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[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks games will cost more to watch next season thanks to Sportsnet+ price hike

Vancouver Canucks fans will continue to be able to watch their team every night, but they will pay a little more to stream the games next season.

On Thursday, Rogers Sportsnet announced a price increase for its Sportsnet+ stream service, significantly raising the prices for the 2025-26 season.

The price of the standard subscription, which takes effect on September 9, increases from $199.99 annually to $249.99. The premium subscription, which is crucial for fans who don’t live in the markets of their favourite teams, patriculary the Canucks, rises from $249.99 to $324.99 for the year.

Fans can still opt for monthly plans; the standard subscription costs $29.99 per month, with a premium plan priced at $42.99 per month. The premium plan costs monthly subscribers an additional $13.00 per month for the year.

This isn’t the first time the telecom has upped its prices this year. In January, the regular subscription price increased from $179.99 to $199.99. If you’re doing the math, Sportsnet+ subscribers have seen their plans rise 40% in a single year, with an extra $70 coming out of consumers’ pockets.

With the price hike, fans hope that it will mean a better quality stream experience, as one of the major criticisms of the streaming service is its unreliability. Many experienced issues with keeping an eye on Canucks games throughout the season, as frequent errors popped up that said the games were not available.

Hey @sportsnet, what the heck is going on with the Canucks/Flyers game? pic.twitter.com/C0Q7uFN41y

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) October 12, 2024

Along with poor quality streams, trying to find games on demand has been nearly impossible, as many Canucks games are no longer available for viewing past a certain date.

Sportsnet+, originally known as Sportsnet Now, was introduced in 2014, at the same time Sportsnet started having exclusive rights to NHL games in Canada. The prices have fluctuated over its history, going from $24.99 a month to $19.99 a month, and back up again to include the WWE Network a couple of years ago.

In today’s age of cord-cutting, where everyone is trying to save a dollar to watch their favourite teams, the prices are getting to the point where people wonder if it’s worth paying the high amount.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancou...watch-next-season-thanks-sportsnet-price-hike

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

What cheaper, compromise options are still available in the Canucks’ search for centre depth?

Yesterday, we wrote about the relatively small handful of true, blue top-six centres still available on the trade market. With GM Patrik Allvin and Co. of the Vancouver Canucks said to be on the summer-long lookout for additional centre depth, it’s a reasonable thing to be thinking about.

But if we’re talking in terms of realism, we have to admit that none of the players who made that list are particularly realistic options at this point in the offseason. Really, any genuine top-six centre – particularly in this centre-starved economy – is going to cost either cap space or trade capital far over and above what the Canucks have available, and probably both.

Maybe Allvin still has a rabbit or two up his sleeve, and will be able to work his magic on a transaction of unforeseen magnitude.

If not, however, it’s probably off to the bargain bin. Which, it should be noted, is not unfamiliar territory for this Canucks’ front office. The player who filled that 2C role for the latter portion of the 2024/25 season – and even the 1C role for a minute or two – was Pius Suter, signed in the late summer of 2023 to a two-year, $1.6 million AAV contract. In the end, Suter returned close to quadruple the value of that salary.

So, it is definitely possible for the Canucks to go discount shopping for centres and still wind up with a win. Is it likely? Maybe not, but there are certainly some intriguing options on the block at the same time, and we’ve collected a number of them for you to consider below.

The Buy-Low Bargain Bin Options​

Evan Rodrigues
31, 5’11”, 182lb, $3 million AAV until 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	82	15	17	32	57.1%

Rodrigues has already been identified as the player most likely to be traded in order to get the Florida Panthers under the cap. If so, he’s a name well worth looking into. Able to play all three forward positions, including centre, Rodrigues is probably best described as a very good bottom-six player. That said, he’s scored as many as 19 goals and 43 points in a single season and, perhaps more importantly, has notched 30 points in his last 45 playoff games.

In other words, Rodrigues is a player who can make a big-time impact without bringing a big-time salary. One could imagine him providing adequate coverage at centre for Filip Chytil’s likely injuries, and flipping back over to the wing when necessary. He’s also a player who has some history with Allvin and Jim Rutherford during his time in Pittsburgh.

The Panthers would be looking to dump Rodrigues for picks and prospects, and would hope to take back no salary in the transaction. This would necessitate the Canucks trading a winger elsewhere, but that’s easy enough to accomplish. The real question is how high of a draft pick the Panthers are asking for. The bidding could definitely get as high as a second-rounder, but the Canucks would hope that Florida’s somewhat immediate need to cut cap might drive the price a smidgen lower.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi
25, 6’3”, 203lb, $4.82 million AAV until 2030

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	78	12	21	33	58.1%

We’ve heard tell of the Canucks being interested in Kotkaniemi before, and we imagine that hasn’t changed much, given their current search for a centre.

The Hurricanes certainly have the forward depth to give him up. But one issue at play here is that Carolina missed out on Mitch Marner in free agency, which has left them with a boatload of cap space. In other words, they don’t really need to cut cap, and so they don’t really need to part ways with anyone, including Kotkaniemi.

If, mid-season, the Hurricanes decide to make improvements and want to clear space at that point, then maybe Kotkaniemi hits the trade block again. For now, however, we imagine they’re hanging onto him.

