, Marcus, provided stability to the top-four amid unusual and, dare we say, uncomfortable circumstances when he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Given the fact that he’ll be starting the new campaign with the Canucks, Pettersson hopes to improve on what was a promising 2024-25.

Petterson’s defensive awareness is rated 92, proving what made him an exceptional penalty killer during his abbreviated season with Vancouver. His durability is rated at an 87, matching his endurance.

8. Jake DeBrusk (LW, 85 overall)​

The highest-rated left winger on the team, DeBrusk is level with his score from NHL 25, the first edition featuring the Edmonton native on the Canucks roster. While the team around him didn’t have the best of seasons, DeBrusk scored a career-high 28 goals in 2024-25, with his 48 points being the second-best performance of his NHL career.

DeBrusk’s wrist shot accuracy and offensive awareness are his two best attributes, both rated at 90, with solid speed and acceleration scores of 87.

9. Filip Chytil (C, 84 overall)​

Chytil struggled to stay healthy during the 2024-25 season. Even after he was dealt to the Canucks in late January, the Czech centre appeared in just 15 games with his new team. There’s plenty of optimism that, if healthy, Chytil can provide depth down the middle in Vancouver and find similar production that he had during his time with the New York Rangers.

Chytil’s speed is his most revealing attribute in NHL 26, as he has an acceleration of 90 and an overall speed of 88. He also has solid ratings for deking and puck control, both of which come in at 89.

10. Evander Kane (LW, 84 overall)​

One of the biggest acquisitions by the Canucks this offseason, fans hope Kane brings a little more experience and secondary scoring to his hometown team. Coming off a second straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers, helping oust Vancouver in the second round in 2024, Kane knows what it takes to make a deep run in the postseason.

With scoring being his strong suit in the real world, Kane has 89 ratings for slapshot power, wrist shot power, and accuracy. He also has a body checking rating of 91, his strength and aggression scores sitting at 88 and 87, respectively.

Check out the video version of the top-10 Canucks rated in EA Sports NHL 26 here:

Here are the top 10 rated Canucks in NHL 26! Do you agree with these ratings?

Presented By | @EASPORTSNHL pic.twitter.com/5Ow0m4MnGV

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) August 28, 2025

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/quinn-...p-10-rated-vancouver-canucks-ea-sports-nhl-26

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Ex-Canuck Kevin Bieksa’s son invited to Vancouver Giants training camp

Less than a week after the news of Henrik Sedin’s son, Valter, being named to Team Canada’s U18 national soccer team, another Vancouver Canucks legend’s child is taking the next step in his sports career.




Cole Bieksa, son of former Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa, has been invited to Vancouver Giants training camp.

Bieksa’s 17-year-old son has spent the previous three seasons with Fairmont Prep of the USHS-CA (United States High School – California). Cole is coming off his best season yet, scoring 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points in 47 games in 2024-2025. Following in his father’s footsteps, Cole also brought the rough stuff and racked up 63 penalty minutes as well.

The 5’11” forward also spent time playing for Fairmont Prep’s U18 AAA club, where he scored 31 goals and 47 assists for 78 points in 52 games. Again, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as Cole racked up another 67 penalty minutes at the U18 level.

Earlier in February, Cole’s efforts were acknowledged up here in the lower mainland, as he signed with the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL for the 2025-2026 season.

Kevin Bieksa was ranked 28th in CanucksArmy’s Top 50 Canucks of all time list earlier this month.

Here is what we had to say regarding Bieksa’s ranking:

“He might not have put up massive stat lines or dominated at any given point in his career. But Kevin Bieksa was a staple on those late-2000s, early 2010s Vancouver Canuck teams, adding grit and leadership with a solid two-way presence on the back end. It’s a fitting inclusion for him as one of the Canucks’ top 50 players, responsible for one of the most iconic moments in franchise history, to send them to their third Stanley Cup Final.”

Cole’s father, Kevin, spent 10 years making Bieksa a household name for Canucks fans. And now, his offspring will look to carry on the Bieksa legacy in Vancouver, as he attempts to impress at the WHL level and make the Giants roster.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/ex-van...as-son-invited-vancouver-giants-training-camp

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Will Canucks’ Karlsson turn his standout Calder Cup playoffs into an NHL role in 2025-2026?

After playing a key part in the Abbotsford Canucks Calder Cup Championship, in which he led the Canucks in both goals and points, Linus Karlsson’s focus for the upcoming season is on establishing himself as a full-time NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks.


Last season, Karlsson split games between the AHL and NHL. In 32 games with Abbotsford, he scored 23 goals and 39 points, but only tallied three goals and six points in 23 games with Vancouver.

Heading into training camp, Karlsson will be battling for a spot on the Canucks’ opening-night roster, which leads us to our expectations for Karlsson in 2025-2026.

Meeting expectations: Make the Canucks opening night roster and lock down a spot in the bottom six.

Due to his outstanding performance in the playoffs, in which he led the entire playoffs with 14 goals and 26 points, Karlsson will likely be motivated to carry that momentum into training camp and the preseason as he attempts to crack the opening night roster. But earning a full-time role in the bottom six is a whole different battle. Karlsson will have to compete with Drew O’Connor and Nils Höglander, as well as last year’s teammates Aatu Räty and Max Sasson. Four very solid depth players who will all be hungry to impress a new coaching staff and solidify their own position on the team.

At the NHL level, Karlsson’s defensive skill and speed were evident last season, and at times, Canucks fans saw flashes of offence. But with only six points in 23 games, seeing an increase in offensive production would go a long way for Karlsson as he battles to become an NHL regular.

Exceeding expectations: Reach a new career high of 20 points and earn a contract extension.

Twenty points may sound like a stretch for Karlsson, whose NHL career high point total is six. But if he can lock down a roster spot that allows him to play 50+ games, it’s not entirely out of reach – especially if he ends up seeing minutes with skilled wingers such as Nils Hoglander and Kiefer Sherwood.

For Karlsson, this season may provide the best opportunity for him to make a push for one of the Canucks bottom six spots. With the subtractions of JT Miller and Pius Suter, there is likely to be a lot of line juggling throughout the season to find new chemistry with Conor Garland likely graduating to the top-six. Not to mention, everybody gets a fresh opportunity with a new head coach at the helm, there’s no better time to have a good showing in the preseason.

Whether Karlsson is able to make the NHL roster out of training camp could have contract implications.

Currently, Karlsson is signed to a one-year, one-way contract, meaning he receives the same salary at both the AHL and NHL levels. For Karlsson, this season presents an opportunity to prove he can provide sufficient value to an NHL team – whether it be the Canucks or another team in the league – to earn another NHL contract.

If Karlsson is able to put together a successful NHL season, which includes solid numbers with the Canucks, he could very well receive a multi-year one-way extension with the Canucks at the end of the season. However, if he fails to establish himself as an NHL regular, he could very well be headed back to the AHL, or even overseas to Europe.

Failing to meet expectations: A return to the AHL after the preseason, remaining only as a call-up option.

Karlsson has proven his value at the AHL level, finishing in the top five in scoring for Abbotsford, including the 2023-24 season, when he led the team with 60 points and finished in the top 15 in AHL scoring.

Unfortunately for Karlsson, given the amount of competition in the bottom six, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see him start the season at the 13th forward, but seeing him sent back to the AHL would be a disappointing development, especially after the regular and postseason success he had with Abbotsford.

In the event he does get sent back to the AHL, Karlsson will undoubtedly be first in line for an NHL call in the event of injuries or trades, but his eyes should be on making the full-time jump to the NHL.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/will-v...ut-calder-cup-playoff-into-nhl-role-2025-2026

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Goals and Expectations for Canucks’ second line centre Filip Chytil in 2025-26

There might not be a more interesting player than Filip Chytil for Vancouver Canucks fans to keep an eye on in 2025-26.

Arriving as the key piece in return for JT Miller, the Czech centreman had definitely lost a bit of the lustre that he had after a 45-point campaign in 2022-23. Spending time with injury concerns and a multitude of concussions, it was almost cruelly fitting that another concussion would knock him out of the rest of the 2024-25 season.

But during that 15-game stretch in Vancouver last season, there were flashes of a player there. The motor, the speed, and the hockey IQ were all on display, with the Czech looking like one of the most dynamic Canucks on any given night that he played. Chytil definitely still has room to grow as well at 25 years old, and the Canucks are definitely looking for him to reach the ceiling they see in him.

So, what exactly are his goals and expectations going into 2025-26?

Meeting Expectations: Stay healthy, 20-25 goals, 40-45 points, consistent middle-six forward

With Vancouver needing a solid presence down the middle going into this season, Chytil has the perfect opportunity to leave an impression. That also means being available to play this year, and staying healthy will be the best ability that he can show for the Canucks. Having him in the lineup already brings a lot of energy and spark whenever he’s on the ice, and that will be essential as the Canucks look to actually make the playoffs this go around.

Being healthy also gives Chytil a chance to break the 60-game mark since the 2022-23 season after injuries hampered him in 2023-24 and 24-25. That will give him the best possible chance to reestablish his production, return to the level he was at and put up the points that a middle-six forward should be expected to.

It wasn’t as if Chytil was particularly bad in his stint with the Canucks at the end of last year. It was more so that he just looked like he was getting into a groove before having his season shut down with injury. Hopefully, with more time to acclimate and more actual game time, the production will rebound to pre-injury levels for a player who is still young and could possibly develop into a more important piece down the line.

Exceeding Expectations: Healthy, very good 2C behind Elias Pettersson, 50-60 points

The JT Miller trade very much signalled that management was handing the forward corps over to Elias Pettersson as the team’s 1C. That leaves the aforementioned gap on the second line vacant, and while Chytil definitely slots in there, what if he elevated his play to match that role even more?

Exceeding expectations for the Czech forward would be establishing himself as one of the better second-line centers around the league. Chytil would hopefully contribute at both ends of the ice as he has been, while also seeing an uptick in production. Ideally, the rest of the team would also be able to play better than they did last season. However, if Chytil can drive play in the way he has shown flashes of doing, and can do so consistently on the second line, the Canucks could be in a very good spot.

It’s not as if the player himself lacks the confidence to execute these things as well. Chytil himself has said that he likes scoring and knows that he can score more. There’s much to improve on, and we’ll get a better idea of his level of play once training camp and the preseason roll around. But if he can take that next step of development in his game at the same time that he’s getting healthy, Vancouver’s forward lines become a lot less of a question mark.

Below Expectations: Injured, third-line forward, 20-30 points

Probably the worst-case scenario for Filip Chytil would be getting hurt again. With his injury and concussion history, there is a realistic possibility that his career might be cut short due to those concerns. And even if he doesn’t, the fear of regression is always present. What if it leads to unfulfilled potential or a more tentative playstyle?

For the Canucks, if Chytil were to only be a third-line forward and produce, at best, 30 points, it’s going to be a disappointment. That’s doubly disappointing, considering he was the main piece of the Miller trade, and not even coming close to being a contributing member of the Canucks would definitely hurt now and into the future. It is something that, unfortunately, is a potential concern and would also probably spell the end of this contending core.

Ideally, no players ever dip below the expected level. But not just from the Canucks’ standpoint, the personal life aspect for Chytil would also be of concern, particularly regarding his quality of life outside of hockey.

Goals for Filip Chytil in 2025-26

• Establish himself as a second liner for the Canucks
• Stay healthy
• Produce at 2022-23 levels, maybe a step up?
• Improve at both ends of the ice, become a reliable presence in the lineup
• Possible special teams deployment on both power play and penalty kill

For 2025-26, it’ll be interesting to see what Chytil brings, especially after a full offseason and entering the year with a training camp and preseason with the Canucks. He has made media appearances and said many encouraging things, and hopefully, a good chunk of them will manifest positively this upcoming season.

#Canucks

Here's a full recap of Filip Chytil's conversation with 100% Canucks.

Part 01 https://t.co/VMJ3hC1fdh pic.twitter.com/bgYFUWAVWt

— Canucks News Summaries (@VCanucksNews) August 25, 2025

The biggest key of all is the health aspect. If Chytil can stay healthy, his baseline already improves the Canucks in a wide variety of dimensions. That health will also go a long way to his development as a player, one that can hopefully lock down and cement Vancouver’s second line, anchoring it to be one of the better top-sixes across the league.

If the Canucks are to contend and make noise in the regular season, becoming a legitimate playoff team, Chytil will be a significant reason. The skill, the motor, and the talent are already there – now it’s time to see what he can bring in a larger role, with more time to play and develop.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/goals-...nucks-second-line-centre-filip-chytil-2025-26

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Who’s the best one-hit wonder in Canucks history?

Earlier in the summer, we at CanucksArmy initiated a fan voting campaign on our social platforms, asking Vancouver Canucks fans numerous questions about their favourite and least favourite things in the franchise’s history.

The Cam Neely trade was voted the worst trade in Canucks history!

Today we want to know who you think the funniest player in Canucks history is! pic.twitter.com/I2P8P8ehJe

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) August 27, 2025

For example, Pavel Bure was voted the best draft pick and favourite player, Alex Burrows was the best free agent signing, and Markus Naslund was the best trade in Canucks history. While Olli Juolevi was voted as the worst draft pick, Mark Messier was the worst free agent signing, and Cam Neely was the worst trade in franchise history.

Anywho, that gave us the idea to dive into who might have been the best one-hit wonder in franchise history.

We conducted a similar exercise back in 2023, but that article highlighted flash-in-the-pan moments and spark seasons of Canuck vets. However, today, we’ll just be going over the true one-hit wonders; the Ice-Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, and the 2012 Linsanity run type of one-hit wonders of the world – but, you know, a Canucks version.

We’re deciding to look into the players who only played one season in Vancouver.

There are a few names we left off the list. Players like Jussi Jokinen (10 points in 14 games) and Tyler Toffoli (10 points in 10 games) had short stints but produced at a high level. Jimmy Carson (17 points in 34 games), Claire Alexander (26 points as a defenceman in 34 games) and Tom Kurvers (27 points as a defenceman in 32 games) all put up impressive point totals, but were toward the tail-end of their careers and had inconsistent defensive lapses that, in the end, probably hurt the team.

However, there are eight other Canucks who made a difference in their short stint in Vancouver.

One-hit wonders​

Anson Carter
Games Played: 81, Goals: 33, Assists 22, Points: 55

It seemed like Anson Carter’s time in Vancouver lasted longer than one season; however, his brief impact played a role in helping the Canucks mould the next wave of successful seasons.

Carter signed a one-year deal with the Canucks following the lockout season. He was immediately paired on the right wing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and they immediately gelled. Pairing Carter with the twins was the missing piece the Sedins needed to fully blossom into the superstars they became.

Before Carter arrived, Daniel and Henrik usually hovered around the 35-45 point range. However, when they played with Carter, the twins exploded offensively, both eclipsing the 70-point threshold for the first time in their careers.

It just seemed fitting that Carter would finish the year with 33 goals and 22 assists in his one season with the Sedins in Vancouver. Carter paved the way for Alex Burrows to succeed in the same role years down the line.

Carter would not re-sign with the Canucks that offseason as he was seeking a bigger contract than Vancouver was willing to offer. He bounced between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes over the next two seasons, yet never hit the same heights. Carter called it a career shortly after.

Anatoli Semenov
Games Played: 62, Goals: 10, Assists: 34, Points: 44

The Canucks acquired Semenov from the Tampa Bay Lightning early in the 1992-1993 season. Despite playing in just 61 games, the Russian playmaking centre produced behind players like Pavel Bure, Trevor Linden, Geoff Courtnall, Greg Adams and Cliff Ronning. Semeov’s passing ability stood out with his 34 assists, and helped the Canucks win the Smythe Division for the second year in a row. However, his one goal and four points in 12 postseason games weren’t enough to get the Canucks past the Los Angeles Kings in the second round.

After the season, the Canucks left Semenov exposed in the 1993 Expansion Draft, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim picked him off the roster.

Thomas Vanek
Games Played: 61, Goals: 17, Assists: 24, Points: 41

Vanek was certainly on the back nine of his career when he joined the Canucks. After a strong 11-year career with the Buffalo Sabres, the Austrian winger bounced around with the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers before finding his way to the Pacific Northwest in 2017-2018.

Inking a one-year, $2 million deal in Vancouver in early September, Vanek was signed as a veteran presence to play with a young Brock Boeser. His leadership helped Boeser finish runner-up for the Calder Trophy. Vanek had a successful season himself, scoring at a 0.67 point-per-game pace at 36 years old.

With the Canucks on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, they shopped Vanek at the trade deadline. While they were hoping to aim for a mid-round pick, they struck a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen. His mentorship with a young Boeser still has a lasting impression on the Canucks today.

Raffi Torres
Games Played: 80, Goals: 14, Assists: 15, Points: 29

After terrorizing Vancouver from 2003 to 2008 as a member of the division rival Edmonton Oilers, Torres signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Canucks in 2010.

Torres was brought in to provide physicality, grit and energy to the Canucks’ bottom-six. The Toronto, Ontario native was a wrecking ball on the forecheck, stopping at nothing to throw his body at anybody standing in his way. While his 29 points were a little below his season average, his impact was felt more during their 2011 Stanley Cup playoff run.

Getting paired on the left with Maxim Lapierre and Jannik Hansen, the trio formed an energy line, instilling fear in opposing defencemen on the forecheck. But what he will be remembered by is his goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, breaking the scoreless tie with 18.5 seconds remaining.

Despite falling one game short of hockey’s ultimate glory, Torres got a raise in free agency, signing a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Mats Sundin
Games Played: 41, Goals: 9, Assists: 19, Points: 28

After months of speculating on whether to hang the skates up or return for an 18th season, Mats Sundin decided to sign a one-year, $8.6 million contract with the Canucks in December of 2008.

Sundin did not make his debut until the new year, and even then, he took some time getting his feet under him. But by February, Sundin started clicking with linemates Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra, recording seven points over a three-game span. His veteran leadership helped the Canucks bounce back and win the Northwest Division.

In the playoffs, Sundin stepped up his game, scoring three goals and eight points in eight games. However, the Canucks would fall 4-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Sundin called it a career. While he picked up his game as the season progressed, the idea of signing 37-year-old Sundin shone brighter than the actual outcome.

Mike Santorelli
Games Played: 49, Goals: 10, Assists: 18, Points: 28

After struggling to find his footing in the NHL, Santorelli returned to his hometown team in 2013-2014. He signed with Vancouver to be a low-cost depth piece, but quickly became the season’s biggest surprise.

He impressed head coach John Tortorella enough in training camp that he played himself onto the opening night roster. Due to his speed and work ethic, Santorelli would earn himself top-six minutes. On pace to set new career highs, Santorelli had his breakout campaign cut short due to a season-ending shoulder injury in January.

