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:
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!
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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
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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.
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:
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.
In the report, Montreal Canadiens Owner and President, Geoff Molson, had this to say regarding Dryden:
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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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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The Vancouver Canucks will be out in full force at the team’s annual Jake Milford Golf Tournament in Cloverdale today. By week’s end, a group of prospects will be suiting up in Canucks uniforms for a pair of games against Seattle Kraken hopefuls. And beyond that, it won’t be long now until the big league roster touches down in Penticton for the start of training camp. So welcome to the start of a new hockey season. Optimism abounds at this time of year, but there are still many unanswered questions about this season’s Canucks. With that in mind, we launch into a new season of Monday Mailbags where we do our best to answer many of the questions that are clearly on your minds.
I think there are a number of tangible takeaways from Abbotsford’s climb to the top of the AHL mountain. First, Manny Malhotra proved that he was the right man for the job. And, in time, it’s possible he’ll be the right man for the organization’s big league job. But that time is not right now. The Calder Cup playoffs provided a number of the team’s top prospects with valuable experience in high stakes hockey games. Those players now know just how hard it is to string together 16 post-season wins.
Hopefully many will have the chance to apply those learnings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs soon. While most will point to players like Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains, and Max Sasson because they’re the most NHL-ready prospects likely to push for jobs starting next week, the Calder Cup advanced the development curve for rookies like Ty Mueller and Kirill Kudryavtsev, allowing them to prove they could more than hold their own as first year professionals. It’s going to be fun to chart their progress this season.
Allow me to lump those questions together and tackle them as one. Yes, it’s an issue. But just because the Canucks haven’t solved their second line centre issue in the off-season doesn’t mean they won’t next week or next month or at some point along the road this season. They know it’s still an issue. Clearly they haven’t found a deal to their liking just yet and so they seem content starting into training camp with the centres they’ve got on the roster. Now, if it becomes abundantly clear early on that their centre options don’t measure up, that ups the pressure on management.
‘But the Canucks found themselves in the same situation with goaltending at training camp last year. With Thatcher Demko still injured, it was obvious to anyone who watched camp that the Canucks needed goaltending help. And the team addressed it. They are clearly rolling the dice with the centre group they’ve got, but I’d be shocked if the centres that show up at training camp are the same ones they go through the entire season with.
In his 15 games after the trade, Filip Chytil posted encouraging underlying numbers. In 197 minutes at 5-on-5, the Canucks controlled 54.8% of all shot attempts and 55.58% of expected goals with Chytil on the ice. Additionally, they outshot opponents by 20 (100-80) and had an additional 25 scoring chances (102-77). Yet, the Canucks were outscored 8-3. So Chytil did some very good things and was fairly unlucky with an on-ice shooting percentage of just 3.0% and an on-ice save percentage of 90.0%. But being a shutdown centre in the NHL is a big ask. It requires being able to withstand nightly physical match-ups against some of the toughest customers in the game.
Chytil is 6’2” and 210 pounds, so he has decent size, but he is not physically imposing. And we know staying healthy has been his biggest issue to this point in his young career. Also, he is a career 41.7% face-off guy and that would need to improve considerably before anyone would consider him a shutdown option. So let’s slow any kind of roll about slotting Filip Chytil in to go head to head with Leon Draisaitl and Jack Eichel and the likes. Let’s let Chytil find his way through training camp and the preseason before asking him to do things he’s just not ready for – and may never be at the NHL level.
Well, Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane, and Conor Garland are all making the team. So right there are four guys ahead of Lekkerimäki on the depth chart. I think it’s safe to add Nils Höglander to that list. And then you’re looking at the likes of Kiefer Sherwood and Drew O’Connor. The Canucks have to decide what’s best for the 21-year-old. If he blows the doors off everyone in the preseason and makes the club in a top six role, great. But if he doesn’t, then is Lekkerimäki likely to develop more in a bottom six role in the NHL or as the featured forward playing big minutes in Abbotsford?
It feels like the organization is prepared to have him start the season in the minors and continue to grow out his game. And there’s nothing wrong with that strategy. It’s going to be interesting to see where Lekkerimäki is slotted at training camp and that could reveal much about the organization’s thinking with regards to its top forward prospect. As for left wing, sure, we see lots of forwards play on their off wing. But with DeBrusk, Kane and Höglander all natural lefties, Lekkerimaki’s path to full time employment with the Canucks is likely clearer on the right.
I really like the idea of a Nazem Kadri-type player for the Canucks. I just don’t know that paying the acquisition cost for a player that turns 35 next month makes a lot of sense for the Canucks. Also, as you point out, Kadri has a full movement clause this season and then limited trade protection over the final three years left on his current contract that pays him $7M per season. The cap hit isn’t outrageous for a second-line centre that has produced 87, 56, 75, and 67 points the past four seasons. Plus, Kadri’s edge would be welcome in the Canucks’ lineup. If Kadri were 31, not 35, I’d think long and hard about that kind of move. But I don’t think it makes a ton of sense for the Canucks to part with significant assets for a player that would be the oldest forward on the roster.
This is the first time in a very long time I have been confident about our goaltending AND defense. Do we take solace in the fact that we are only concerned about our center depth?
— Paul Tonsaker(@PrisonBull) September 6, 2025
I hear you, but I’m not sure I’m fully buying what you’re selling. I want to see how Adam Foote fares in his first NHL head coaching role. I believe many people have significant concerns about Thatcher Demko’s ability to stay healthy and return to his 2023-24 level of performance. I think many also question the team’s ability to score with solid, but not elite wingers. On paper, the defence looks as good as it has in a decade and if Demko can stay healthy, then goaltending should be steady if not spectacular. But centre depth is a massive issue especially with questions about Elias Pettersson’s performance level, Filip Chytil’s health and Aatu Räty’s readiness to be an every day NHL’er. If any one of those issues persist through camp and the preseason, depth down the middle could put the Canucks behind the 8-ball to start the regular season.
I’m going to say Tom Willander only because there is a wild card factor to him. No one knows what he’ll look like making the jump from NCAA hockey to the NHL. Maybe he blows everyone away. The guys that were in Abbotsford last season have all given us glimpses of what they’re capable of. But no one has seen Willander at this level. I’m not making any grand predictions about what we’ll see from the 2023 first rounder, but in terms of any prospect turning heads at main camp, I have a sense that he may be the guy. And I’m sure the Canucks would be just fine with that.
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Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #2 – Daniel Sedin
Well, our final two spots had to go to the Sedin twins. But at the second spot, we have Daniel.
In the 1999 NHL draft, Brian Burke made a handful of trades which would change the trajectory of the Vancouver Canucks franchise for years to come. Sitting at third overall, the Canucks General Manager needed to pull off a trio of deals in order to land the second overall pick to draft the twins.
First, Burke traded defenceman Bryan McCabe, along with a 2000 or 2001 first-round pick, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the fourth overall pick. He then flipped the fourth overall pick, along with a pair of third-round picks, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first overall pick. Burke found out the Atlanta Thrashers intended to select Patrik Stefan first overall. With that information, Burke traded the first overall to the Thrashers for second overall and a 2000 third-round pick.
His plan came to fruition, as the Thrashers took Stefan, and the Canucks drafted Daniel second and Henrik at third.
The brothers spent their draft-plus-one season in Sweden before coming overseas for their rookie 2000-01 campaign. Daniel made a good first impression, scoring 20 goals in his first season. However, the following three seasons were somewhat underwhelming, with 41 goals and 76 assists for 117 points in 240 games. However, after the lockout season and the West Coast Express era began to decline, the Sedins started to take over.
In 2005-06, the twins were paired with one-hit wonder Anson Carter, who helped elevate their game. Daniel reached career highs in goals (22), assists (49) and points (71) in a full 82-game season in which they evolved from depth scorers to top-six players.
The following season, Daniel continued to step up his game, hitting new highs in goals (36), assists (48) and points (84) in 81 games, narrowly edging out his brother for the team lead in points. The jump helped the Canucks win the Northwest Division after a one-year hiatus. Daniel added two goals and five points in 12 games, but the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks eliminated the Canucks in five games.
2007-08 saw the Canucks take a step back, but Daniel still produced with 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points. After struggling to find a consistent right winger that season, Daniel would find a long-time linemate on the opposite wing in Alex Burrows following the 2009 All-Star break. The Canucks would bounce back to first in the Northwest Division with the help of Daniel hitting the 30-goal plateau again. Vancouver would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games of the second round.
It was the 2009-2010 season in which true Sedinery caught the league by storm. The Sedins and Burrows became one of the most feared lines in the entire NHL. Unfortunately for Daniel, he missed 19 games this season with a fractured foot. However, that didn’t slow him down from reaching a new career high with 85 points in just 63 games. Including this absolutely stunning between-the-legs goal in Game 82 to help his brother win the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top point-scorer:
The Canucks won the Pacific Division for the third time in four seasons, but went on to fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round for the second consecutive season – Chicago went on to win the Stanley Cup.
While the 2009-10 season was Henrik’s year, the 2010-11 season was Daniel’s, marking the next step into superstardom.
As his brother did the previous year, Daniel won the Art Ross Trophy after becoming a 40-goal scorer and 100-point player for the first time in his career. He also took home the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player in the regular season, voted on by his peers. However, Sedin fell short of winning the Hart Trophy, finishing second to 50-goal Corey Perry. Daniel was also named to his second straight All-Star game.
But it was the playoff run that Canucks fans will remember forever. Daniel’s remarkable regular season helped the organization capture their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.
Daniel rolled his successful regular season into the postseason, picking up six points in seven games as the Canucks slayed the dragon. He added another six points in six games against the Nashville Predators, and his six points in five games against the San Jose Sharks brought him to a point-per-game in the playoffs heading into the Stanley Cup Final.