Ross Colton, Colorado Avalanche
28, 6’0”, 194lb, $4 million AAV until 2027 (12-team NTC)

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	61	16	13	29	53.6%

Colton is a particularly interesting option, in that he reportedly strongly prefers the centre position, and has chafed at having to play the wing so often in Colorado. With Colorado fairly close to the cap ceiling, there is a chance that they look to swap Colton out for someone who fits their lineup a little better, and that’s where the Canucks could step in.

He has been a fairly consistent 30-point scorer since joining the NHL, and has put up as many as 40 in a season. At this age, it’s probably too late to expect a breakout, but it’s worth noting that Colton has played far down the depth chart of some pretty good hockey teams. Maybe with more opportunity in the top six, more production could be possible?

To acquire Colton, the Canucks would probably need to be willing to give up a particularly versatile winger, like a Drew O’Connor or a Nils Höglander. Is that worth their while? That depends largely on what they think of Colton’s potential to produce more.

Barret Hayton, Utah Mammoth
25, 6’1”, 200lb, $2.65 million AAV until 2026

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	82	20	26	46	57.7%

It’s easy to see how Hayton might be getting lost in the shuffle as the Utah Mammoth build up their roster. Technically, he’s slotted in as their 2C for the 2025/26 season, but that could change as younger forwards look to usurp his role. Hayton’s production has grown a little stagnant over his past three seasons, stuck somewhere in that 40-point range, and perhaps we’re approaching ‘change of scenery’ territory.

The Mammoth wouldn’t be looking to sell Hayton off for draft picks or cap space, as they’ve got plenty of each. Instead, they’d probably be looking to add some scoring depth to their wings. A Hayton-for-Höglander trade might make a lot of sense, though the Canucks would have to be comfortable knowing they’re dealing skill-for-position, essentially.

Cole Sillinger, Columbus Blue Jackets
22, 6’2”, 203lb, $2.25 million AAV until 2026

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	66	11	22	33	45.3%

Another player soon to be lost in the organizational shuffle is Sillinger, who we wrote about earlier in the offseason.

The son of a former Canuck, Mike Sillinger, Cole was drafted with high potential but has struggled to realize it at the NHL level. Now, he runs the risk of being pushed further down the Columbus depth chart by a blend of new acquisitions and younger prospects making the climb.

With his reasonable salary, there’s no direct impetus for the Blue Jackets to sell Sillinger. But if they foresee his minutes falling in the upcoming season, maybe they look to sell as high as they can.

Like with Hayton, we’d imagine the Blue Jackets are looking for more established NHL talent in any swap, and that’s probably, again, a winger-for-centre type trade. With Sillinger still only 22, however, expect the cost to be slightly higher, as is often the case when paying for potential.

Michael Rasmussen, Detroit Red Wings
25, 6’6”, 220lb, $3.2 million AAV until 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	77	11	10	21	46.0%

Another local product, and a sizeable one at that. Rasmussen’s physical dimensions get the most attention, and that’s a large part of why he was drafted ninth overall back in 2017. But there had to be some genuine skill in there, too, at least at one point.

Rasmussen hasn’t really broken out yet at the NHL level, with a career high of just 33 points. But he’s mostly played bottom-six minutes for bad teams in Detroit, and is only 25 years old, so perhaps there’s a breakout yet to be had. Obtaining bigger minutes in his hometown seems like it might be a good way to affect said breakout.

For the Red Wings’ part, they’d be looking to move Rasmussen to clear space for younger centres, like Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson. In that scenario, Detroit is probably looking for a draft pick-based return, which would necessitate the Canucks dumping some salary elsewhere.

The Still-Lingering UFA Crowd​

Of course, the UFA route remains open…if largely unpopulated.

Jack Roslovic, UFA
28, 6’1”, 198lb

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	81	22	17	39	57.9%

Roslovic is easily the most productive UFA left on the market, but the issue is that he puts up the majority of his points on the wing, not at centre. Sure, he can play the position, but perhaps not well enough to move the needle for any contender, or even a would-be contender.

We know the Canucks have been interested in Roslovic in the past. But the fact that they looked into so many other UFA targets first – including Christian Dvorak – leads us to believe they’ve already decided Roslovic is no longer the solution they are looking for. The last thing they need at this point is another winger.

Robby Fabbri, UFA
29, 5’11”, 185lb

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	44	8	8	16	42.1%

Fabbri also falls into the same Roslovic camp as a better winger than a centre, though he has a touch more experience down the middle.

Unfortunately, Fabbri has suffered a preposterous amount of injuries in his career. But he’s typically hovered above a 0.5 PPG rate through most of his playing time, which is better than can be said for many of the names on this list. However, it should be noted that last season’s 16 points in 44 games was one of Fabbri’s worst results.

In the end, he’s probably not a better option than what the Canucks already have on hand internally, and not really worth anything more than a possible PTO.

Joe Veleno, UFA
25, 6’1”, 201lb

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Corsi
2024/25	74	8	9	17	45.0%

Speaking of PTOs…

Veleno was traded to and then bought out by the Seattle Kraken, and has yet to find a new home.