There was no homecoming for the Vancouver native, as he chose to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs later that summer.

Nikita Zadorov
Games Played: 54, Goals: 5, Assists: 9, Points: 14

In 2024, the Canucks were having their best season since winning back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. However, they were in need of a spark on the back-end. They addressed that need by trading with the Calgary Flames for Zadorov.

Zadorov made an impact immediately, picking up a primary assist in his Canucks debut against the team that traded him. His physical impact was also felt, as he racked up 19 hits and 26 penalty minutes in his first 10 games in the blue and green. Despite playing just 54 games for the Canucks, Zadorov finished first in penalty minutes (92) and sixth in hits (124).

However, when Canucks fans really began to fall in love with “Big Z,” was when they saw the impact he made in the playoffs. He scored some clutch goals for the Canucks, like when he weaved through Nashville defenders in the neutral zone and finished with a sharp-angle snipe. But his most memorable one came in Game 1 of the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, where his thunderous slap shot tied the game in what would result in a miraculous third period comeback.

The 6-foot-6 Russian defenceman worked hard to get a deal done that offseason, but unfortunately for Canucks fans, he would sign with the Boston Bruins in free agency.

His time was short, but Canucks fans will never forget Zadorov for his clutch goals and grit in the playoffs, as well as the fear he instilled in opponents.

Arturs Irbe
Games Played: 41, Record, 14-11-6, GAA: 2.73, S%: .907

As the Canucks transitioned to the disappointing Mark Messier era, the Canucks added Arturs Irbe to their plethora of netminders. The Canucks had long-time starter Kirk McLean heading that season, but as the season rolled on, Irbe started stealing starts from McLean. By January, the Canucks traded McLean to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for another goaltender, Sean Burke.

Burke became the starter for a while before Irbe worked his way back into a consistent rotation. While the Canucks as a whole struggled, finishing last in the Pacific Division, Irbe finished the year with the most starts and the best numbers.

That offseason, Irbe decided to move on. Oddly enough, Irbe joined McLean in Carolina, signing a one-year deal with the Hurricanes before extending for three more seasons in 1999.

To answer the question, the easy answer is Anson Carter, as he scored the most points and helped level up the Sedins. However, and this might be recency bias, but when Canucks fans look back on Nikita Zadorov’s postseason run, it’s hard not to think the towering defenceman could give Carter a run for his money.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Who was the best one-hit wonder in Canucks history? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/whos-best-one-hit-wonder-vancouver-canucks-history

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Former Canucks goalie Richard Brodeur isn’t a fan of the Arturs Silovs trade

Former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Richard Brodeur had some interesting thoughts on the team’s offseason, most notably in the crease.

While Brodeur hasn’t played for the Canucks since 1988, he still keeps in the loop about the Canucks and what they’re up to. That includes their choices in the crease this summer, which included re-signing Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen, and trading Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Brodeur spoke with Michael Potestio at Castanent Kamloops while in Kamloops for a solo art show, and expressed his concerns with the Canucks’ moves in net this summer, particularly calling out the team for trading Silovs.

“That kid is ready, and he’s going to have a good career, so I don’t know why they let this guy go, but I’m not the management,” said Brodeur.

Silovs was traded to the Penguins in July for winger Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick as the Canucks’ solution to their crowded goalie depth for the 2025-26 season, as they weren’t sure if they were going to lose the Riga, Latvia product on waivers with Demko and Lankinen already established as the team’s tandem.

Silovs likely would have been a top target for teams in need of goalie depth in that situation, as he was coming off of a stellar season in the AHL that saw him capture the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks and the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the team’s most valuable player. He had a 16-7 record, a .931 save percentage and five shutouts in 24 games during the run to the championship.

Silovs started the season in the NHL with Vancouver after making a name for himself in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which at the very least earned him the role of a tandem goalie with Lankinen while Demko was injured. However, he struggled with a 2-6-1 record and an .861 SV% in 10 games, and with Lankinen largely taking over goaltending duties, Silovs was sent to the AHL when Demko returned. In 21 games with Abbotsford during the regular season, he was much improved with a 14-5-1 record and a .908 SV%.

Brodeur was a longtime starting goaltender for the Canucks from 1980 to 1988, with a 126-173-62 record, an .872 SV%, and six shutouts across 377 regular season games, and a 12-17 record, an .897 SV% and one shutout in 29 playoff games. He received votes for both the Hart and Vezina Trophy in 1981-82, where he had a 20-18-12 record, an .893 SV% and two shutouts in 52 games. He also played for the New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers, although it was just eight total games between the two teams.

Brodeur was named the 31st greatest Canucks of all time by CanucksArmy earlier this summer.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/former-vancouver-canucks-goalie-richard-brodeur-fan-arturs-silovs-trade

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

2025-26 Canucks Bold Predictions: Canucks make a blockbuster trade involving a centre in late January 2026

Before we begin, a quick boldness check here.

Normally, making any hockey-related prediction as specific as this should count as bold. But this time around, we’re not so sure. If we’re predicting that something that has already happened three times in a row will happen for a fourth time, is that truly bold? Some might say not. Then again, on the other hand, trades can happen at any time, and if another one truly goes down in January 2026, we’re still going to feel pretty intelligent for having called it.

So, we’re sticking with this one.

In any case, as we’ve mentioned already, this current Vancouver Canucks front office has a clear-cut pattern of making major trades involving centres late in the month of January. It sounds like a weird thing to get into the habit of doing, but GM Patrik Allvin and POHO Jim Rutherford are in the habit all the same.

Technically speaking, the first big January move for Allvin and Co. was getting hired in late January of 2022. But the only centre involved there was Cammi Granato.

A year later, on January 30, 2023, the Allvin Regime closed down their first blockbuster deal, sending the soon-to-be-free-agent Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty, and a first round pick that would shortly be flipped for Filip Hronek.

A year after that, on January 31, 2024, the Canucks went from selling centres to buying them. Vancouver acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames for a massive package that included a first round pick, a conditional fourth, Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Joni Jurmo. Lindholm, however – a pending UFA himself – would be gone to Boston within a matter of months.

Then, most recently, on January 31, 2025, the Canucks actually made two major trades, though only one involved centres. After much speculation, Vancouver sent JT Miller, along with Erik Brännström and Jackson Dorrington, to the New York Rangers for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a conditional first round pick.

Later that night, they flipped the first to Pittsburgh, along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, and Melvin Fernstrom, for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor.

And there you have it. Three Januarys in a row have featured blockbuster trades involving centres. The pattern could even be seen as an alternating one, with the Canucks rotating between selling a centre, to buying one, to selling one, to…buying one in late January of 2026? If the pattern holds, that’s exactly what will happen.

We realize this is all a bit silly. That the Canucks have done this three Januarys in a row is, almost certainly, mostly down to coincidence. It’s not something they’ve set out to do at the start of any season, that is.

The Horvat trade was done so as to avoid the chaos of the Trade Deadline and give the Canucks time to move the assets they acquired. Lindholm was someone they were after all year, and finally brought in when the price became right. Miller had to go as soon as possible.

But this trend we’re tracking isn’t the sole reason why we believe another January centre trade is likely.

The Canucks are currently sitting on some cap space. Not a ton – between about $2.37 million and $3.27 million, depending on what size roster they run – but cap space all the same.

That’s nowhere near the neighbourhood of the space that might be needed to add a new centre to this roster. But the nice thing about open cap at the start of a season is that it effectively banks additional value, or accrues, over time.

As it stands, the Canucks cap space is projected to accrue to nearly $15 million in contract value by Trade Deadline 2026. But the Canucks wouldn’t have to wait that long. Cap is accrued on a daily basis, and by late January 2026, they may have already accrued as much as $10 million in purchasing power. That means that, by January, they could have the room to add a player with a very sizeable cap hit to their roster.

In other words, late January 2026 might be the point at which the Canucks can officially afford to add a new 2C to the lineup without having to cut cap first. And for a team that is in drastic need of improvement, not just reconfiguration, that’s important.

Waiting until January for such a trade also has some distinct practical advantages. The first is that the Canucks themselves should have a much clearer picture of what kind of team they are by then. There are a lot of ‘what if’ questions surrounding the Canucks heading into 2025-26 – questions about Elias Pettersson’s quality of play, Thatcher Demko’s health, the forward corps in general – that, depending on their answers, could have wide-ranging impacts on the team’s success.

By January 2026, however, many of those questions will have been answered, at least partially. To be a little brusque about it (but not DeBrusk about it), if Pettersson doesn’t bounce back and Demko doesn’t return to Vezina-quality play, maybe there’s not much point in adding to this roster, anyway, and no need to bring in a new player.

Conversely, however, if most things are going well for the Canucks, and they’ve put themselves back into a playoff position by January 2026, then a big acquisition becomes a lot easier to justify, as it did for Lindholm in 2024.

On the flipside of that perspective, too, is the fact that there just aren’t a lot of centres readily available on the trade market right now. Most teams are in the phase of their preparation where they’ve settled on a roster and are resting upon their hopes for 2025-26.

By January, however, many of those hopes will have been dashed by the harsh reality of professional sports, and that should naturally shake at least a few more centres loose over time.

So, just to recap this Bold Prediction, we think the Canucks are likely to wait until late January of 2026 to make a big trade for a new centre, because:

-They’ll likely have accrued more cap space by then.

-They’ll have a better idea of what kind of team they are by then.

-More centres should be available at that time.

-They’ve done it in every other January so far.

Predictive? Yes. Bold? Up for debate. Actually happening?

Wait and see.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/2025-2...ster-trade-involving-centre-late-january-2026

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Top 50 Canuck players of all time: #11 – Alex Edler

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #11: Alex Edler

The greatest Canuck defenceman until a certain Quinn Hughes came along.

Drafted in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Alex Edler didn’t sign his ELC until 2006. This was coming off the back of a 2005-06 season spent with the Kelowna Rockets, where the Swede tallied up 53 points in 62 games. For a mostly unknown prospect at the time of the draft, Edler was viewed as a bit of a project player, but had quite the ceiling that he could reach.

Thanks to the usual rash of Canuck injuries, Edler saw action in the 2006-07 season, playing 22 games and tallying three points. The following season, Edler would play the most games out of any Canuck defenceman with 75, recording 20 points in his first full NHL campaign. From that moment forward, Edler would not spend a single game in the AHL.

His career would continue to progress as Vancouver’s contending window opened. Edler’s best statistical season came in 2011-12, when he posted a career-high 49 points and earned his only All-Star nod. The Swede became a consistent fixture on the Canucks’ top pairing, an offensive defenceman who could hit hard and make opponents feel his presence at both ends of the ice.

Don't mind me, just remembering Alex Edler flattening Drew Doughty in the 2010 playoffs. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/yswPc1K9Ch

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) September 17, 2024

Edler would play 15 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Canucks, featuring in 925 games, the fourth-most in franchise history. He continues to hold Vancouver’s all-time goals mark by a defenceman with 99, and still has a share of the record for most points by a defenceman with 409. His 310 assists rank him second these days, behind Hughes’ 350.

While Edler couldn’t truly call himself among the league’s elite defenders, he was one of the top defencemen for a long while in Vancouver. A stable presence that could bring offence from the back end, the Swede’s long career is a testament to his abilities, and being a fixture for so long as a top-pairing defender only further backs that up. Edler very much deserves to be here at #11, a big part of Vancouver’s late 2000s-early 2010s groups, the last ones with sustained regular season success and postseason hockey.

Our previously ranked top 50 Canucks of all time:

#50 – Curt Fraser
#49 – Dave Babych
#48 – Martin Gelinas
#47 – Chris Oddleifson
#46 – Jannik Hansen
#45 – Ivan Boldirev
#44 – Gary Smith
#43 – Jacob Markstrom
#42 – Orland Kurtenbach
#41 – Harold Snepsts
#40 – Darcy Rota
#39 – Thatcher Demko
#38 – Geoff Courtnall
#37 – Dennis Ververgaert
#36 – Petri Skriko
#35 – Dan Hamhuis
#34 – Doug Lidster
#33 – Patrik Sundstrom
#32 – Brendan Morrison
#31 – Richard Brodeur
#30 – Sami Salo
#29 – André Boudrais
#28 – Kevin Bieksa
#27 – Don Lever
#26 – Bo Horvat
#25 – Brock Boeser
#24 – Dennis Kearns
#23 – Ed Jovanovski
#22 – Greg Adams
#21 – Cliff Ronning
#20 – JT Miller
#19 – Tony Tanti
#18 – Jyrki Lumme
#17 – Elias Pettersson
#16 – Alex Burrows
#15 – Alexander Mogilny
#14 – Mattias Ohlund
#13 – Thomas Gradin
#12 – Stan Smyl

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/top-50-vancouver-canuck-players-all-time-11-alex-edler

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Can Elias Pettersson become a regular on the Canucks’ defence corps in 2025-2026?

Entering the 2024-2025 season, Vancouver Canucks fans were just excited to see the younger Elias Pettersson develop down in the AHL. Little did they know they would see him play in Vancouver later that season.

The Swedish defenceman made the trip overseas at the tail end of last season, where he suited up in eight games, tallying two assists. However, points aren’t his forte.

Pettersson uses his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame to punish his opponents, as he did in one of his first games in Abbotsford, standing up for fellow countryman Jonathan Lekkerimäki:

Jonathan Lekkerimäki gets a warm welcome to North America. Guess who's first to his aid?

That’s right, Elias Pettersson. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/ev9afOohmV

— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) March 31, 2024

“I’m going to stick up every time for my teammates,” Pettersson told CanucksArmy after his first home game. “If that happens again, I’m going to be there again.”

He carried that bully mentality over to the 2024-2025 campaign, where he started the year in Abbotsford. Pettersson brought stability to the Abby Canucks’ blueline, earning important top-pair and penalty killing minutes. Along with his defensive play, Pettersson’s one goal and 13 points in 38 games earned him a promotion to the NHL.

At the time, Pettersson was just given the promotion for impressive play down in the AHL. However, he made a lasting impression that the coaching staff couldn’t overlook. In fact, his standout play was enough that the Canucks were able to make Carson Soucy expendable, shipping him off to the New York Rangers at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Pettersson suited up in 28 games, tallying one goal and three points, racking up 17 penalty minutes and 39 hits while averaging 12:49 minutes of ice time. Canucks brass were so impressed that they were not willing to risk Pettersson getting injured during the AHL playoffs that they did not send him down at the AHL roster deadline on March 14.

That move just goes to show the level of belief the organization has in Pettersson and how they want him to be an integral piece of the Vancouver’s blueline next season.

With that in mind, Pettersson’s spot on the 2025-2026 Canucks roster seems secure. However, what should be his expectations going into his first full NHL season?

Meeting expectations: Work in the bottom-pairing rotation, play 60 games.

Heading into the 2025-2026 season, the Canucks’ backend is the strength of their team for the first time in a long time. Their top four of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson and Tyler Myers are secure, but there is a bit of a log-jam for the bottom pair.

The Canucks have Derek Forbort, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Victor Mancini, Tom Willander and Pettersson fighting for two spots on the bottom pair.
Veteran defenceman Forbort will certainly be in the rotation, and with his experience last season, Pettersson seems to have the inside track on landing another spot. That leaves NHL tweener Joseph and likely Mancini vying for the seventh defenceman spot. Willander will get there one day, but given how the Canucks have developed their prospects in recent years, he will likely start in Abbotsford.

Pettersson will likely earn the nod on opening night, but how often will he be rotated out of the lineup for said seventh defenceman? Him hitting the 60-game mark seems appropriate. With just 28 NHL games under his belt, it wouldn’t make much sense to play the 21-year-old defenceman fewer than that mark, as sitting in the press box for too many games would hinder his development.

Even if Pettersson doesn’t take a step forward, if he can just play at the level he played last season, Canucks fans should see the Swede play at least double the amount he played last season.

Above expectations: Work himself out of the rotation, play a 80 games while earning penalty killing time.

This may be a stretch, considering the Canucks are likely to play with a rotation, but there is a path for Pettersson to play himself out of the rotation.

We briefly mentioned it earlier, but what good does it do for Pettersson’s development for him to watch the game from the press box? Sure, sometimes it’s a good tactic for struggling veteran defencemen to watch the game for one night and then return. But for a young defenceman? Not so much.

One area in which Pettersson should strive to earn a permanent spot in the lineup would be on the penalty kill. As it currently stands, Hronek, M. Pettersson, Myers and Forbort will likely be the four defencemen over the boards on the penalty kill. But who will fill in for Forbort when it’s his turn to sit?

That’s where Pettersson could show his worth for an every-night spot.

Last season, the Swedish defenceman averaged just 17 seconds of penalty killing time. Pettersson is best categorized as a defensive defenceman, so this shouldn’t be a struggle for him to earn PK time eventually. But for him to start working in during his first full year in the NHL would just be another tick to his already impressive early resume.

Below expectations: Struggle at the NHL level, lose his rotation spot and serve as the seventh defenceman, or return to the AHL.

After what Canucks fans saw last year, this would be a massive collapse. Although he had no NHL experience last season, Pettersson rarely looked like he didn’t belong at this level. He would have to heavily decline from his play last season for this to happen. But remember, he is still just 21 years old and a former third-round pick. Stranger things have happened.

For him to become the seventh defenceman might not have anything to do with Pettersson’s play. Instead, it would have to be elevated play from Joseph or Mancini that could push Pettersson down.

Outside of a 75-game season in 2022-2023, Joseph has been an NHL tweener since he joined the league in 2020. He spent last season playing 23 games with the St. Louis Blues and 24 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With more NHL experience, it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Joseph start the season. However, the fact that the Canucks did not want to risk Pettersson’s health during a Calder Cup run should show the team’s desire to give Pettersson every chance he has at maintaining a permanent spot.

On the other hand, Mancini might be a bigger worry for Pettersson. He has less NHL experience than Joseph, but he has made the most of it when he’s been given the opportunity. Before the trade to Vancouver, Mancini tallied one goal and five points in 15 games with the New York Rangers, and added another goal and three points in 16 games with the Canucks. He’s shown he can produce offence at this level, not to mention he plays the right side, which is the spot the Canucks are looking to fill.

Sure, Forbort and Pettersson could play their off-side, but if Pettersson does not impress in camp, Mancini could steal that inside track as a right-shot defenceman. Thus making Pettersson serve as the seventh defenceman, or, even worse, dropping him back to the AHL.

Based on the Canucks’ actions last season, they want Pettersson to be on the team. However, it isn’t a guarantee that he will make it with the level of competition he has surrounding him. We don’t believe that this will happen, but if he struggles, those other defencemen will be eager to pounce if that opportunity arises.

What do you think, Canucks fans? What are you expecting from the defenceman Elias Pettersson for 2025-2026? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/can-el...lar-vancouver-canucks-defence-corps-2025-2026

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

12 things September should reveal about the Vancouver Canucks

While the Vancouver Canucks don’t play a regular season game until October 9th and thus can’t be truly judged until their 2025-26 schedule commences, we should still learn plenty about the hockey club over the next 30 days. The month of September will include a couple of prospect battles in Seattle, training camp, four preseason games and the annual state of the hockey club media address from President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford. Here are 20 things that should be clearer by the end of the month.

Thatcher Demko’s health and readiness​

We should have a better sense of Thatcher Demko’s health and readiness to be the team’s presumptive starter. Aside from a few Instagram posts and one radio interview, things have been relatively quiet from the 29-year-old San Diego native this summer. But anecdotally, all indications are Demko has been able to put in a full summer of healthy training which is a far cry from what the puck stopper went through 12 months when he was still battling through a significant knee injury.

Is EP40 ready to put last season’s struggles behind him?​

We’ll all get a look for ourselves at the off-season work Elias Pettersson has put in to be ready to hit the ground running. It was evident at last year’s training camp that the Canucks weren’t seeing the best version of Pettersson and that carried over into a disappointing season. Like the team itself, Pettersson can’t be fully judged until he starts playing for keeps, but training camp and however many preseason games he suits up for should provide a better sense of where the team’s top centre is. At the very least, the Canucks need to see a few flashes from EP40 this month to alleviate concerns about the state of his game.

A glimpse at potential line combinations​

September should offer some clues about what new head coach Adam Foote is thinking about line combinations for his hockey club. While nothing will be set in stone at camp and in the preseason, it seems that limiting experimentation and trying to forge chemistry as quickly as possible would serve a rookie head coach and a team that needs a quick start.

Who’s on the team’s top power play?​

Speaking of clues, we should get a better sense of what Foote is thinking about his power play units. Last year, Rick Tocchet didn’t devote much time to special teams at training camp. It will be interesting to see if that changes with Foote at the helm.

Any surprises on penalty kill?​

The same holds for penalty killers. While several veterans will surely be used while the team is shorthanded, we may get a better sense of what the coaching staff is thinking about the pecking order on the penalty kill and whether there are any surprises additions to the group. We may also be able to get a better sense of what the team is thinking about a veteran like Derek Forbort as an every day player if he is among the team’s top PK defenders.

Kravtsov ready for his NHL return?​

Will Vitali Kravtsov look more engaged than he did the last time we saw him in a Canucks uniform? If he can bring his KHL production from the past two seasons with him, there is a very real opportunity for the 25-year-old to push for NHL employment. But he needs to dig in and earn his spot. Nothing will be given to him. And Kravtsov needs to look like a much different player than the one that was nearly invisible in 16 games here late in 2022-23.

Where does Jiri Patera fit into organizational plans?​

This month may give us a better sense about where Jiri Patera sits on the organization’s goaltending hierarchy. You remember Patera, of course? The 26-year-old was signed to a two-year contract last summer but appeared in just seven games for Abbotsford last season due to a serious early season injury. Despite being the forgotten guy, Patera still has more NHL games on his resume (8) than any other goalies in the system not named Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen. How will the team use him at training camp? How will the team handle him in the preseason? We should get a better sense of those things as September unfolds.

Bigger, better Lekkerimäki​

Was Jonathan Lekkerimäki able to bulk up in a short offseason? It was clear the team’s top forward prospect needs to add some muscle as he continues to develop. Overall, his first season in North America was a huge success with 19 goals in 36 regular season AHL games, 24 NHL appearances and a Calder Cup championship. Lekkerimäki should now have a pretty solid baseline for what it takes to compete and thrive in both the AHL and NHL.

Has Räty picked up the pace?​

Was Aatu Räty able to work on his foot speed in a short offseason? Räty was limited to just six AHL playoff games due to a pair of lower body injuries. The organizational hope was that those would not pose any risk to his ability to train fully over the summer. But summer was considerably shorter than most since the Abbotsford Canucks played into the final week of June. Räty was one of the stars of last year’s training camp and preseason and earned a spot in the Vancouver Canucks opening night line-up last season. So he knows the drill. He’ll definitely be one to watch here in the weeks ahead.

Plans for top prospects​

We should get a better idea of what the organization is thinking about many of its Abbotsford prospects based on how they’re slotted at training camp. If Räty, Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains or Max Sasson are placed on lines with NHL veterans at training camp, you can probably read into that. The flip side is if those players find themselves with other AHL players at camp and in the preseason, there is likely a message in that. September should present how the coaching staff and management feel about some of its top prospects and where they fit in the team’s grand plans.

Willander ready for prime time​

We will all find out if Tom Willander looks close to being NHL-ready this month. After two successful seasons at Boston University and a protracted contract negotiation, the team’s 2023 first rounder signed with the Canucks last spring and will embark on his professional hockey journey. Willander is a bit of a wildcard in the mix in terms of his readiness to make the jump to the NHL right away. But he’ll be watched closely by fans and media alike and we’ll all get a better sense of where he stands as he attends his first professional training camp.

How does team handle Braeden Cootes?​

And September should give us a better sense of whether Braeden Cootes has a legitimate shot at starting the season on the big league roster and getting into a handful of NHL games before being sent back to WHL Seattle. It’s a longshot, but given the question marks at centre, if Cootes shows well in prospect games, is placed in positions to succeed at camp and given an opportunity to play NHL preseason games, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he sticks around to start the season. At the very least, his usage is something to monitor this month.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/12-things-september-reveal-vancouver-canucks

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

5 players the Canucks could sign to PTOs

Now that we’re into the month of September, we are less than three weeks away from when the Vancouver Canucks start hitting the ice for NHL Training Camp.

As it currently stands, the roster looks fairly set. Using the 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders on the roster on PuckPedia, here are the projected lines entering the 2025-2026 season:

Forwards: Nils Aman, Teddy Blueger, Brock Boeser, Filip Chytil, Jake DeBrusk, Conor Garland, Nils Höglander, Evander Kane, Linus Karlsson, Drew O’Connor, Elias Pettersson, Aatu Räty, Kiefer Sherwood

Defencemen: Derek Forbort, Filip Hronek, Quinn Hughes, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Tyler Myers, Elias Pettersson, Marcus Pettersson

Goalies: Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen

Of course, Training Camp standouts could certainly push their way onto this roster. We’ve seen many Canucks do it before, most recently Räty last season. So it’s not out of the question for it to happen again next season, with a spot seemingly open on the Canucks’ fourth line. Players like Max Sasson, Arshdeep Bains, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Vitali Kravtsov, Tom Willander and Victor Mancini stand out as players who could do the same this season.

However, perhaps there’s somebody who isn’t even on the team just yet who could make an impact for the Canucks next season, in the form of signing a player to a professional tryout contract (PTO).

Last season, the Canucks signed winger Sammy Blais to a PTO in late August, which came with a chance for him to earn his way onto the NHL roster with a strong training camp/preseason. However, Blais struggled and joined the Abbotsford squad. While this wasn’t the ideal situation for Blais, he would go on to play a significant role in their playoff run, which resulted in a Calder Cup.

While it didn’t work out in Vancouver for Blais, it goes to show that players on PTOs can still make a difference within an organization.

We say all this to switch our focus to the next crop of unsigned players whom the Canucks could look to sign this September. Here are six possible candidates.

Matt Grzelcyk

Our one and only defenceman on the list is Matt Grzelcyk. To be honest, it’s somewhat surprising that Grzelcyk is still out there. After spending seven seasons with the Boston Bruins, Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Grzelcyk is a 31-year-old offensive defenceman who shattered his previous career high in points in 2024-2025. Seeing an elevated role with the Penguins, logging 2:09 minutes of average power play time per game, Grzelcyk tallied one goal and 40 points – 15 of which came on the power play.

Now, the Canucks already have too many defencemen as is, competing for a spot on the roster. However, upon examining their options, Vancouver doesn’t have any notable offensive threats outside of Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek on the backend. Bringing in Grzelcyk to potentially compete for a seventh defenceman role could provide a little more offensive firepower from the Canucks’ blueline.

Craig Smith

At age 35, Craig Smith is a prime candidate for a PTO. He may not be the player he used to be, but Smith still has some juice left in the tank.

Smith split last season in the Midwest, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. He scored nine goals and 18 points in 59 games. Looking at the Canucks’ needs, they likely want a player who can replace Pius Suter’s penalty killing job. Unfortunately, Smith has never been a penalty killer throughout his career.

However, with such a young bottom-six heading into the 2025-2026 season, a calming veteran presence could be beneficial as the Canucks look to develop their young core.

Robby Fabbri

Coming off a three-year, $4 million average annual value contract, it’s a little shocking that Fabbri has yet to earn a contract into September.

Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Fabbri has always been able to produce at the NHL level. Last season, Fabbri was restricted to just 44 games, but managed to score eight goals and 16 points. The season before, Fabbri tied his career-high of 18 goals with the Red Wings.

The 29-year-old can still play at the NHL level. Giving him a chance to earn a roster spot for training camp might not be a bad idea if some of the Canucks’ hopefuls to make the roster next season don’t impress later this month.