After their 1-0 Game 1 victory, Daniel would tie the game up halfway through the third period of Game 2 and pick up the primary assist in Burrows’ overtime winner, just 11 seconds into the first overtime.
Unfortunately, we all know how this series would end. The Canucks would struggle away from home and fall short of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in Game 7. After the series, Daniel revealed that he had been nursing a back and shoulder injury throughout the Finals.
The Canucks had no Stanley Cup Final hangover in 2011-12, as they repeated as Presidents’ Trophy winners. However, Daniel had his season cut to just 72 games, following a blatant flying elbow from Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith in late March that left him with a concussion.
Sedin had 30 goals and 67 points up to that point. His concussion held him out for Games 1-3 of the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings, before he returned for Games 4 and 5, picking up an assist in each game before losing the series in five games – again, to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.
Daniel’s production continued as the seasons rolled on, but the Canucks as a whole began to decline. Over the next few seasons, the Canucks’ 2011 core started to disintegrate, as Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, and Kevin Bieksa were all traded over the following three seasons. The Canucks returned to the playoffs under John Tortorella in 2014-2015, but lost that series in six games. This was the last taste of playoff action Daniel would see in his career.
Fast forward to what became the Sedins’ last season in 2017-18, the then 37-year-olds abruptly announced their retirement in the final week of the season. Daniel left the Canucks fans in Rogers Arena with a storybook ending: scoring an overtime winning goal, assisted by his brother, Henrik, and fellow countryman and long-time teammate Alex Edler. The goal was scored 2:33 into overtime time – even more Sedinery.
Daniel’s 393 goals still rank first in Canucks history to this day. He also leads the franchise in power play goals (138) and shots on goal (3,474). Daniel trails only his brother in games played (1,306), assists (648) and points (1,041), firmly cementing himself as one of the best Canucks of all time. Fans will always remember him when they see the number 22 in the rafters or when they visit the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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
#6 – Trevor Linden
#5 – Quinn Hughes
#4 – Roberto Luongo
#3 – Pavel Bure
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Tom Willander, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Braeden Cootes, Elias Pettersson, Sawyer Mynio, Aleksie Medvedev … the gang is all here, making the 2025 Vancouver Canucks Prospect Showcase Roster loaded with the organization’s best young talent.
While the spotlight will undoubtedly shine on this group of players, there is another player, an invitee, worth keeping your eye on.
His name is Aaron Obobafio.
Anyone who follows the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants will know Obobafio. Coming out of the Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep U15 Prep School, the Calgary-born forward put together a successful rookie season, full of dynamic scoring flashes and upward potential.
His play was so encouraging over limited ice time that, going into Obobafio’s draft year, some projected the prospect to be a first-three-round pick. He essentially had everything going for him, entering the season with now Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt — a pairing that could inflict damage on their opponents on any given shift.
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury sidetracked Obobafio’s season, and despite an attempted return, his season ended at just 10 games played – a brutal blow to his NHL Draft stock.
Image courtesy of Eliteprospects.com
Obobaifo’s dynamic skill
Obobafio is a hard player to dislike. He’s engaged, never backs down, and operates with a relentless motor, helping him play bigger than his 5-foot-10 frame. From there, he’s a lightning bolt. He may not drive play consistently, but across his draft-minus-one season and draft year, Obobafio racked up dynamic, game-breaking moments, showing the flash and skill that usually lead to a scoring profile that projects to higher levels of hockey.
His game is built on pace, something he uses to play fast and deceptive hockey. By slowing down and speeding up the game, Obobafio consistently put defenders on their heels, broke free on breaks, and connected plays with his above-average tools.
Able to connect plays through tight seams off the cycle and place pucks with precision off the pass, he’s versatile, blending feints and fakes, making him an intelligent, dual-threat attacker.
What separates Obobafio even more is his puck handling. He strings together highlight-reel worthy handles, attacking defenders’ weaksides, pulling pucks across his body in an attempt to create advantages. Not all his attempts work, but his ability to maneuver through large ice, whether he’s chipping and chasing around a gapped-up defender or rolling off the outside lane to protect the puck at his hip, makes him a relentless attacker off the rush.
Nevertheless, the cons of Obobafio’s profile are relatively straightforward. Mechanically, he isn’t the cleanest skater, lacking depth and relying on foot speed and activity rate to create speed; he can break down as fatigue builds. Despite his playstyle, his size is a detriment to his long-term projection. He loses battles against larger opponents on the perimeter of the ice and can fade as games become rougher and space becomes more limited. His injury and time missed are a concern as well — it’s never a good thing to miss so much of a season, especially early in your WHL career.
Still, Obobafio is a no-brainer in terms of an invitee to a prospect showcase. You tap into a team in your local area, and he’s someone who could potentially break out offensively this upcoming season. And if you are like the Canucks, who regularly look for value in overaged players — ones who are older than the current draft year – this small period of time could be valuable for learning more about the player, if it hasn’t already been done in the draft process.