Unlike Roslovic and Fabbri, Veleno is a true centre and was once considered a centre with top-six potential, at that. So far, however, he’s topped out at 28 points in a season and has largely been unable to translate his offensive skill to any higher level than the AHL.

If the Canucks still see some potential left in Veleno at age 25, he might make an interesting camp invite. In a worst-case scenario, he’s someone who could provide veteran depth in Abbotsford, a la Sammy Blais.

But hanging any real hopes on him is probably a bridge too far.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/what-c...ailable-vancouver-canucks-search-centre-depth

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

5 takeaways from the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025-2026 schedule

Earlier this week, the Abbotsford Canucks dropped their 2025-2026 schedule.

The AHL schedule is a little different from the NHL’s version. Most of the time, American League teams will always play back-to-backs to cut the time and expenses of their road trips. They also play a shorter 72-game schedule rather than the 82-game NHL season.

While all the players and fans will never forget the Championship 2024-2025 season, it’s time to put that in the rearview mirror and focus on 2025-2026.

Here are five takeaways from the Abby Canucks’ schedule release:

1. Delayed banner raising night

The rafters in the Abbotsford Centre will have to wait a bit longer until the 2024-2025 Calder Cup Championship banner is raised.

Not only do the Canucks kick off their season on the road against the Henderson Silver Knights (October 10 & 11), but the following weekend they take on the Laval Rocket in Quebec (October 17 & 18). The Canucks must wait until October 24 to celebrate their Championship one last time when they raise the banner for their home opener against the Ontario Reign.

That’s three weeks into the season that the Canucks have to wait to play in front of their home fans off the back of the first Championship in Canucks history – a little disappointing for the fans.

2. On the road in November

Abbotsford starts November with a two-game homestand against the Silver Knights on the 1st and 2nd. But other than that, they play just two more home games in the entire month.

The Canucks travel to Colorado to face the Eagles on the 7th and 8th, before returning home for a quick two-game home stand against the San Jose Barraduca on the 11th and 12th. Abbotsford is then on the road the rest of the month. First, they travel to San Diego for a game on the 15th, then a quick turnaround to Coachella on the 16th. Then, it’s back-to-backs in San Jose on the 21st and 22nd, before rounding out their road trip in Tucson on the 28th and 29th.

That six-game road trip is the longest of their season, one that will span over two weeks. The club likely travels home in between games, but that is a long stretch without a home game in the American League.

3. Busy January

While November may be tough with all the travel, January is their busiest month.

The Canucks will play 15 games in 30 days, with their most difficult stretch having to play seven games in 11 days to round out the month.

They play Henderson in a standalone game on the 2nd, before a four-game home stand from the 6th to the 11th. Followed by a quick California road trip to San Diego and Coachella from the 14th to the 18th. From the 20th to the 31st, they play Laval twice, San Diego twice, Ontario once, and then close out with two road games against Bakersfield.

4. Excuse me? They play the Pacific Division how many times?

We understand that the AHL doesn’t pull the same amount of money the NHL does, but I’m sure the players don’t like playing the same teams over and over again.

Of the Canucks’ 72 games, they will play 64 of them against the Pacific Division: The Colorado Eagles four times, the Tucson Roadrunners four times, the Bakersfield Condors four times, the Coachella Valley Firebirds eight times, the Henderson Silver Knights eight times, the San Jose Barracuda eight times, the San Diego Gulls eight times, the Ontario Reign eight times and the Calgary Wranglers 12 times.

The remaining eight times, the Canucks play a pair of Canadian teams, facing off against the Laval Rocket and Manitoba Moose, four teams each.

This means that the Canucks will not be facing off against the team they defeated in the Western Conference Finals, the Texas Stars, or the team they beat in the Calder Cup Finals, the Charlotte Checkers. The distance is far, but surely Canucks fans would have liked to see a regular season rematch against those teams.

5. Opportunity to play former players

Speaking of the Canucks playing the Rocket and the Moose, Abbotsford could possibly face off against two of their former teammates who helped them on their Calder Cup run: Sammy Blais and Phil Di Giuseppe.

Blais signed a one-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens this past offseason. But if things don’t work out and Blais clears waivers, he will report to their AHL affiliate in Laval. Abbotsford plays Laval on October 17 and 18, and again on January 20 and 21.

Di Giuseppe signed a two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets this summer, and if he’s not with the big club, he’ll join the Moose. The Canucks play the Moose on December 31, January 2, and March 10 and 11.

Both players will surely be met with gratitude for their efforts in the postseason. Blais had six goals and 19 points in 23 games, while bringing a physical edge that instilled fear in his opponents. Di Giuseppe played up and down the Canucks lineup in the postseason, posting six goals and 11 points in 24 playoff games for Abbotsford.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/5-takeaways-abbotsford-canucks-2025-2026-schedule

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

NHL teams vote to keep draft decentralized for next season

The NHL is planning on keeping the NHL Draft decentralized for next season.

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman first reported on Thursday that a vote was being held amongst NHL teams about the future of the NHL Draft, and whether or not they intended to continue with it being decentralized, or if they wanted to revert back to the previous format. Friedman said at the time that, barring a wild swing from the few remaining voters, that the teams were planning on continuing with the decentralized draft.