Klim Kostin

With the Dakota Joshua departure, the Canucks are lacking a little physicality in their bottom six – outside of Kiefer Sherwood, of course.

Turning back the page to the 2022-2023 season, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder proved his worth as a power forward for the Edmonton Oilers. He set career highs in goals (11), points (21), plus-minus (+12), and hits (157), all in just 57 games. His efforts earned him a two-year, $4 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. But after just 33 games, the Red Wings traded him to the San Jose Sharks.

As one of the bottom feeders in the league, the Sharks even struggled to find a consistent roster spot for Kostin. However, he’s proven he can be a power forward in the NHL, and should be on the Canucks radar if they end up dipping into the PTO pool.

Tyler Motte

Who doesn’t love a good comeback story?

Motte, now 30, was acquired by the Canucks in the Thomas Vanek trade. He wasn’t much at the time, but he turned into a tremendous penalty killer and paved himself an NHL role with numerous teams around the league.

Last season, Motte played just 55 games with the Red Wings, scoring four goals and nine points. However, he still averaged 1:38 minutes of penalty killing time, which could be beneficial for the Canucks following Pius Suter leaving in free agency.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Who would you like to see the Canucks sign to a PTO before training camp? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/5-players-vancouver-canucks-could-sign-ptos

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #8 – Ryan Kesler

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #8 – Ryan Kesler

Coming out of Ohio State University, Ryan Kesler was selected 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the infamous 2003 NHL Draft.

The Michigan native went pro the following season, suiting up in 33 games for the Manitoba Moose before making his NHL debut with the Canucks in late November. Kesler would go on to play 28 games in Vancouver, tallying two goals and five points. The rookie provided some high energy as a 3C and even earned some penalty killing time.

Following the NHL’s 2004-2005 lockout, Kesler started to cement himself as a true shutdown centreman in the league. He only had 10 goals and 23 points in a full 82-game season. However, showcasing the ability to play a matchup role against opponents’ top lines is what kept him in the lineup. Kesler earned more trust on the penalty kill in 2005-2006, and started to form what became one of the deadliest duos in Canucks history with Alex Burrows.

Primed for a new contract, Kesler signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers the following season. The Canucks would match the offer without much hesitation.

The centreman was on pace to set a career-high in points during the 2006-2007 campaign, until his season was cut short due to a hip injury – which would cause his further troubles down the road.

In 2007-2008, Kesler fully broke out as a two-way centreman. He became a 20-goal scorer while also shutting down the opposition’s top players. While the Canucks failed to make the playoffs that season, it was just another stepping stone for Kesler and the heights the team would officially reach.

The 2008-2009 season saw lots of change for Kesler. After running a duo with Burrows for most of his career, head coach Alain Vigneault plucked Burrows from Kesler’s wing and put him with the Sedins. We don’t need to explain to you how well that worked; however, that left Kesler in search of a new linemate.

Luckily for Kesler, the Canucks signed future Hall of Famer Mats Sundin and the two were also accompanied by Pavol Demitra. That did not slow Kesler down, as he scored career highs in goals (26), assists (33) and points (59) in 80 games. Kesler went on to win team MVP and was recognized for his defensive play by finishing as a Selke finalist. Unfortunately, the Canucks would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round.

One year later, Kesler continued to take steps forward. Now paired with Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson, Kesler scored 25 goals and 50 assists for a new career high of 75 points. Their speed helped Kesler have the most successful season of his career, earning him a six-year, $30 million extension with the Canucks – one of which he would not finish in Vancouver.

Later that playoffs, Kesler’s 10 points in 12 games were not enough for the Canucks to get past the Blackhawks in the second round for the second consecutive season. Kesler moved up in Selke consideration, finishing second for the award.

However, it was the 2010-2011 season that Canucks fans will never forget Kesler for.

Having just lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions and what turned out to be their kryptonite, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks went out and signed a new defensive centre, Manny Malhotra. This allowed Malhotra to take on more defensive matchups, freeing up Kesler to flourish offensively. He may not have set a career high in points – finishing just two points (73) behind – but he hit a new goal-scoring peak of 41.

But it wasn’t just his offensive outburst, as Kesler was finally recognized for his defensive prowess, taking home the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward – the first and only Canuck to win the award.

That playoff run, Kesler and the Canucks finally broke through, defeating the Blackhawks in Game 7 overtime when Burrows “slayed the dragon”. Kesler had one goal and five points in seven games that series. However, it was the second round where Kesler completely carried the Canucks.

It took him a little while to get into the series; however, once Game 3 rolled around, he could not be stopped. Many fans call Kesler “Beast Mode” for his efforts against the Predators, scoring five goals and 11 points in the six-game series – 10 points in the final four games.

Including his overtime winning goal in Game 3:

And who could forget this rush from the neutral zone through the entire Predators defence to break the 2-2 tie in the third period?

His dominance continued against the Sharks, as he scored three goals and added seven points in five games, helping Vancouver advance to its first Stanley Cup Final since 1994. But it wasn’t as pretty for Kesler against the Bruins. After sustaining a torn labrum in Game 5 against the Sharks, Kesler was not the same player in the finals, clearly battling injury later in the series, in which the Canucks lost in Game 7.

Kesler finished the playoff run with seven goals and 19 points in 25 games. Unfortunately for him, his torn labrum would require offseason surgery, and he would not be available to start the 2011-2012 season. He still managed to play 77 games, but his goals (22) and points (49) took a significant hit, despite the Canucks winning the President’s Trophy for the second time in as many years.

The 2012-2013 season was an absolute write-off for Kesler, playing in just 17 games after offseason shoulder and wrist surgeries delayed his start, and an in-season foot fracture would keep him out until near the end of the season. The American would score just four goals and 13 points in what was a lost season.

2013-2014 was the final season for Kesler in a Canucks uniform. After serving as an alternate captain for six seasons, Kesler could see the writing on the wall of a team decline, and wanted to go somewhere with a better chance to win. Kesler ended up getting traded to the Anaheim Ducks later that offseason, where he would play five more years and 44 postseason games before hanging up the skates in 2019.

Kesler still ranks highly in Canucks history to this day: 12th in games played (655), 15th in goals (182), 17th in points (393), and 22nd in plus/minus (+25).

Kesler accomplished a tremendous amount during his time in Vancouver. Not only was he a 40-goal scorer, the first Selke winner in franchise history, but his efforts in Round 2 against the Predators and the entire 2011 playoff run will be something that will forever be etched in Vancouver Canucks fans’ heads when they look back on that special team.

Our previously ranked top 50 Canucks of all time:

#50 – Curt Fraser
#49 – Dave Babych
#48 – Martin Gelinas
#47 – Chris Oddleifson
#46 – Jannik Hansen
#45 – Ivan Boldirev
#44 – Gary Smith
#43 – Jacob Markstrom
#42 – Orland Kurtenbach
#41 – Harold Snepsts
#40 – Darcy Rota
#39 – Thatcher Demko
#38 – Geoff Courtnall
#37 – Dennis Ververgaert
#36 – Petri Skriko
#35 – Dan Hamhuis
#34 – Doug Lidster
#33 – Patrik Sundstrom
#32 – Brendan Morrison
#31 – Richard Brodeur
#30 – Sami Salo
#29 – André Boudrais
#28 – Kevin Bieksa
#27 – Don Lever
#26 – Bo Horvat
#25 – Brock Boeser
#24 – Dennis Kearns
#23 – Ed Jovanovski
#22 – Greg Adams
#21 – Cliff Ronning
#20 – JT Miller
#19 – Tony Tanti
#18 – Jyrki Lumme
#17 – Elias Pettersson
#16 – Alex Burrows
#15 – Alexander Mogilny
#14 – Mattias Ohlund
#13 – Thomas Gradin
#12 – Stan Smyl
#11 – Alex Edler
#10 – Todd Bertuzzi
#9 – Kirk McLean

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/top-50-vancouver-canucks-players-all-time-8-ryan-kesler

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

‘It’s still a year away’: Canucks’ Quinn Hughes hasn’t made a decision about his long-term future

We’re still 10 months away from Quinn Hughes’ eligibility to sign a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks, but the captain’s future with the team is top of mind for many fans.

Right now, the 25-year-old defenceman is focused solely on the year ahead. Ahead of the upcoming season, Hughes spoke with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre and shared where his head is at going into training camp.

“Every year brings its different challenges,” Hughes said. “Two of my best buddies (Canuck teammates Conor Garland and Brock Boeser) just signed in Vancouver long-term. I will say last year was not fun; it just wasn’t. But I’m a really competitive guy … and last year was a failure, so I’m trying to bring my best. Try to be a great leader and help my team get in the playoffs. Who knows what we can do and who knows how I’ll be feeling this time next year? It’s still a year away.”

While the prospect of Hughes leaving Vancouver is a scary one for Canucks fans, the key here is that it’s still a ways away. For now, the blue liner is focused on getting the team back on track, and that includes keeping out distractions for his teammates in his third year as captain.

“As far as the noise around my teammates, I’m going to try to help everyone else, too, and be as good a leader as I can be,” he added. “Noise doesn’t bother me. It’s a long year, and I’m just going to be day-to-day and focus on the short term. That’s the truth, honestly.”

Last season saw a huge restructuring of the Canucks’ roster amidst locker room issues and injury troubles. With training camp on the horizon, Hughes is focused on what’s next and ready to leave what happened behind him.