Why Obobafio fits the overager profile Vancouver targets
While this isn’t necessarily broken down scientifically, in the past seasons, the Canucks have added players such as Wilson Bjorck, Anthony Romani, Ty Mueller, and Matthew Perkins, creating a subtle throughline when comparing profiles.
These players typically operate with a high work rate; the catalyst for much of their game is their high effort levels. This falls in line with the theme of competitiveness — something almost every drafted Canuck boasts. They are also behind the curve developmentally — late bloomers who may have found scoring or projectable niche roles later in their careers — all while boasting skills that should translate to the professional game if they get to that stage.
While these traits could ultimately be coincidences — it’s hard to be sure outside looking in — Obobafio brings all of that to the table, matching the value profile the team seemingly looks for in later rounds. With a return to the Giants for the 2025-2026 season, the Canucks will have a front-seat view of his progress — whether that leads to an eventual draft selection or not — that will be up to Obobafio’s play, which starts this weekend in Seattle.
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When it comes to areas of obvious improvement for the Vancouver Canucks this season, the team’s performance on home ice should be at the top of the list. But saying they need to be better at Rogers Arena isn’t enough. The challenge, of course, is for the Canucks to make it happen.
Last season, the team finished with an appalling 17-16-8 record in front of its home fans. Only bottom feeders Chicago (15) and San Jose (12) managed fewer home ice victories. But it goes much further than that.
The Canucks were outscored 127-112 at home, won just one of eight games decided in overtime on home ice and generated a league-low 24.8 shots per game. Individually, Quinn Hughes was the only Canuck to crest 30 points in the team’s 41 home games and Brock Boeser, with 15, was the only player on the team to score more than 12 home ice goals. On many nights, the home team’s performance was borderline unwatchable.
losing 5-0 will do that to ya #Canucks pic.twitter.com/5PE91aSWEP
— tiana(@nuckaround) April 3, 2025
Through all of that, the Canucks still managed to scrape together 90 points in the standings and finished just six points back of St. Louis in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the NHL’s Western Conference. So it’s an easy conclusion to draw that had the Canucks been even remotely improved in front of their home fans last season, they could have been a playoff team.
Only one team qualified for the postseason in 2024-25 with fewer than 20 home ice wins. The New Jersey Devils made it to the dance with a home record of 19-17-5. So it’s not like a minimum of 25 wins is required to be a playoff team. In fact, four teams locked down playoff berths with fewer than 25 victories last season.
The previous season en route to 50 wins, 109 points and a Pacific Division title, the Canucks rolled to a record of 27-9-5 on home ice. So there is recent precedent for the organization to draw on when it comes to getting it right more often than not at Rogers Arena.
Between dictating matchups, benefitting from tired teams making their way to town and the comforts of sleeping in their own beds, the Canucks simply have to find a way to make home ice more of an advantage than it was last season when the team suffered a series of embarrassing losses to the likes of Buffalo, Detroit, Boston, New York Islanders, Nashville and Seattle. Earn wins in even half of those games, and the Canucks would have recouped the points needed to climb above the playoff bar.
The team opens at home on October 9th against a Calgary club that plays the night before in Edmonton. That should play into Vancouver’s favour. The Canucks open with just two of their first eight games and only five of their first 14 on home ice. So the front end of the schedule is loaded with road contests. That will add heft to the home games to ensure the Canucks stabilize results in the early going.
The team’s first seven home dates are against the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Of that group, only St. Louis, Edmonton, and Montreal were playoff teams last season, and only the Oilers secured a division postseason berth. So opportunity comes calling early and often among the team’s initial home outings.
It’s imperative that the Canucks figure out the reasons behind their sluggish starts on home ice on too many nights last season and find ways to reverse that troubling trend. Opponents opened the scoring in 20 of the 41 games at Rogers Arena last season, and the Canucks managed to come back to win just eight of those games. In the 21 games in which they scored first, the Canucks only won nine of those. So, protecting leads (and building on them) proved to be a problem as well.
Good teams are generally good both home and away. No one is expecting the Canucks to be a dominant force this season. However, with solid goaltending and a strong defensive corps, the team must find a way to generate more results on home ice than it did last season. That should go without saying.
And it really shouldn’t be too much to ask the team to pick up an additional five or six victories in Vancouver. Hold on to a few leads. Reverse fortune in a few overtime games. Get a handful of individual performances that tip the scales in the home team’s favour. It all seems simple enough. New head coach Adam Foote has his work cut out for him in many facets of the game, and putting on a better show for the paying customers is an area that needs to improve.
Anything less than 23-15-3 (49 points) this season would be disappointing for both the hockey club and its fans.
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Well, that was a scary couple of hours.
On Thursday morning, the retired NHLer-turned beloved broadcaster was named as part of the Los Angeles Kings’ broadcast team for the 2025-26 NHL season, leading to many Canucks fans wondering if Ferraro had moved on from his duties with Sportsnet on Canucks regional broadcasts.
Going live in 3… 2… 1…
Announcing our @FanDuelSN_West broadcast team and schedule for the 2025-26 season! More info
Tune in infohttps://t.co/B6zJyUitpb
Full release
— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 11, 2025
Ferraro didn’t take long to quiet the noise, confirming he’d be back calling Canucks games this season in a post on X.
Ferraro has a notoriously busy schedule. On top of working a handful of Canucks broadcasts, he’s also a mainstay on ESPN’s National NHL broadcasts. In fact, Ferraro called two games on the NHL’s opening night last season, needing to travel from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle to Salt Lake City to call the inaugural game of the Utah Hockey Club later in the evening.
“I’m going to have a car waiting in the loading dock and as soon as the horn goes, I’ll scurry my way to the car,” Ferraro told The Athletic last year. “That car will take me to a plane somewhere and we’ll fly to Salt Lake City. Then there’ll be a car to take me to the rink. So they better not have overtime in Seattle.”
Ferraro was born in Trail, B.C., and grew up watching the Canucks. He’s lived in Vancouver for years and is married to Canucks assistant general manager Cammi Granato. After a successful playing career, Ferraro took the jump into broadcasting once his playing days were done, and it quickly became clear he was going to be great at that. After serving as TSN’s lead colour commentary voice for 14 years, Ferraro joined John Shorthouse and Dan Murphy on Canucks broadcasts beginning in 2023-24 following the departure of longtime colour commentator John Garrett. For the past two seasons, Ferraro has shared those duties with Dave Tomlinson, and it appears that will continue into the 2025-26 season.
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Vancouver Canucks hockey is back.
At least somewhat.
The team’s prospects were in action for the inaugural Prospect Showcase matchup against the Seattle Kraken prospects.
Game 1 was hosted at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.
With a slow and sloppy opening period, a rejuvenated second period, and a blown lead in the third, boy, did it ever feel like Vancouver Canucks hockey.
Vancouver Canucks lineup
Alriksson – Cootes – Lekkerimäki
Bloom – Patterson – Chiarot
Kunz – Dervin – Berard
Poisson – Walker – Oreskovic
Petterson – Willander
Mynio – Kudryavtsev
Arnssten – Alcos
Medvdev
Captains: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (A), Kirill Kudryavtsev (A) and Cooper Walker (A)
Seattle Kraken lineup
how we're lining up in Everettpic.twitter.com/Jwzd15LEIT
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 13, 2025
First period
The Canucks came out with energy, resulting in a few standard hits in the neutral zone and off the rush.
Otherwise, it was filled with various unnecessary giveaways and sloppy play, particularly from the team’s backend.
Despite being a sturdy blueline, one of the sturdiest you’ll see in a prospect game, giveaways and errand passes were a storyline through the first 20 minutes.
But let’s be real, it’s game one of the mid-September slate. Rust is expected and bound to play a factor.
Riley Patterson picked up what was likely the team’s best scoring opportunity in the frame, taking a Parker Alcos feed after a slow change from the Kraken blueline. He rang off a heavy slapshot, which was gloved down by the Kraken netminder, Nikke Kokko.
Although his play did not amount to any offensive looks in the first period, Vilmer Alriksson was likely the Canucks’ best skater in the period. Thanks to a few potent finished checks using his heavier-than-most frame, he was a bright spot in Everett.
Late in the period, the Kraken appeared to have opened the scoring courtesy of a follow-up rebound from Berkly Catton. Aleksei Medvedev got a piece of the initial shot, before Catton managed to tuck one under the bar – or so we thought.
The referees had the perfect look, and after a quick review, the play was deemed no goal.
Despite a less-than-stellar opening period, the Canucks walked away unscathed with a 0-0 slate.
“You can kind of chalk that up to summertime, getting the rust out and just feeling their way through the process.” Head Coach Manny Malhotra reflected on the poor start after the game.
Shots: VAN 4, SEA 10
Second period
Was it something Manny Malhotra said in the dressing room?
Whatever it was, it worked.
The Canucks awoke in the middle frame, turning those hits into sustained pressure.
Medvedev, who was one of the (CanucksArmy) stars of the game, got things started with his first, of a few, 10-bell saves. Unfortunately, it came thanks to sloppy defensive play by Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson, who left two Kraken forwards uncontested in the slot.
The Russian netminder showcased his athleticism, sliding over to get his blocker on the puck and keep the game scoreless.
Then, Vilmer Alriksson showed up.
The towering Swede was one of, if not the best, skaters at last year’s prospect event, and tonight, he doubled down on that sentiment.
After taking the game’s first penalty for what we are calling two minutes for being big – it was a holding penalty – he went down the ice to deliver a patented puck protection move, utilizing his length to will it past Kokko to open the scoring.
How 'bout those mitts from Vilmer Alriksson?pic.twitter.com/HYfvhFXduc
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 14, 2025
It was a power move, kicked off by a beautiful feed from Jonathan Lekkerimäki. Braeden Cootes picked up the secondary assist for his first unofficial point as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
It didn’t take long for the Canucks to double their lead.
In fact, as the building was announcing their initial goal, Gabe Chiarot (2025 sixth round, 175th overall) collected the puck from the top of the circles and fired home his first (unofficial) goal as a member of the Canucks.