Since then, multiple outlets have confirmed that the vote has been completed, with the decision being in favour of keeping the draft decentralized.

Teams made the decision in 2024 to switch to a decentralized draft format, with the primary reason being saving money. Teams did not want to send out entire scouting teams to one set location and pay for accommodations, and instead found it more efficient to make their decisions in their offices in their respective cities. Along with that, NHL GMs thought that it helped the team focus more.

Prior to that, all 32 teams would travel to the selected location of the draft each year, and make their picks on the floor. With all teams being there, it would often allow other teams to converse with each other more easily, and create more opportunities for trades.

There were other recent instances of the NHL using the decentralized format, as they had to use it for the 2020 and 2021 Drafts during the COVID-19 pandemic for safety purposes.

The decentralized format came with much scrutiny from NHL fans and media, as they felt like the decentralized process slowed down the process and that it took teams longer to make their selections, particularly in the first round. They also found the presentation to be very awkward, particularly the “Draft House” where players had wooden interviews with the team that selected them, with several instances of shaky connections on the team’s end.

That said, there is an avenue where a decentralized draft can work. If the league learns from their mistakes this year, cleans up the presentation, and actually strictly enforces the three-minute time limit between picks, it could work for a smoother draft than this year.

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-teams-vote-keep-draft-decentralized-next-season

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

JPat’s Monday Canucks Mailbag: Outside the box questions edition

First things first, thanks to everyone who understood the assignment this week.

It’s the middle of summer. There will be plenty of time in the months ahead for hardcore hockey questions. But we wanted to have some fun with the mailbag, so we asked you for off-the-wall and outside-the-box Vancouver Canucks questions. And you delivered. So much so that we will tackle a handful of your queries this week and dive right back in again next week.

So if you still have a question or your question did not get answered this week, fear not. We’ll double back and answer more from this batch again next Monday. Let’s jump right in:

Which pair of Canucks players would perform the best in the Amazing Race?

— giraffester119 (@giraffester119) July 11, 2025

The first thing you must understand about the Amazing Race – and reality television in general – is that while there is certainly a competitive aspect to it, it is, first and foremost, a television show designed to entertain. And as such, big personalities are almost always part of the casting decisions. That’s why I’d go with Jake DeBrusk and Conor Garland. I see DeBrusk offering up constant commentary while I imagine Garland being a crafty navigator. I could also see those two scheming to form alliances to get further in the game. I think Tyler Myers would also be a great candidate, but much of the Amazing Race requires commercial flights, and I’m not sure how much Myers and those long legs would enjoy life in economy.

Which current Canuck would best play the part of Nicholas Tarnasty on the golf course?

— HIWATT (@HIWATT13) July 12, 2025

First things first, it’s Tarnasky – Nick Tarnasky – who once played 10 games for the Vancouver Giants many years ago. Although, whether intended or not, I kind of like Tarnasty. It certainly fits after watching the beatdown he laid on the now viral video. As for which Canuck would best fill that role, I guess I’d have to go with Evander Kane based solely on the abrasive style he plays on the ice. But I have no evidence to suggest that is how Kane would conduct himself on the golf course. Kiefer Sherwood would also be a candidate, although after watching him last season, I’m more inclined to believe Sherwood would have just bodychecked the guy into oblivion.

Do you remember the old Canucks' cookbooks? Which current player would have the best recipe? pic.twitter.com/LcFyIUqpmo

— Tristan Carpio (@TrisCarpio) July 11, 2025

Absolutely, I do. I kind of miss the old days when the team and the players took us inside their home lives and gave us a glimpse of their personalities away from the rink. As for which current player would have the best kitchen skills, I’m always inclined to believe that Quinn Hughes is the best at just about anything or everything, on the ice or off of it. I could certainly see him spinning away from the forecheck, weaving through the neutral zone, then making a mad dash to put some sort of spectacular casserole on the dinner table.

Four cities that should have hockey teams and one that shouldn't.

— Chris Parry (@ChrisParry) July 11, 2025

Quebec City has to be at the top of the list. I’m willing to believe a second team in Toronto would be successful. The question is open enough that I suppose I could look at European options, but I just don’t think we’ll ever see expansion across the Atlantic. It certainly sounds like the NHL is prepared to go back to Atlanta for a third time. Third time’s the charm, right? And while Austin, Texas, has surfaced as a possible expansion city, I always thought Houston would be the next place in the Lone Star State to get a team. Selfishly, I’d like to see another West Coast entry in Portland or San Diego. So let’s go with Quebec City, Atlanta, Houston and Portland. As for a city that shouldn’t have a team, clearly it has to be Edmonton. Just take the Oilers roster and somehow make it so the Canucks get both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the dispersal draft.

What players do you think get honoured this season? Aren’t they running low on legacy marquee players?

Do you think the PWHL team will lean into Canucks legacy or try to distance themselves from it and create their own brand?

— Cody Dilullo (@DilulloCody) July 11, 2025

Cody coming with two questions this week. First, on Canuck honourees. It certainly has felt in recent years like there has been a thaw in the once frosty relationship between Ryan Kesler and the Canucks. Is that paving the way for a spot in the Ring of Honour? I guess I thought Alex Edler would be a Ring of Honour guy, and I suppose he still could be, although the team hosted his retirement night early last season, which didn’t include him getting his deserved spot on high. I still hold out hope that Tony Tanti is recognized by the hockey club in some fashion. He sits sixth in goals and eighth in all-time franchise scoring, and yet his contributions are somehow overlooked. Give Tony Tanti his due.

As for how the PWHL Vancouver team will carve out its place in the sporting landscape, I expect it to forge its own path. The Canucks are fairly protective of the brand they’ve built over more than half a century. I look forward to seeing how PWHL Vancouver launches with a team name and colour scheme, and I have to think we’ll get some answers on both fronts relatively soon. I’d imagine they dig into the West Coast/Pacific Ocean theme in some form for both the name and colours, but expect they’ll stay away from playing off Canuck history in any way.

Who is most likely of the current roster to have a post-playing future in media? In coaching? In a totally non hockey life?

— Kenji (@RonYamauchi) July 12, 2025

I will finish this week the way I started. I have to think Jake DeBrusk is the most likely candidate to have a career in media. His father has already blazed a trail, and I think Jake could more than hold his own on the microphone. Marcus Pettersson strikes me as the kind of guy who could easily transition into coaching when his playing days are done. He’s vocal, he’s a natural leader, and he seems like a details guy. And I suppose Elias Pettersson, the original, strikes me as someone who will likely pursue interests away from the game when his career is over. I could easily see EP40 branch off in a number of different directions when his playing days are done.

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/jpats-monday-vancouver-canucks-mailbag-outside-box-questions-edition

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

2025-26 Canucks Milestone watch: Myers closing in on 1,100 games while Kane should reach 1,000

In the preceding days, CanucksArmy has outlined the reachable milestones for a number of key Vancouver Canucks this season. And while Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser all work their way up the franchise’s all-time ladder in a number of statistical categories, that quartet certainly isn’t alone pursuing significant milestones next season.

Even before playing for his new club, Evander Kane has the 1,000-game mark well within his sights. The veteran winger enters next season having played 930 regular season National Hockey League games split between Atlanta, Winnipeg, Buffalo, San Jose and most recently, Edmonton. If the soon-to-be 34-year-old is able to stay healthy, he will become the latest player to reach the thousand-game mark in a Canucks uniform after Tyler Myers hit the milestone early last season in Philadelphia.

Speaking of Myers, the big blueliner is showing no signs of slowing down. He will start the season within striking distance of a bunch of big round numbers. He is 34 games shy of 1,100 in his distinguished NHL career. Beyond that, he needs one goal for 100, four assists for 300 and any combination of five more points will get him to the 400 mark. So Myers should be able to check all of those off his list in the first half of the season.

Conor Garland, Filip Hronek and Teddy Blueger all have a shot at reaching the 500-game mark next season. Garland needs just 15 games to get there while Hronek starts the new season 49 games shy of 500. Meanwhile, Blueger will need to appear in all 82 games for the Canucks next season to hit 500 on the final night of the schedule.

As long as he stays healthy, Filip Chytil will reach the 400-game milestone by appearing in seven games next season. The Czech centre needs 30 points to reach 200 for his career, and the hope is that he’ll surpass that mark considerably in his first full season in Vancouver.

Jake DeBrusk set a career-high with 28 goals in his first go-round with the Canucks. If he can up the ante and score 34 goals next season, he’ll get to 200 in his time in the NHL.

Kiefer Sherwood made an impact in his first season with the Canucks. Not only did he set an NHL record with 462 hits, but he crushed his career-best scoring 19 goals. Sherwood is sitting with 98 career points, and by hitting the scoresheet twice in the early going next season, will reach the century mark.

Nils Höglander and Drew O’Connor are both closing in on 300 games in their respective careers. Höglander will get there seven games into the new season, while O’Connor still needs to suit up 59 times to achieve the milestone.

And, finally, no one is quite sure how the goaltending workload will be divided, but Kevin Lankinen is closing in on a couple of significant accomplishments. If the Finn appears in 37 games next season, he’ll get to 200 in the NHL. And if he’s able to post 30 victories – and there are scenarios where that could be possible – he will get to 100 for his career. Last season, Lankinen started 49 times, appeared in 51 games and won 25 of them.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/2025-2...ers-closing-1100-games-kane-should-reach-1000

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks’ Tyler Myers talks Miller Pettersson drama, Hughes rumours, and more

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers joined the Cam & Strick Podcast to discuss several different topics.

Myers was asked about the infamous JT Miller/Elias Pettersson drama from last season, the recent rumours about Quinn Hughes wanting to play with his two brothers, and much more.

The Miller/Pettersson reported feud took over the hockey world in 2024-2025. The reports began to emerge early in the season, when the Canucks struggled to get off to a good start. This then led to rumours about one of the players moving, and subsequently, the potential for both players to move on.

We all know how it ultimately turned out. Miller was traded to the New York Rangers, and the Canucks kept Pettersson before his no-movement clause kicked in.

What we haven’t heard much about is a player’s perspective on how the locker room was:

“It got pretty crazy, just publicly last year. Way, way more than what it was,” Myers said. “I’m not going to sit here and say there wasn’t tension. But I’ve been on a team where two players are in a full-on fist fight after a game, who I know are close friends. There’s going to be tension anywhere you go.

“Millsy and I got close. It was a lot more than it needed to be, but it wasn’t anything crazy. We were figuring things out, just like every other team does with different situations. But our locker room is great. I like coming into the rink everyday, all the guys are close and we weren’t too worried about it.”

The next biggest topic of conversation surrounding is the future of Captain Quinn Hughes. At the end of the season, President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford shared that Hughes has a desire to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, who both play for the New Jersey Devils.

Rutherford walked back some of those comments later, but now, the rumours started to swirl about how Hughes might leave after his two-year contract is up to join his brothers. Myers gives some perspective on Hughes’ end regarding the rumours:

“Huggy doesn’t like all that speculation and stuff. He loves his brothers, loves his family like everybody else, but he’s not going around the room saying he wants to play with his brothers. I know it’s a big story around the hockey world, but everyone makes that a lot more than it is.”

Myers has been in Vancouver since signing in the 2019 offseason. Outside of five games, Myers has been around for Hughes’ entire career. So he has had a front-row seat to watch him develop into the defenceman he is today.

“Five years ago, I was like, ‘Wow, this guy is amazing.’ It seems like every year since then, he’s only gotten better. Just when I think he’s at his ceiling and in his prime, he just keeps getting better. It’s crazy. The thing with Huggy that separates him, his edge work, and the way he separates himself from guys, gives him so much time and space, and then his skill just takes over. He’s maybe the best player I’ve seen in my career. Him and [Cale] Makar are on another level. It’s fun to watch.”

The Canucks re-signed goaltender Thatcher Demko to a three-year, $8.5 million average annual value contract on July 1 this offseason. This led to the subsequent trade of Calder Cup Champion and AHL playoff MVP Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins a few days ago.

Much of the hesitation about moving Silovs is due to the health of Demko. The American netminder has suffered numerous injuries over the past two seasons, restricting Demko to starting just 26 of the following 111 Canucks games over the past two seasons. But Myers shares that Demko is healthy and preparing for the year ahead:

“Demmer’s world-class. Whenever anyone asks about him, we always say it’s hard to explain how good he is. I know he’s feeling good coming into this year, and I’m excited for him to have that feeling because I know there were times last year when it got tough for him. The way he’s feeling now, I know he’s excited, and I’m excited for him because he’s that good and he’s great in the room.”

A Saturday night game against the Edmonton Oilers in mid-January got a little physical. So much so that both Tyler Myers and Connor McDavid were suspended for three games. McDavid for cross-checking Conor Garland in the head, while Myers for cross-checking Evan Bouchard in the face.

Myers details what happened on that night from his perspective:

“I didn’t even know what was going on behind me. I initiated it, no question. I did something on the wall, it was at the end of the game. I gave him a little shot, nothing bad, you know, normal in a hockey game. From there, he just kind of started coasting towards me. I didn’t really know what was going to happen. Obviously, Bouch is a really great player. That [physical] part of his game probably isn’t what he does all the time.

“Still, a player skating at me, I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I just decided to get my hands up a little bit,” Myers joked. “Honestly, I thought both suspensions that day were too much. I didn’t think either of them, looking at them after, was what everyone made them out to be. But I will defend myself. If you slow down the video, I’m going at his chest. His hands do kick up my stick. I don’t go looking to cross-check guys in the face.”

As a playful end to the interview, Cam & Strick asked Myers who was the most vocal on the team, but toward the opponents. This led to Myers then describing the significant impact Kiefer Sherwood made on the Canucks in his first year in Vancouver.

“Kiefer Sherwood,” Myers said without hesitation regarding the best trash-talker on the team. “[He’s a] Non-stop talker. He’ll throw some funny ones out there every once in a while.

“He just finishes everything. If he’s around another guy, he’s finishing him. It doesn’t matter where he is. He’s a warrior; he competes with the best of them. He broke the hit record this year. Anytime he was around somebody, he was leaning into them, whether he was big or small. He was really good for us. He brought an element [that] I think our team needed.”

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancou...s-miller-pettersson-drama-hughes-rumours-more

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Besides Bowen Byram, which upcoming UFAs have BC connections for the Canucks to consider?

There were an awful lot of rumours out there about the Vancouver Canucks this offseason, and not all that many of them ended up coming to fruition.

The Canucks kept their first-round pick instead of trading it. They definitely didn’t trade it for Marco Rossi, either.

The Canucks were said to be in on a number of UFAs. Instead, they just re-signed one of their own in Brock Boeser.

No one saw the Evander Kane trade coming, and yet it did.

So, this summer’s round of rumours can probably be taken – as all rumours probably should be – with a heaping dose of salt.

But there was one bit of speculation that was so prominent and persistent, there almost had to be at least some smoke to it. And that was the ongoing rumour about Bowen Byram, and how badly he wished to return to his hometown of Vancouver. (Well, Cranbrook, technically, but they don’t have an NHL team there yet.)

