Revenge or Rebuild: No More In-Between for the Canucks

Photo Credit: Bob Frid/Imagn Images

As the Vancouver Canucks enter the 2025-26 National Hockey League (NHL) season, questions are floating over Rogers Arena about whether the team is ready to contend, stay in the playoff mix, or slip into another rebuild. 

So far this season, the Canucks have gone 4-2 in the preseason and won 5-1 in their home-opener against the Calgary Flames. As of Oct. 21, They are currently 4-3-0 and 2nd in the Pacific Division. 

According to NHL News, the most pressing concern for the Canucks is likely the performance of superstar forward Elias Pettersson. The 26-year-old once put up 102 points in the 2022-2023 campaign. However, since signing his infamous $11.6 million per year deal in 2023–24, his production has dropped, having only 89 points that year and just 45 last season. 

So far, he’s registered one goal and three assists in this season. "I know what I'm capable of," Pettersson said on Aug. 6 at Sweden's orientation camp for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. "Actually, I haven't thought about it, but for myself it's revenge. I'm not happy with last season."

Captain Quinn Hughes is looking to lead the Canucks to the playoffs again after the team failed to qualify by six points last year. Often compared to superstar defenseman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Hughes set the all-time franchise record for the most points by a defenseman, according to NHL News. He passed former Canuck Alex Edler’s 409 in a 3-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on October 11. 

“[Breaking the record] means lots. It’s a great organization. A lot of great players [have come] through over the 56 or 57 years since the Canucks have been around. Honoured for sure,” said Hughes post-game. According to Sportsnet, there’s been a lot of uncertainty surrounding Hughes’ future in Vancouver. He will become an unrestricted free agent after 2026-2027, and fans are worried about how the Canucks’ performance will affect his decision to stay. 

Over the offseason, Rick Tocchet decided not to return as head coach for the Canucks and has instead taken control of the Philadelphia Flyers coaching staff, where he played for much of his NHL career. The Canucks’ new head coach is Adam Foote, the team’s former assistant coach. "Adam is a strong leader, good teacher, and person who knows what it takes to build a great culture and winning attitude," Canucks General Manager (GM) Patrik Allvin said.

Changes have been made in the Canucks, with one of them being the addition of Braeden Cootes from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He made the opening night roster for the Canucks and debuted on Oct. 9 against the Flames, making him the first 18-year-old to make the opening night roster since Petr Nedved in 1990. 

"It's been good, it's been a crazy couple of weeks, but I'm just trying to take it all in," Cootes said in an interview with NHL News. "I'm just trying to play my game and not worry too much about making mistakes and just go out there and play." Forward Conor Garland also praised Cootes after the final preseason game in an interview with Sportsnet. 

“I can't believe how good Cootes is […] To get him in the middle of the first round, you don't see many guys that can come in and [make the team] with a first camp like that.” However, after three games in the NHL, Foote announced that Cootes would be reassigned to the WHL Thunderbirds. "We're proud of what he's done. It hasn't been his play at all. He's a smart hockey player," said Foote. "We just think it's the right thing for his development. This is going to be a condensed, long, heavy season."

The Canucks also acquired Vancouver-born forward Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 4th-round pick. Allvin commented that Kane’s performance with Edmonton in the playoffs last year was what caught their eye. “So I think he will do everything he can to give us what we want and what he is capable of doing to,” Allvin said. "I was very happy when I saw that trade," forward Pettersson said. "It's a player that we need, a player who plays with grit and still can score goals." 

This new addition sparked mixed reactions due to Kane’s past controversies. In October 2021, the league announced Kane would be suspended after using a fake COVID-19 vaccination card, according to The Sporting News. Kane issued a public apology shortly after. 

Heading into free agency on July 1, every single headline was pointing to sniper Brock Boeser leaving the Canucks. However, he signed a team-friendly seven-year, $50.75 million ($7.25 million per year) contract to return. "In my head, I think I was fully set on going somewhere else," Boeser said on the Canucks Insider Podcast. "I had kind of a list of teams in my head that I thought maybe would be good fits […] then [the Canucks] management called and at the end of the day, I think my heart was still in Vancouver." 

Goaltender Thatcher Demko also re-signed with the Canucks (three years, $25.5 million, $8.5 million AAV), along with Conor Garland (six years, $36 million, $6 million AAV). "I had other guys in my ears, like [Garland] and [Demko] and all those guys kind of pushing my buttons to come back," Boeser said. "I have so much faith in our team and the pieces that we have and Adam Foote too."