Flick of the wrist from Gabriel Chiarot.pic.twitter.com/rrQi70T0yy
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 14, 2025
Later in the period, another 2025 draftee contributed to the scoring, as Kieren Dervin (2025 third round, 65th overall) worked hard in the corner to dish out the puck before finding Elias Pettersson cross ice.
Without hesitation, the Swedish rearguard found Nick Poisson, a 24-year-old invitee, with the perfect back-door tap-in to triple the team’s lead.
And just like that, the Canucks were off to the races after a slow opening period.
At the other end, Aleksei Medvedev was holding up his end of the bargain.
The Kraken finally beat him for their first goal of the weekend, but it wasn’t without another tremendous effort from the netminder.
After tracking the first shot, he sprawled out to rob Jani Nyman of the rebound. Unfortunately, Jagger Firkus managed to pounce on the rebound to shovel it past the London Knight goaltender, who was hardly to blame after a tremendous effort.
After a slow start, the Canucks found a spark for a much-improved period and a two-goal lead heading into the final frame.
Shots: VAN 15, SEA 23
Third period
The big news of the third period was the absence of their 2025 first-rounder, Braeden Cootes. While details of his absence were vague, there were a few plays in the second period where he was tangled up that could have resulted in a tweak.
“Well, it’s just that time of year,” Malhotra responded when asked about Cootes’ absence. “There are always bumps and bruises and precautionary reasons. We don’t want to push anything, so he left the game and we’ll evaluate and see how he feels tomorrow.”
Back on the ice, the wheels were in the midst of falling off.
The Kraken scored four unanswered goals in the third period to mount the comeback to defeat the Canucks prospects by a 5-3 score.
Despite a late push, which included a last-minute power play, the Kraken sealed the game with an empty net goal to finish off the comeback to drop Game 1 of the two-game set.
Final shots: Unknown
The Vancouver Canucks prospects will take on the Seattle Kraken prospects for Game 2 of the Prospect Showdown on Sunday afternoon. Puck is set to drop at 4:00 pm PT at the Kraken Community Iceplex.
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Looking to bounce back from Saturday night’s 5–3 loss in Everett, the Vancouver Canucks prospects travelled to Seattle for Game 2 of the inaugural Prospect Showcase, taking on the Kraken at the Kraken Community Iceplex.
Notably absent from Vancouver’s lineup was Braeden Cootes, who did not return for the third period in Game 1.
The club later confirmed he was held out for precautionary reasons and is expected to make the trip to Penticton for main camp beginning September 18.
Crisis averted.
Vancouver lineup
How we're linin' up against the Kraken!pic.twitter.com/SMxttzJI93
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 14, 2025
Seattle lineup
how we're lining up ahead of our 4pm puck drop
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 14, 2025
First period
The Canucks came out with a far more composed and structured approach compared to their opening effort, limiting mistakes and showing more attention to systems early.
Thanks to that, they were rewarded with the game’s first goal for the second consecutive night.
Tom Willander, bouncing back after a shaky opener, made a smart pinch to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone.
Riley Patterson, elevated to the top line in Cootes’ absence, beat his check to the puck and fed a one-handed pass to Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who made no mistake going top corner for his first goal of the weekend.
After being held off the scoresheet in Game 1, it was a welcome sight to see the team’s go-to sharpshooter find the back of the net.
The remainder of the period saw modest back-and-forth pressure, with each side trading low-danger chances.
Aku Koskenvuo, making his first unofficial start as a Canuck, wasn’t overly busy but did have to stay sharp on a few tricky shots. He stopped all six shots he faced to help preserve Vancouver’s 1–0 lead through 20 minutes.
“We were able to apply much more pressure,” Head Coach Manny Malhotra said post-game. “We got some shots than that early, which is one thing that we wanted to establish.”
Second period
Seattle struck quickly to even the score in the second.
Following a failed clearing attempt by Lekkerimäki, David Goyette got two chances in the slot and slipped the second attempt through Koskenvuo’s five-hole to tie the game 1–1.
Midway through the period, things got a little hectic as the Canucks found themselves on their heels for a stretch, surrendering a few odd-man rushes. However, the defence settled in, and Koskenvuo stood tall, notably shutting down a high-speed breakaway to keep the game even.
Eventually, Vancouver pushed back.
The “invite line” of Aaron Obobaifo, Matthew Oreskovic, and Nick Poisson created extended zone time before the puck found Oreskovic down low. The Vancouver Giants forward slipped the puck to his junior teammate Obobaifo, who showed patience to outwait the Kraken netminder before sliding the puck home to restore the lead.
That goal seemed to energize the line, who followed it up with another strong shift, pinning Seattle deep in their zone.
They played a strong game, capping off a solid weekend for the trio of invited forwards.
Despite the early second-period goal, the Canucks enjoyed a one-goal lead after 40 minutes of play.
Third period
Parker Alcos did not return to the bench to start the third period. Like Cootes, Malhotra later confirmed that he was held out for “precautionary” reasons given the nature of the event.
The Canucks rotated their defensive pairings as a result.
The so-called “invite line” contributed again midway through the period. Oreskovic broke up the ice and found a trailing Riley Patterson, who had just stepped onto the ice.
Patterson fired a quick release from the slot to beat the goaltender upstairs and extend the lead to 3–1 for his second point of the game.
Riley Patterson right on the money to make it 3-1!
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 15, 2025
Seattle made it interesting later in the frame when Blake Fiddler — a teammate of Alcos with the Edmonton Oil Kings — cut the lead to one.
From there, however, it was the Aku Koskenvuo show.
He turned away multiple high-quality chances, including several strong looks from Jagger Firkus, Seattle’s most dangerous forward from the night.
Late in the game, Elias Pettersson was assessed the only penalty of the night after delivering a hit from behind in the corner. The Kraken pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, forcing Koskenvuo to hold the fort.
And that he did.
The Finnish netminder stopped everything thrown his way in the final minutes, securing the win in his first unofficial appearance in Canucks colours.
He finished the game with 21 saves, as the Canucks and Kraken split the weekend series to put a wrap on the inaugural Prospect Showcase.
“He did a great job, especially down the stretch,” Malhotra said post-game. “He came up with some huge stops as the course of the game went on. He looked far more comfortable in the net in terms of rebound control and just being big and square in the net, but he did a fantastic job, obviously, on this back-to-back getting his opportunity. He made the most of it.”
Final score: VAN 3, SEA 2
Final shots: VAN 30, SEA 23
What’s Next
With the Prospect Showcase now wrapped, the team will shift its focus to the main training camp in Penticton, BC, running September 18–21.
Follow all of the action here at CanucksArmy, as we will have full coverage of Training Camp throughout the week.
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!
We can say hockey is back as much as we want, but it truly felt that way when we saw Canucks prospects back in action this past weekend at the Prospect Showcase. But it’s this weekend’s festivities that should really get Canucks fans excited. Training Camp will be the first glimpse into how the team will perform with its new players and coaches for the upcoming season.
But as we approach the new season, we have some extensions, some comebacks and a former NHL coach speaking for the first time since being fired:
Peter DeBoer speaks out after ugly ending in Dallas
Peter DeBoer met with NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger to discuss various topics, but everybody wants to hear more about DeBoer’s exit from Dallas.
Following their second straight loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals, DeBoer let his frustration show in his postgame interviews, when he put most of the blame on his goaltender, Jake Oettinger.
After his team allowed two goals in the first seven minutes of Game 5, DeBoer called a timeout, hoping to simmer down his group. However, he proceeded to display his anger by yelling at his bench. When Oettinger attempted to return to his net, DeBoer yanked him from the game in what the Stars netminder would later describe as embarrassing.
Due to his postgame comments, DeBoer was let go, ending his Stars career with a 149-68-29 record in three seasons. This interview with Zeisberger was the first time he spoke on the incident since he was fired:
“Listen, we were all to blame for coming up short again, and it starts with me,” DeBoer candidly said in an exclusive sitdown with NHL.com, his first public comments since being fired by the Stars on June 6. “It was on me, it was on all the coaches, it was on all the players, it was on the organization as a whole. We all created the disappointment. We were all to blame, not just one guy.
“When all the questions at the postgame press conference were about Jake, I should have redirected the topic to reflect that this wasn’t just about him; this was about all of us. We – and I stress the word ‘we’ – did not get the job done. We were on a run in which we’d lost six of our past seven games against Edmonton in the third round dating back to 2024. In one of my answers, I said he’d lost six of seven to them. But it wasn’t just him. It was all of us. That’s not on just one guy. I should have made that clearer.”
DeBoer has made the Western Conference Finals in five of the last six seasons, but has zero Stanley Cup Final appearances to show for it. He will be a strong consideration for teams needing a new bench boss next offseason.
Spencer Knight extension
On Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they’ve signed Spencer Knight to a three-year, $17.5 million contract extension, carrying an average annual value of $5.83 million.
Chicago's Knight in shining armor.
Spencer Knight has signed a three-year deal with the @NHLBlackhawks! pic.twitter.com/2R9jm7ht5a
— NHL (@NHL) September 13, 2025
Knight, 24, was drafted in the first-round (13th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers. Looking back on it, this was an odd pick, considering the Panthers would go out and spent big money on Sergei Bobrovsky just a few days later in free agency. Knight has backed up Bobrovsky for four of the last five seasons, but it was clear there wasn’t much room for Knight develop, so they made him expendable.
A March trade saw the Panthers send Knight and a 2026 first-round pick to the Blackhawks in exchange for Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick. In 15 starts for the Blackhawks since the trade, Knight finished with 5-8-2 record, with 3.12 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. However, the 6’3″ netminder has proven he can be a solid goalie in this league, as he had 2.40 goals against average and a .907 save percentage in 23 starts before the trade.