We wrote about these rumours back in June and deemed that they didn’t make much sense at the present moment. Byram, for all his talents, is a left-shooting defender, and the Canucks are already set on those heading into the 2025/26 season with Quinn Hughes, Marcus Pettersson, Elias Pettersson, and Derek Forbort all under contract.

But the scuttlebutt continued, all the same, right up until this past week, when Byram and the Sabres avoided arbitration with a two-year, $6.25 million AAV extension.

But are those rumours over and done with, or have they just been put on pause?

See, by signing a two-year extension, what Byram has effectively done is walked himself right to UFA status at the youngest possible age of 26. When this new two-year deal expires, he’ll be free to market himself to the rest of the league, or to whichever specific corners of the league he prefers.

Most Buffalo fans have already made peace with the fact that they’ll likely need to trade him before that date comes, because otherwise he’s set himself up to walk for nothing.

And in two years’ time, maybe Byram makes more sense for the Canucks to pursue, or to be pursued by. We won’t delve into the reasons why that might be, as they’re a bit depressing, but there you have it.

For the Canucks’ part, GM Patrik Allvin and Co. have made a bit of a transition toward a preference for players who want to be in Vancouver. That was a big part of deciding to retain Boeser and offer extensions to Conor Garland and Thatcher Demko on that same day. It was a big part of the decision to bring in Kane.

With that in mind, we wonder which other prominent upcoming UFAs and RFAs have some concrete British Columbian connections that might be considered in the offseasons to come. Below, we’ve collected a few of note.

Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres​

LD, 24, 6’1”, 205lb
UFA in 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	82	7	31	38

We can’t talk this much about Byram without at least giving him a little write-up of his own.

He’s one of those players who you can’t believe is still this young, because it feels like he’s been around forever. Byram will enter his sixth NHL season in 2025/26, and in his career thus far, he has already won a Stanley Cup.

The former fourth overall selection has also continued to develop his skills to the point that he’s now an exceptionally talented offensive defender who has also started to drastically improve in his own end. He made pretty good hay with Rasmus Dahlin on the Sabres’ top pairing for much of the past year, and one has to wonder what greater heights might be possible for him outside of that organization.

For the Canucks’ part, as we said earlier, they don’t currently have much need for any additional LD, even one as good as Byram. But in two years’ time, things could look very different indeed. And if they do, the thought of having a strong two-day D in their prime who is specifically looking to sign in Vancouver might be mighty appealing.

Alexander Kerfoot, Utah Mammoth​

C, 30, 5’11”, 185lb
UFA in 2026

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	81	11	17	28

We realize we’re taking a major step back in excitability here, but that’s okay. In the end, there just aren’t that many BC-related players in the NHL right now, and the bulk of them are locked up for the foreseeable future.

Kerfoot’s is a name that has been attached to the Canucks before, but never with much sincerity. He remains a useful middle-six talent who can play all three forward positions and is usually good for between 30-40 points per year.

As of now, the Canucks’ forward corps is a little overstuffed. But that could change over the coming year, and if the Canucks find themselves in need of cheap depth next summer, they could certainly do worse than a versatile veteran who can still skate and who hails from Vancouver.

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres​

RW, 29, 6’4”, 219lb
UFA in 2026

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	82	36	31	67

Okay, now you’ll really have to bear with us on this one.

If Tuch makes it to UFA status, he’ll easily be one of the best on the market in the summer of 2026. And given that Tuch is a Buffalo Sabre and has yet to sign an extension, chances seem good he’ll make it to market. That’s just the way it seems to go for the Sabres.

Now, on the surface, Tuch has no real connection to Vancouver. He’s from Syracuse, New York, and is pretty much already as close to home as he can get.

However, if you pay attention to the rumours surrounding Tuch’s future, they tend to suggest that his wife is from the Vancouver area, and there have been loud whispers about the couple’s desire to eventually return there. Is that coming from people in the know, or is it just a case of wishful thinking? Impossible to know, but if it’s even close to true, this would be an incredibly exciting player for the Canucks to pursue next offseason.

Tuch is a genuine power forward still in his prime, who has scored 36 goals in two of his past three seasons. When a player is that good, the fit doesn’t matter. If he wants to come to Vancouver, they’ll make the room.

Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens ​

RW, 33, 5’9”, 185lb
UFA in 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	82	21	17	38

Gallagher is a player who, really, always should have been a Canuck.

Though born in Edmonton, Gallagher spent most of his growing up in Tsawwassen, and did all of his developing in the GVA, right up to and including four seasons with the Vancouver Giants.

The Canucks somehow missed Gallagher coming out of their own backyard and allowed the Montreal Canadiens to scoop him up with the 147th overall selection in the 2010 Entry Draft.

What has followed is a brilliant 13-year career with the Habs that has featured more ups than downs for Gallagher. He’s still popping in 20 goals and agitating with the best of them at the age of 33, and one has to imagine that the fiery competitor still has a few good seasons left in him.

He wouldn’t be a premier free agent at the age of 35, nor is he someone the Canucks should hang any real hopes on. But if Gallagher and the Canadiens part ways, a homecoming to end his career might be nice, and it’s hard to imagine him not at least contributing on the fourth line.

Jared McCann, Seattle Kraken​

C/LW, 29, 6’1”, 191lb
UFA in 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	82	22	39	61

Like with Tuch, we’re stretching here. McCann’s from Ontario, and he already (technically) had some time in the Toronto organization.