“You definitely don’t want to live in the past,” Hughes said. “We’re already on a new season and that’s where my head is at, and probably after this interview I won’t be talking about last season again. It took me a while (to get over it) because it was really disappointing. More than that, it was just really not fun. It was an exhausting year. But I really do think it’s going to make everyone in our group stronger—mentally stronger. Hopefully, everyone has trained hard and is ready to go. I know I am.”

After missing the playoffs last year, just about everyone in Vancouver is ready to leave last season behind. And while the uncertainty of Hughes’ long-term future may cause some anxiety over the coming year, it’s the furthest thing from the defenceman’s mind. Right now, that may be the best thing for both him and the team.

You can read the full article from MacIntyre, with more quotes from Hughes, by clicking here!

READ NEXT: The new CBA rollout gives the Canucks two major advantages in extending Quinn Hughes​

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-quinn-hughes-decision-long-term-future

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Puck Pedia’s Hart Levine helps break down the new NHL CBA: Canucks Conversation

On Wednesday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by Puck Pedia’s Hart Levin to help make sense of some of the most significant changes in the NHL’s new CBA — starting with the introduction of a playoff salary cap.

“The playoff cap system is brand new and it’s for the 20 players who are dressed in the playoff game,” Levin explained. “In the regular season, injured players, scratches, etc. all count against the cap. The playoff cap will only be the dressed players and only for the game being played. It’s the same salary cap as the season – this year it’s $95.5 million – and it includes all the dead cap charges you have for the year: buyouts, retention, bonus overages, if you have someone buried in the minors, that all counts towards your cap number.”

Levin pointed out one key difference that could have a huge effect on roster building. “When you acquire a player in the regular season, they’re only charged for the portion of the season remaining,” he said. “That’s why cap space is more valuable at the trade deadline. A $10 million dollar player only costs you around $2 million if you get him at the deadline. In the playoff cap, there’s no pro-rating. It’s their full annual cap hit. So that $10 million dollar player, even though he was only charged $2 million during the regular season, now you need to fit his whole $10 million in the playoff cap. That may lead to less trade activity at the deadline.”

Harm added that this is just one of a few changes that could make life tougher for cap-strapped teams like the Canucks. “Between that, and other changes like no more paper transactions, it’s going to be a lot harder to carve out space,” he said. “Because Abbotsford is so close, what the Canucks would do is on off days, they’d send down someone like Arshdeep Bains as a paper transaction. Since cap space accrues daily, that would give them a little extra space, and over a season it really adds up. That option’s gone now. Combine that with the playoff cap system and no more double-retention trades, it seems like if you’re a team tight up against the cap at the start of the season, it’s going to be way harder to make in-season trades compared to years past. The cap space you start with matters a lot more now.”

According to Levin, the NHL’s goal was to stop teams from using loopholes in ways that, in their view, went against the spirit of the cap. “It sounds like the NHL felt like double retentions, using LTIR the way it was being used, they felt like it was against the spirit of the salary cap,” Levin said. “They wanted teams to have a roster at the start of the season that was cap compliant and not have all these maneuvers to build it up. In that sense, it’s probably mission accomplished.”

But the downside, he cautioned, is a quieter market. “I think we’ll see less trades as a result,” Levin said. “Teams close to the cap can still accrue a little bit, trade for a player at the deadline, and because you’re only counting 20 players in the playoff cap instead of 23 or 25, you can make that work. But it’s going to reduce the number of trades and trades that involve high cap hits at the deadline. The unintended consequence is way less trade activity, and I don’t know how that’s good for anybody. A lot of what we do is fueled by trade activity, speculation, and discussion, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Canucks Conversation is back for a new season and goes live at 2 PM Monday-Friday on the CanucksArmy YouTube channel! Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/puck-p...s-break-down-new-nhl-cba-canucks-conversation

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks confirm September 20th scrimmage for training camp in Penticton

The Vancouver Canucks have confirmed that they will hold their annual training camp scrimmage on Saturday, September 20th, in Penticton. In a press release detailing training camp ticket information, the club revealed the Saturday session will include the annual Blue-White battle at South Okanagan Events Centre, with the roster divided into two teams.

Earlier this summer, the hockey team announced the dates for camp without daily details.

Camp will consist of on-ice sessions on Thursday, September 18th, and Friday, September 19th. There is also expected to be a brief on-ice session on the morning of Sunday, September 21st. The Canucks open the preseason later that evening in Seattle.

The team announced this morning that tickets for training camp go on sale Tuesday, September 9th, at 10 am.

The cost to attend the Saturday scrimmage may come as a shock to the system for some. The Canucks have set the price for the Saturday session at $40 per ticket.

It will cost $13 to gain entry to the SOEC for the Thursday and Friday programs, and just $6.50 per person to enter the building on the final morning.

The Canucks are also making a select number of packages available to fans. Entire camp packs will sell for $62 while weekend packs will be on sale for $45.

Doors open at 9:00 am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at 8:30 am on Sunday.

A full roster and daily schedules will be released prior to the start of training camp.

While most of the Canucks veterans are already in town and skating at UBC, the only official team function between now and the start of training camp is Monday’s Jake Milford Golf Tournament at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey.

The team will also conduct a brief prospect camp next week before sending a group of players to games in Everett and Seattle against the Kraken’s top prospects on September 13th and 14th.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancou...tember-20th-scrimmage-training-camp-penticton

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

NHL Notebook: Lane Hutson’s dad suggests his sons could play for Team Canada after USA Olympic roster snub

Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!

It was a big year for Lane Hutson. The Montreal Canadiens’ defenceman took home the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, and helped the Habs reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

One thing that didn’t happen for Hutson was being named to the US Olympics Orientation Camp roster. Team USA announced the roster last month, with Canucks forward Conor Garland making the cut. Along with Quinn Hughes, here are the other defencemen who were named to the roster over Hutson:

Brock Faber, Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, Adam Fox, Seth Jones, Brett Pesce, Jaccob Slavin, Noah Hanifin, Jackson LaCombe, Neal Pionk, Alex Vlasic, Luke Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Sanderson, and Zach Werenski.

One person who clearly isn’t a fan of USA Hockey’s decision to leave Hutson off the roster? Hutson’s dad, Rob.

Speaking with Grant McCagg on the Recrutes HabsCast podcast, Rob Hutson said:

“Listen, you never know what happens in the future. My boys are also Canadian. There’s an absolute luxury there, and a lot of great players have been left off the selection for the Olympics and things like that. I think Brett Hull might have been one of them. He voted with his feet, he went form Canada to the US. There’s all types of scenarios that are… I wouldn’t say in play, but there’s all types of possibilities, right?”

Lane Hutson has three brothers, all of whom are hockey players. His older brother Quinn signed with the Edmonton Oilers last April, and his younger brother Cole was drafted 43rd overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The youngest Hutson brother, Lars, is still just 16 years old and will be playing in the USHL next season. All four brothers were born in the U.S., but Rob Hutson is Canadian, making them eligible to play for Canada internationally.

Now, Team Canada isn’t exactly strapped for defencemen themselves. Headlined by Cale Makar, Canada’s orientation camp roster features names like Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, Shea Theodore, Aaron Ekblad, Thomas Harley, Colton Parayko, Mackenzie Weegar, and Devon Toews. Not to mention Drew Doughty, Travis Sanheim, Josh Morrissey, and Brandon Montour.

Even if Hutson himself made it clear he wants to play for Canada internationally, it’s far from a guarantee he’d be selected to the main roster. But who knows what could change if Hutson takes another step forward following a phenomenal rookie campaign?

What do you make of Rob Hutson’s comments and this situation as a whole? Let us know in the comments section below!

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-no...lay-team-canada-after-usa-olympic-roster-snub

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Top 50 Canucks of all time: #6 – Trevor Linden

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #6 – Trevor Linden

For a certain generation of fans, Trevor Linden will always be synonymous with what it means to be a Vancouver Canuck. For nearly two decades, Linden entertained fans with his signature style of hard-nosed two-way play, perhaps best exemplified by his infamous hit that sent Jeff Norton through the glass during a game against the St. Louis Blues in the 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Linden arrived in Vancouver as one of the most highly-touted prospects in team history at the time. Drafted second overall out of the WHL, Linden won back-to-back Memorial Cups with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 1987 and 1988.

Linden quickly became a leader on the team and was named team captain for the 1990-91 season at the age of 21, making him the youngest captain in franchise history.

He led the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, where he cemented himself as the team’s all-time greatest playoff performer. Linden finished second on the team in playoff scoring behind only Pavel Bure and scored both goals in a 3-2 Game 7 loss despite suffering a broken rib in Game 3.

Linden would have several more productive seasons with the Canucks, including a career-high 80-point campaign in 1995-96, but was traded to the New York Islanders in 1998 due to a falling out with new Canucks GM and bench boss, Mike Keenan. The move was widely panned at the time, but would ironically turn out to be one of the greatest deals in franchise history. In return, the Canucks received power forward Todd Bertuzzi, legendary pest Jarkko Ruutu, and defenceman Bryan McCabe. McCabe was later included in a series of transactions that led to the Canucks selecting Daniel and Henrik Sedin, second and third overall, respectively, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

The fact that Linden would end up returning via trade in 2002 after a brief sojourn in Montreal and Washington during the club’s lean years in the late ‘90s helped to take the sting off of losing him in the first place. He would continue his playoff heroics for the remainder of his time in Vancouver, including an unexpected team-leading performance in the 2006-07 playoffs in which he scored two game-winners in the first round.