Chicago still has a few years left in their rebuild; however, locking up their goaltender of the future is a great start for the Blackhawks to turn the ship around.
Corey Perry injury
The Los Angeles Kings provided an update on Corey Perry on Saturday morning.
The 40-year-old forward signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Kings this past offseason. Perry has spent the last two seasons as a member of the Edmonton Oilers, where, in typical Corey Perry fashion, lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. But Perry has proven that age is just a number, as just last season, he scored 19 goals and 30 points 81 games. He also added 10 goals and 14 points in 22 playoff appearances, playing up and down the Oilers’ lineup.
Unfortunately for Perry, he won’t make his Kings debut for the next 6-8 weeks after undergoing successful knee surgery. The Canucks don’t face off against the Kings until the end of November, where Perry should be back in game action.
Marc-Andre Fleury signs PTO with Penguins
The legend of Marc-Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh will continue. Well, for at least one more game, as the longtime Penguins netminder has signed a professional tryout contract with the team that originally drafted him first overall in 2003 – the last goaltender to be selected first overall.
Marc-Andre Fleury is headed back to Pittsburgh!
Flower will return to the ice and play parts of the @penguins' preseason game on September 27. pic.twitter.com/bvXQCYDC6r
— NHL (@NHL) September 12, 2025
Typically players will sign a one-day contract with their team to retire as a member of the organization. However, Fleury is going to be suiting up in a Pittsburgh uniform one last time in the preseason before officially hanging up the skates.
After 21 NHL seasons split between the Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, Fleury has started over 1,000 games, finishing with a 575-339-97 record, a 2.60 goals against average, a .912 save percentage and 76 shutouts. Fleury sits second in games played and wins in NHL history, narrowly edging out former Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo.
It sounds like Fleury will make his final start on Saturday, September 27 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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On Tuesday morning, the New York Rangers named JT Miller as the 29th captain in franchise history.
Acquired by the Rangers in a late January trade with the Vancouver Canucks, Miller tallied 35 points in 32 games with the Rangers. The trade came on the heels of rumours of a locker room rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson, which were confirmed by Canucks president Jim Rutherford, who said there was “no good solution” to keeping the Canucks’ core together.
And so Miller was traded, and now, he’s been named captain of one of the NHL’s original six teams. How are Canucks fans reacting to the news this morning? Let’s find out.
CanucksArmy comment section
Mean Gradin: This is going to be entertaining. I can’t wait to come back later.
Jibsys: Looks like the Rangers went an identity and a culture that wants to win. Good for JT.
defenceman factory: Congratulations to JT Miller. He is well suited to lead a team into battle. I hope the assignment helps him find some emotional maturity so he can be successful in the role. Some real risk this doesn’t go well.
Big BA: Surprise, surprise, an old school manager names a old school player the C… Lets see how this turns out. IMO, it won’t end well. This is a player who caused so much drama with the Canucks and quit on his team mates when he was called out by his coach and gave management one team he was willing to be traded to and yet so many dinosaur fans think he is a great guy…what is wrong with this world? Hmm, Im wondering if Chris Drury wants to go scorched earth and he thinks doing this will speed up the process…only thing that makes sense to me
Matthew White: This is an incredible promotion after playing only 32 games with the Rangers last year, following a half-season with the Canucks where he divided a clubhouse, was benched twice for uncommitted play, and took a 10-game leave to deal with personal problems we’re never going to know anything about, but were very obviously affecting his game. Seeing his impatience with his own teammates over what he appears to view as weakness doesn’t bode well for a captaincy. I loved JT and really believed he would be the first Canuck to raise the cup, but last year he sabotaged the momentum the team carried from the ’23-’24 season. He showed up looking dishevelled, manic, and wildly inconsistent, and when he was finally traded, he had only 9 goals to show for it. I don’t think a guy with a reputation for losing his temper can be an effective captain unless he changes his ways.
Twitter/X
Different players thrive under different types of leaders.
Remember the Kessler/Henrik debate? The #Canucks had their best years with Hank as captain.
Maybe it works for the Rangers, maybe it doesn't. It wasn't working here.
— Dragon Was Slayed (@522IntoOvertime) September 16, 2025
It’s awesome. JT is a flawed player at times, but an incredible 100 point leader who will put his team on his back. He’s a warrior.
Shoutout to the people calling him quitter who would chant his name!
— Demko’s kneebones
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Chris Gutierrez: Interesting decision. We know how things went down with him here…but perhaps this responsibility is what he needs to bring his maturity up. We know that he has the leadership qualities.
Mike Herrewig: A player that demanded effort, accountability and success was not a fit in Vancouver.
Lance Arnt: A majority of people posting about this news on all sites feel the Rangers have made a big mistake. This includes Rangers fans sites.
Phil Chang: Hughes carried the entire team on his back with his play for the entire season, even with all the drama. That’s our Captain. Miller couldn’t even carry his own baggage.
Brian Kavanagh: He should of been Vancouver’s Captain.
Bill Welsh: Who cares.
Mike Petrie: Don’t care.
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