However, there is an intriguing opportunity here for both the player and the club to seek a little redemption. For their part, the Canucks could finally get some value for a player they carelessly dumped far too early. For his part, maybe McCann wants to take a shot at making a positive difference for the team that drafted him.

Or, maybe not. Either way, if the Canucks haven’t solved their search for a 2C in two summers’ time – and if neither Aatu Räty nor Braeden Cootes have stepped in yet – McCann would make an excellent fill-in target at the age of 31.

Really, this is more about storyline than anything, but one can’t deny that McCann remains a useful and versatile top-six talent.

Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning​

Coach, 57
UFA in 2026

Forgive the lack of stats here. We don’t write about coaches very often.

But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Prince George’s finest, coach Jon Cooper, is set to become a free agent as of this next summer.

In place since 2013, Cooper is by far the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL. And he’s been a good one, with a regular season record of 572-306-83 and a playoff record of 88-67, with two Stanley Cups to show for it.

But the Lightning have also exited the playoffs in the first round in three straight seasons. Eventually, even the best coaches get let go, and the summer of 2026 may make for a natural breaking-off point between him and Tampa Bay.

We don’t know yet how Adam Foote’s first season as head coach will go. But if it doesn’t go all that well, and if Cooper does wind up being available, it’s going to be very, very tempting for the Canucks to make a homecoming pitch.

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks​

C, 19, 5’10”, 185lb
RFA in 2026

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	82	23	44	67

Now here’s the name you’ve all been waiting for.

Yes, Bedard is a free agent next summer. No, he’s not a UFA, and the Blackhawks will retain his rights as an RFA.

But, with three NHL seasons under his belt at that point, Bedard will be eligible for offer sheets. The odds of Chicago letting Bedard go for any offer sheet-related compensation are low. But if the Canucks wanted to be really sneaky, they could offer Bedard a high-priced, four-year offer sheet.

Such a contract would walk Bedard right to UFA status. So, the Blackhawks would be forced to match – and then watch Bedard walk for nothing in four seasons, presumably to Vancouver – or try their best to get fair value for him in the interim.

If Bedard really wants to come home as early as possible, this strikes us as the best possible route. Is it a likely one? With the rarity of offer sheets, and especially offer sheets this aggressive, the answer is probably ‘no.’ But that doesn’t change the excitement factor on the idea, in general.

Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets​

C, 22, 6’0”, 180lb
RFA in 2027

	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2024/25	68	24	33	57

Much was made of Johnson accompanying Bedard to watch some Abbotsford Canucks action during the Calder Cup run. Hailing from Port Moody, Johnson will have to wait a little bit longer than Bedard to hit RFA status, as of the summer of 2027. But once he’s there, the offer sheet path becomes a little bit clearer.

He’ll already have completed his fifth NHL season at that point, which means he could pull a Byram and sign for exactly two years, walking himself to UFA status. Or, he could sign a two-year offer sheet and achieve the same thing.

In other words, if either Bedard or Johnson – or, ideally, both – want to engineer their way toward Vancouver, there are definitely ways.

And in these days of cutthroat competition for talent, the Canucks should probably consider anyone who might be as interested in Vancouver as Vancouver is in them.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/beside...fas-bc-connections-vancouver-canucks-consider

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #15 – Alexander Mogilny

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #15: Alexander Mogilny

Alexander Mogilny ranks 32nd in all-time Vancouver Canucks scoring. But that hardly tells the story of the electrifying Russian’s time with the hockey club. That’s because Mogilny registered his 308 points in just 312 games. When framed that way, only Pavel Bure and JT Miller have scored at a higher point per game clip.

A ruthless finisher, Mogilny scored 139 goals in his parts of five seasons as a Canuck. That included a 55-goal campaign in his first season in Vancouver, in 1995-96, after being acquired from Buffalo at the 1995 NHL Draft. That remains the second-highest goal total by a Canuck behind Bure, who twice scored 60 in a season. That 55-goal campaign left Mogilny third in the NHL that season behind only Mario Lemieux (69) and Jaromir Jagr (62).

In Canucks history, Mogilny’s 107-point season in 1995-96 has only been bettered by Bure (110) and Henrik Sedin (112). While his time in the Canucks organization was brief, Mogilny’s impact was immense. He is tied for 19th in all-time goals scored and is tied for fourth in short-handed goals with 13. As terrific as Mogilny was, he arrived at a time of transition for the hockey club and only appeared in the playoffs once. And in a six-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Mogilny led the Canucks with a goal and eight assists.

With the Canucks in the midst of yet more organizational turmoil at the turn of the millennium, the club dealt Mogilny to the New Jersey Devils for Brendan Morrison and Denis Pederson in March of 2000. The trade worked out for both teams, with Morrison eventually becoming part of the West Coast Express, while Mogilny went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Devils just months after the deal.

After years of being overlooked, Alex Mogilny finally earned his rightful spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame when he was announced as part of the Class of 2025 earlier this year. He will be enshrined in November.

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

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/top-50-vancouver-canucks-players-all-time-15-alexander-mogilny

 

[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