Linden retired on June 11, 2008, twenty years to the day that he was first drafted by the Canucks. He retired as the franchise leader in playoff points and games played, records which he maintains to this day.

Our previously ranked top 50 Canucks of all time:

#50 – Curt Fraser
#49 – Dave Babych
#48 – Martin Gelinas
#47 – Chris Oddleifson
#46 – Jannik Hansen
#45 – Ivan Boldirev
#44 – Gary Smith
#43 – Jacob Markstrom
#42 – Orland Kurtenbach
#41 – Harold Snepsts
#40 – Darcy Rota
#39 – Thatcher Demko
#38 – Geoff Courtnall
#37 – Dennis Ververgaert
#36 – Petri Skriko
#35 – Dan Hamhuis
#34 – Doug Lidster
#33 – Patrik Sundstrom
#32 – Brendan Morrison
#31 – Richard Brodeur
#30 – Sami Salo
#29 – André Boudrais
#28 – Kevin Bieksa
#27 – Don Lever
#26 – Bo Horvat
#25 – Brock Boeser
#24 – Dennis Kearns
#23 – Ed Jovanovski
#22 – Greg Adams
#21 – Cliff Ronning
#20 – JT Miller
#19 – Tony Tanti
#18 – Jyrki Lumme
#17 – Elias Pettersson
#16 – Alex Burrows
#15 – Alexander Mogilny
#14 – Mattias Ohlund
#13 – Thomas Gradin
#12 – Stan Smyl
#11 – Alex Edler
#10 – Todd Bertuzzi
#9 – Kirk McLean
#8 – Ryan Kesler
#7 – Markus Naslund

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/top-50-vancouver-canucks-all-time-6-trevor-linden

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

NHL Notebook: Canadiens trade Carey Price’s contract to Sharks, Flames extend Zary, and more

Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!

Sure, the NFL is back, but we are just one month and one day away from the NHL returning to regular season action.

Of course, Vancouver Canucks fans are just excited for 12 days from now when they get to see their squad back on the ice and start picturing how this roster and season are going to look.

But until then, there is the ongoing saga of Connor McDavid and his upcoming contract extension – or lack thereof. As well as some other news items surrounding the league, including the loss of an NHL great.

Carey Price traded to San Jose​

After 15 seasons in Montreal, the Canadiens have parted ways with their long-term netminder, Carey Price.

The Canadiens acquire defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in 2026.

News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/hnwKBe7FE0

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 5, 2025

Well, it’s not that dramatic. Price hasn’t played in the NHL since late April of 2022. But the Canadiens did trade him, along with a 2027 fifth-round pick, to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenceman Gannon Laroque.

Price was the last goaltender to be drafted in the top five of the NHL Draft, going fifth to the Habs in 2005. He spent over 700 games in Montreal, holding a 361-261-79 record with a 2.51 goals against average and a .917 save percentage with 49 shutouts.

His career was highlighted by a miraculous 2014-2015 season, during which Price started 66 games, finishing with a 44-16-6 record, a 1.96 goals against average, and a .933 save percentage, including nine shutouts. That year, Price took home the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP, the first goaltender to win the award since fellow Canadiens netminder Jose Theodore won it in the 2001-2002 season.

Had it not been for Price’s efforts in the 2020-2021 postseason, where he finished with a .924 save percentage through the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Canadiens would not have made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately, Price’s play would decline in the Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they went on to lose in five games.

Following the Stanley Cup loss, Price revealed that he was playing through a couple of injuries, including a torn meniscus and a lingering hip issue, which limited his movements in the Final. Price would have offseason surgery, returning for just five games before the season ended. He would undergo another surgery in August of 2022, at which point he came to the realization he was unlikely to return to professional hockey.

The Canadiens have had Price’s $10.5 million on LTIR since then. However, the San Jose Sharks traded for Price’s contract to gain some financial flexibility, while also acquiring a draft pick in the process.

Calgary Flames extend Connor Zary​

The Calgary Flames announced on Saturday morning that they’ve extended 23-year-old forward Connor Zary to a three-year, $11.325 million contract, carrying a $3.775 AAV.

ZAR'S BACK

We've re-signed Connor Zary to a three-year contract with an AAV worth $3.775 million! pic.twitter.com/CHd9reW5Zd

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 6, 2025

Zary was drafted by the Flames 24th overall in the 2020 draft, but has just two years of NHL experience. In his rookie campaign, Zary scored 14 goals and 34 points in 63 games, finishing with a plus-12 rating. Last season, Zary took a small step back in the points department, scoring 13 goals and just 27 points in 54 games.

Canucks fans will remember the Saskatchewan native for two things last season.

First, his opening night overtime winning goal that completed a three-goal comeback:

ZARY WINS IT IN OT!!! WHAT A COMEBACK!! pic.twitter.com/993llWZd02

— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) October 10, 2024

And then his retaliatory hit on Elias Pettersson (D) following a clean hit on Nazem Kadri.

Here is a closer look at the Connor Zary retaliation on D-Petey.

Should Zary be suspended for this play?

: Sportsnet | NHL#Canucks #Flames https://t.co/A3Ar65Wc6n pic.twitter.com/wKJi2cT1gx

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) March 13, 2025

Zary was suspended for two games for this act.

Whether he’s scoring goals or continuing to play on the edge, Zary will be a thorn in the side of the Canucks for at least the next three seasons as a member of their division rival, the Calgary Flames.

Hockey world loses an all-time great goaltender​

On Saturday morning, the hockey world lost Hockey Hall of Famer and legendary netminder, Ken Dryden.

Ken Dryden, the legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltender who backstopped the team’s 1970s dynasty to six Stanley Cups, has passed away at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer.

News release ↓https://t.co/yKQdmTE8Me

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 6, 2025

In the report, Montreal Canadiens Owner and President, Geoff Molson, had this to say regarding Dryden:

“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man. Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this Club into what it is today. “Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport. On behalf of the Molson family and our entire organization, I would like to extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all who had the privilege to cross his path and know him on a personal level.”

Dryden was lost during his fight against cancer at the age of 78.

The Canadian netminder had a short career, but did he ever make the best of it. Dryden played just eight seasons in the NHL, yet won the Stanley Cup in six of those seasons (1970-71, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78, and 1978-79). He started 389 games, finishing with a remarkable 258-57-74 record, a 2.24 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage, including 46 shutouts.

His playoff numbers are just as remarkable, starting 112 games, finishing with an 80-32 record, with a 2.41 goals against average and a .915 save percentage, with 10 shutouts. Along with his six Stanley Cups, Dryden collected one Conn Smythe and five Vezina Trophies.

At just 31 years old, Dryden had nothing left to prove at the NHL level and decided to retire in 1979.

The entire hockey world is saddened to hear of today’s news of Dryden’s passing. With heavy hearts, we give our condolences to the Dryden family.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-no...n-jose-sharks-calgary-flames-connor-zary-more

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks: The path is there for another big year from Nils Höglander

Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Höglander followed a very promising 2023-24 season with a remarkably underwhelming 2024-25 campaign. The young Swede struggled to find his footing, finishing the year with eight goals — a big drop from his 24-goal effort the year before.

Coming into the 2025-26 season, there’s a big opportunity for Höglander to take a massive step and solidify himself in a potential top-six role. It seemed in previous seasons there wasn’t a ton of trust in Höglander from head coach Rick Tocchet, and although Adam Foote was behind the bench, it’s still an opportunity for Höglander to prove himself and earn trust under a new Head Coach.

The best chance for him to jump into the top six is going to be taking Evander Kane’s spot. With Dakota Joshua having departed via trade this offseason, Kane may be best suited to take on a third-line role, adding to the team’s depth on the wings.

This does leave a bit of a hole up front, having smaller wingers like Conor Garland and Höglander being in the mix, so the team would likely have to split the two up, pairing one with Brock Boeser and the other with Jake DeBrusk.

There has also been some chemistry shown in the past between Elias Pettersson and Höglander. It may not be the lotto line, but having Boeser, Pettersson and Höglander together, assuming Pettersson and Höglander can get back to the level they were at a couple of years ago, could make for an underrated, dangerous top line.

Bold Season Prediction​

Giving Höglander the opportunity to play in the top six right off the bat and giving him a real chance to catch his footing early on in the year could make for a career year.

He’s shown flashes of his offensive abilities in the past, but hasn’t really put it all together for a full season. Some of this can of course be attributed to his own inconsistent play, but there does need to be a mention of the fact that he’s been one of those guys who can’t seem to get away with a mistake without repercussions.

This year, with a new coaching staff and some opportunities opening up within the Canucks’ lineup, Höglander should be able to solidify himself in a top-six role. Not only that, but be a fairly productive player in this position.

If he establishes himself as a consistent top six contributor, Höglander could put up a career-high 25 goals while adding something like 30 assists, especially if he’s playing alongside Pettersson and Boeser for most of that time. This author’s final prediction: Höglander scores 55 points this season, besting his previous career high by nearly 20 points, finally breaking out into a productive top-six NHLer with the Canucks.

Pettersson and Boeser factor aside, Höglander might finally find himself with a consistent role on the team’s second power play unit, which should help his overall totals. We’ve seen him score 24 in a season without a single goal coming on the power play, so giving him those additional chances will allow him to have an even more productive season offensively.

What do you think Canucks fans? Does Höglander have the ability to solidify himself into that top six? Or is it going to be another season playing up and down the lineup? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-path-big-year-nils-hoglander