Canucks
A preview of the 2025-26 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: Adam Foote (head coach), Evander Kane, Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Key Departures: Rick Tocchet (head coach), Pius Suter, Arturs Silovs, Dakota Joshua, Noah Juulsen
Overview
The 2024-25 season in Vancouver can easily be described as a three-alarm blaze. The tension between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson resulted in Miller getting traded to the Rangers. Head coach Rick Tocchet, who was the Coach of the Year in 2023-24, is now the Flyers’ bench boss. Adam Foote, an assistant under Tocchet, takes over as the new bench boss. Yet, through all the turmoil, the Canucks were just six points shy of a playoff spot.
Offense
Vancouver’s 233 goals were a 46-goal drop off from the 2023-24 season and took them from a top-10 scoring team to bottom-10 team in goals scored. The struggles start and end with E. Pettersson. Vancouver’s $11.6 million man, finished with 45 points in an injury-riddled 64 games (projects to 57.5 in 82 games) and had just 109 shots on goal. While “Petey” struggled, Quinn Hughes was putting up MVP type numbers. Hughes not only led the team in assists, shots on goal and points, he was 26 points better than Brock Boeser, who finished second on the team. Jake DeBrusk’s 28 goals led the Canucks. His 14 power-play goals were one more than he had in his previous four seasons combined.
The “spine” of an NHL team is down the middle. Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger and Aatu Raty slot behind Pettersson at the center position. That’s a below-average quartet. In the summer, the Canucks acquired Vancouver native Evander Kane from Edmonton, but they need to find a way to replace the 25 goals of Pius Suter, who left via free agency.
Defense
The Canucks ranked 18th in goals surrendered but had the third-best penalty kill in 2024-25. Not only did Suter provide offense, but he and Blueger were the team’s top forwards on the penalty kill. A replacement for Suter really is a priority.
Hughes played the second most minutes in the NHL last season and was in the conversation for league MVP and a finalist for the Norris Trophy. His defense partner, Filip Hronek, brings physicality and two-way play. Hronek’s injury absence exposed the team’s lack of depth, as the Canucks struggled without his ability to handle tough matchups. Entering his ninth season, Marcus Pettersson has established himself as a solid No. 3 defenseman and strong penalty killer. Beyond that, there are questions about the blue line.
Goaltending
The Canucks must believe that the injury that limited Thatcher Demko to 23 games last season is behind him. Demko signed a three-year extension that kicks in after this season and teams up with Kevin Lankinen, who recently agreed to a five-year deal. Demko finished with six wins in his final eight decisions after winning just four of his first 15 starts. Lankinen’s 25 wins last season were just two fewer than his previous three seasons combined, and his four shutouts now give him seven for his career. If both stay healthy, the Canucks will have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL.
Player to Watch
Elias Pettersson has talked about being a “more mature player” as he heads into the 2025-26 season. He says that he is no longer bothered by the knee injury that limited his training last offseason. If he can get back to the player that put up 89 points in ‘23-24 and 102 points in ‘22-23, the Canucks will be in the conversation for a playoff spot.
Outlook
You would think the Canucks finished dead last in 2024-25 the way the public has talked about their season. They put up 90 points and if they can come away with one more win or two more overtime losses than last season, they will have cashed their point prop of Over 90.5 points. Sign me up for the Over.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 90.5
To Make the Playoffs: +105
To Miss the Playoffs: -135
To Win the Pacific Division: +1400
To Win the Western Conference: +2500
To Win the Stanley Cup: +5500
2024-25 Recap
Record: 38-30-14, 90 points (5th Pacific Division)
Over/Under: 39-40-3
Home Favorite: 10-13 // Home Dog: 7-11
Road Favorite: 9-3 // Road Dog: 10-18
Win Score 4 or more: 21 of 38 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 28 of 44
Puck Line Wins: 20 of 38 // Puck Line Losses: 25 of 44
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-4 // Back End Back-to-Back: 2-8
Points Leader: Quinn Hughes – 76
Goal Leader: Jake DeBrusk – 28
Assist Leader: Quinn Hughes – 60
Shots on Goal Leader: Quinn Hughes – 192
Blocked Shots Leader: Elias Petterson – 77
Depth Chart
Forwards
Jake DeBrusk / Elias Pettersson / Brock Boeser
Evander Kane / Filip Chytil / Conor Garland
Nils Hoglander / Aatu Raty / Kiefer Sherwood
Drew O’Connor / Teddy Blueger / Linus Karlsson
Defense
Quinn Hughes / Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson / Tyler Myers
Elias Nils Pettersson / Derek Forbort
Goalies
Thatcher Demko / Kevin Lankinen
Power Play Unit 1
Jake DeBrusk, Filip Chytil, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson
