Vancouver Canucks
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Vancouver Canucks, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Manny Malhotra (head coach), Brendan Gallagher, Paul Cotter, Luke Schenn, Jamie Oleksiak
Key Departures: Adam Foote (head coach), Marcus Pettersson, Teddy Blueger, Nils Hoglander, Evander Kane
Overview
It was a disastrous 2025-26 season for the Canucks, who finished dead last in the NHL standings with 58 points. Their 32-point drop from the prior season, when they finished with 90 points, was the second-largest point decline behind the Winnipeg Jets (34). The team looked beaten down and defeated for much of the season. The trade of Quinn Hughes to Minnesota in December was a clear signal they had thrown up the white flag. The team continued the purge shortly after the season ended, firing general manager Patrik Allvin and head coach Adam Foote, as well as Jim Rutherford, who announced he was stepping down as President of Hockey Operations but staying on in an advisory role. In comes Ryan Johnson as the new general manager, Daniel and Henrik Sedin as the Co-Presidents of Hockey Operations, and Manny Malhotra as the new head coach. At some point, Manny Malhotra should get the opportunity to coach his son, Caleb, whom the Canucks selected in this year’s NHL Draft with the third overall pick. There is no denying his talent. He was ranked as the number one center in the NHL Draft.
Offense
Vancouver’s 210 goals were second-worst, behind Calgary’s 208 goals last season. Elias Pettersson led the team with 51 points and has continued his fall since his career best 102 points in the 2022-23 season. He’s coming off back-to-back 15-goal seasons and totaled just 96 points (138 games). Jake DeBrusk led the team with 23 goals, 19 of them on the power play. Brock Boeser eclipsed the 20-goal mark (22) for the seventh time in nine seasons; his 48 points marked the second straight season he fell short of the 73 he had just two seasons prior.
It was an injury-plagued year for center Marco Rossi, who came over in the Hughes trade from Minnesota. He finished the year with 12 goals (Minnesota and Vancouver), but he twice cracked the 20-goal mark with the Wild, so Rossi has the potential to be the player who made him a first-round draft pick. In his first full NHL season, Linus Karlsson put up 15 goals. The Canucks would like and need him to join the 20-goal club in 2026-27. Veteran Brendan Gallagher, who grew up in Vancouver, was acquired from Montreal and adds leadership to a young forward group.
Defense
With the trade of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek is by far and away the Canucks best defenseman, and he is paired with what the Canucks hope can be the next Quinn Hughes in Zeev Buium. Buium, a San Diego native and the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is entering his second NHL season. He has the potential to be an elite puck mover and quarterback on the Canucks power play. At six feet and 183 pounds, adding some size to his frame will help him in matching up against the opposition’s best players. Tom Willander and “the other” Elias Pettersson (yes, there are two of them) are works in progress, while Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn are two veteran placeholders to keep opposing players honest and eat some minutes. Both Oleksiak and Schenn eventually could find themselves changing area codes at the trade deadline for teams looking to add size and experience.
Goaltending
With questions about Thatcher Demko’s health following season-ending hip surgery in January, it will not shock me if the Canucks carry three goalies this season. Injuries have limited Demko to 43 games (23,20) in the last two seasons. Kevin Lankinen, the Canucks number one goalie, is locked up for another four years. He has a “No Movement” clause this season, which prevents him from being sent to the minors. That leaves Nikita Tolopilo, who started 18 games for Vancouver last season as “insurance” in case Demko gets hurt. But Tolopilo would have to clear waivers if sent to the minors, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another team claim him. Regardless of who plays on a given night, they are going to see a lot of rubber. The Canucks gave up the fourth-most shots on goal per game (29.8) last season, and their goalies couldn’t bail them out, as all three goalies had a save percentage below .900.
Player to Watch
Elias Pettersson (the forward) has said he wants to stay in Vancouver. The Sedins have said Pettersson needs to come into training camp in better shape. This summer, Pettersson spent time training in Los Angeles, including joining the “pro skate” at the Kings practice facility instead of training in Sweden. There is no question that the team needs more from him. Reaching 100 points like he did (102) in the 2022-23 season is not realistic, but getting closer to the 89 points he had the following season is reasonable to expect from their $11.6-million number one center.
Outlook
Vancouver is just three seasons shy of taking the Edmonton Oilers to game seven of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Right now, they look like they are three years away from being two years away from contending for a playoff spot. Their projected point total is 74.5 (-115). To cash the Over, they’ll need eight more wins than last season and an additional overtime loss to get there. I don’t think they’ll reach 75 points, but I also feel there are better spots to place a future bet.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 74.5 (Over -115, Under -115)
To Make the Playoffs: (+1000)
To Miss the Playoffs: (-2000)
To Win the Division: (+30000)
To Win the Western Conference: (+40000)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+100000)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 25-49-8 (8th Pacific Division, 32nd Overall)
Over/Under: 47-31-4
Home Favorite: 2-5 // Home Dog: 7-26
Road Favorite: 1-1 // Road Dog: 14-23
Win Score 4 or more: 20 of 25 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 41 of 57
Puck Line Wins: 11 of 25 // Puck Line Losses: 40 of 57
Points Leader: Elias Pettersson – 51
Goal Leader: Jake DeBrusk – 23
Teams First Goal Leader: Linus Karlsson – 9
Assist Leader: Filip Hronek – 41
Shots on Goal Leader: Jake DeBrusk – 219
Blocked Shots: Marcus Pettersson – 136
Depth Chart
Forwards
Jake DeBrusk / Elias Pettersson / Linus Karlsson
Liam Ohgren / Marco Rossi / Brock Boesser
Drew O’Connor / Filip Chytil / Lekkerimaki
Paul Cotter/ Aatu Raty / Brendan Gallagher
Defense
Zeev Buium / Filip Hronek
Jamie Oleksiak / Tom Willander
Elias Pettersson / Luke Schenn
Goalies
Thatcher Demko / Kevin Lankinen
