New Additions: F Evander Kane (from EDM), D Pierre-Olivier Joseph (1yr x $775k), F Chase Stillman (from PIT), F Vitali Kravtsov (1yr x $775k), HC Adam Foote

Subtractions: G Arturs Silovs (to PIT), F Dakota Joshua (to TOR), D Erik Brannstrom (FA), F Phillip Di Giuseppe (to WPG), D Noah Juulsen (to PHI), HC Rick Tocchet

Retentions/Extensions: D Derek Forbort (1yr x $2M), F Arshdeep Bains (2yr x $775k AAV), F Aatu Raty (2yr x $775k AAV), F Conor Garland (6yr x $6M AAV), G Thatcher Demko (3yr x $8.5M AAV), F Brock Boeser (7yr x $7.25M AAV)

After a very successful 2023-24 season, everything went wrong last year for the Vancouver Canucks. From tensions in the locker room, to underwhelming on ice play, things did not go their way, and after winning the Pacific Division the year before, they failed to even make the playoffs. What I find noteworthy is that in a season where everything went wrong, the Canucks still had a 90 point season, 6 points back of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Now without the J.T. Miller drama hanging over the teams head, there are less distractions and the team can just go out there and play. If the bounces go their way a little more than they did last year, this team could find themselves back in the playoffs.

It seems like there is always something with the Canucks, and this season it might be the Quinn Hughes contract situation. Fans of the league love to create narratives, whether or not they are legitimate. One story that has generated some buzz is the potential teaming up of the three Hughes brothers. Jack and Luke are both in New Jersey, and recently Luke signed a long term deal, keeping the two of them under contract with the Devils for a while. Luckily for the Canucks, Quinn still has two more years remaining on his contract, but that will not stop people from pushing the narrative that he will inevitably find himself in New Jersey. I do not think there is any bit of the Canucks organization that wants to entertain that thought, as not only is Quinn their best player, but he is also team captain, and an integral part of what the team is trying to build. He won the Norris Trophy in 2023-24, with a 92 point campaign. Last year he only had 76 points, but was limited to 68 games, putting him at essentially the same pace as the year before had he played all 82 games. He should have another great year, turning 26 later this month, he is entering the prime years of his career. The Canucks hope he plays out his prime with the team, and will try everything in their power to sign the defenceman to an extension as soon as they can.

Elias Pettersson (the forward not the defenceman, and yes the Canucks have two guys with the same name) has all the skill in the world. He showcased his talent immediately, recording 66 points in 71 games as a rookie, winning the Calder Trophy. He followed it up with a solid year two, but then struggled with injuries in year three, and year four he only had 68 points in 80 games. Now a near 70 point season is not bad at all, but fans hoped that the 2017 5th overall pick would be an elite, more than a point per game forward at that point in his career. Proving he did not peak as a rookie, and had that elite potential within him, Pettersson had 102 points 2022-23, and another point per game season with 89 points in 2023-24. He struggled a fair bit in the 2024 playoffs, with only 1 goal and 6 points in 13 games, but it looked like it was just a bad stretch, and he would return to form the next season. But his play carried into last year, and the Swede had a career low 0.7 points per game, and was limited to only 45 points in 64 games. Maybe it had something to do with the Miller drama, as apparently the two did not get along, but now there are no excuses, and the Canucks need the best version of Elias Pettersson if they want to have any success this season. I have faith he can return to his 80-100 point production from two seasons ago. 

Another Canuck who had a massive down year was Brock Boeser. After a career year in 2023-24 with 73 points and a team leading 40 goals, the winger managed just 50 points and 25 goals last year. It is almost like he forgot to shoot the puck, as his shooting percentage did not fall that much, going from 19.6% to 17.2%, but he went from 204 shots, to just 145 last season. Hopefully it is as simple of a fix as ‘shoot the puck more’. It seemed likely that the American would leave in free agency, being tied to a few other teams in need of a scoring forward, but he ultimately stayed in Vancity, re-signing for seven years, with a cap hit of $7.25M. He is locked in long term as a top six forward, and the team needs him to produce like one.

If Pettersson and Boeser cannot return to form, it will be hard for the Canucks to be a team pushing for the playoffs, as they are the two stars in a forward group that otherwise consists of complimentary players. Conor Garland is one player who stayed true to form last season, recording 50 points. In his four seasons in Vancouver he has produced nothing less than 46 points, and nothing more than 52, a solid range for a secondary scoring piece. Jake DeBrusk was signed in free agency last year, and put up a decent 48 points with 28 goals. Some fans may have had higher expectations for the former Bruin, but 20-30 goals and 40-50 points is about what you should expect from him. One of the pieces that came back in the Miller trade was Filip Chytil, who was limited to 15 games with the team last season, recording an underwhelming 6 points. The team is hoping with a full offseason and a top six role, that the 2017 first round pick can have a career year. In two cap related moves, the team brought in Evander Kane, and traded away Dakota Joshua. They play a similar physical style of hockey but Kane possesses a little more finesse, hopefully that adds to the team. I cannot fail to mention Kiefer Sherwood, who had 19 goals and 40 points in a depth role last year, but more importantly set the NHL record for hits in a season with 462. After bouncing around throughout his career, he hopes to have found a hope in Western Canada.

The D corps is above average which was not the case for the Canucks for many many years. A superstar like Hughes always helps boost the unit, but behind him is a solid group. Filip Hronek has proved over the last few seasons that he is a capable second option, who’s offensive game might be a little underrated playing behind Hughes. Tyler Myers can sometimes be a liability, but there are not many other players in the league his size, and can move as well as he does. Marcus Pettersson was brought in from Pittsburgh last year and fit in really nicely in the top four, with 11 points in 31 games. The other Elias Pettersson hopes he can be a full time player this season after playing 28 games in the NHL last year. Veteran defenceman Derek Forbort was a reliable depth piece on the blueline last season, and earned a one year $2M extension. Pierre-Olivier Joseph will likely be the sixth or seventh defenceman on the squad, as the former first rounder does not look like he will be much more than that in his career.

Thatcher Demko has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He was limited to 23 games last season, and as a result Kevin Lankinen had to become the team’s starting goalie for most of the year. He performed well, earning himself a five year extension with a $4.5M AAV, which made it seem like the team might move on from Demko. But on the first day he could sign an extension the team signed him to a 3 year deal that kicks in after this season that pays him $8.5M per year. A bit of a headscratcher, not that Demko is not worth it as he is definitely a top goalie when healthy, but after giving Lankinen his deal, they now have $13M tied up in this tandem. I guess even if Demko is healthy, they are still gonna give games to Lankinen, considering his cap hit, and they will take a more cautious approach to hopefully keep Demko healthy late into the season where they need him.

Rick Tocchet, only a year after winning the Jack Adams Award with Vancouver, has left the organization. Replacing him is Adam Foote, who has served as an assistant for the past three seasons. It is his first time being an NHL head coach, and he walks into a situation with a bit of pressure as there are expectations for this team to bounce back from last season. Foote was a solid stay at home defenceman in his playing career, and served as captain for both the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, hopefully his leadership abilities can translate to coaching.

A season full of drama, statistical drops in production, only 23 appearances from their starting goalie (where he had a .889 SV%), and they still managed to have 90 points as a team. I think if the team is able to have a little more production from their stars, a healthier year from Demko, and Foote be a half decent head coach in year one, the Canucks should be able to get back to the playoffs. The argument is certainly there, the team just needs to prove that they are capable.