There is risk inherent in any Vancovuer Canucks moves made this offseason. Much of that risk is self-inflicted, existing only because the team insists on reaching heights they aren’t yet ready for. There’s panic in the market, pressure from the owners, and question marks all over the team.
If they could be allowed to relax and step back for a year or two, this Summer would be a whole lot easier. But that’s not where we are, so let’s talk over what might actually happen.
Risk, Reward, and the Vancouver Canucks
Everyone wants the Vancouver Canucks to succeed. Well, everyone around the team wants the Vancouver Canucks to succeed. The question isn’t even how to best go about it, because that would involve a deliberate rebuild. And while some fans might hate that, they wouldn’t hate it as much as team ownership.
There is clearly a mandate to reach the playoffs once again after missing out in 2024-25. It shouldn’t be as hard as some project. The floor of the current club could reasonably be considered the 90 points they had last season, and that was a disaster.
Low Risk Canucks Moves
Letting Pius Suter Walk
Pius Suter did everything for Vancouver last year, including moving up to a top-six role. He scored 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games, both far and away career highs. There was time spent on both special teams, play on the wing and at centre, and plenty of time against the opponents’ best.
He also signed a two-year deal at just $1.6 million per season, half of his previous contract’s value. In a weak free-agent year, Suter won’t just return to that high but will do so for plenty more years. Or should, anyway. There are lots of teams that will be interested in his services, and Vancouver will likely be priced out.
Bringing Up Babies
Elias Pettersson – the defenceman – established himself as NHL-capable last season. Victor Mancini showed he could do the same, even as he’s tearing it up in the AHL playoffs with Abbotsford right now. Now with Tom Willander signed, there could justifiably be three defencemen on Vancouver’s blue line playing their first full NHL season in September.
None of those three requires waivers to move to the AHL, and having them up only to sit as a seventh defenceman makes no sense. But if they can make the team, they can make the team. Don’t turn down talent that kicks in the door.
Up front, we could see Johnathan Lekkermaki land a full-time role to bring in cheap scoring. Nils Åman, Aatu Räty, Linus Karlsson, and Max Sasson can all make arguments for starting the year in Vancouver rather than Abbotsford. They would be in lesser roles compared to Lekkermaki, but have NHL experience, are cost-controlled, and can fill out spots in the bottom six.
It’s not that youth can be served, but how many?
Medium Risk Canucks Moves
Letting Brock Boeser Walk
The behaviour of management in their public description of Brock Boeser is not enthusiastic. After he finally broke the 30-goal mark in 2023-24, reaching an even 40, general manager Patrik Allvin famously said he could have had 50. Last season, he fell short again, scoring 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games. As low as those numbers are, he was still the Canucks second highest scorer.
Much like their treatment of Bo Horvat when he was set to negotiate, Boeser watched other players sign deals while he waited. He wants to remain in Vancouver, repeatedly saying so, but it’s clear the team has other ideas. The risk to the team is that, as much as he might not fit with their idea of the team, he does know how to score goals.
For Boeser, this is likely the last chance he has for a long-term deal. In a weak free-agent year, he will draw plenty of interest. Vancouver can’t open the vault for him, but he is a known quantity they might not easily replace.
Trading Conor Garland
Conor Garland is someone who never stops. First minute of play, last minute of play, he is out there making himself known to the opponents. Garland also scored 50 points last season, though only 19 were goals. No matter his ice time or the coach’s demands, he will score around 50 points and annoy the heck out of the opponents.
The risk in moving him is losing all of that. If the team wants a player who never quits and always works on every shift, Garland is on the list. That being said, he is also making $4.95 million next season – his last on his current contract. He has value and would return something appropriate and possibly add some cap space if he were moved.
Any deal moving Garland out is likely going to be a trade of reliability for risk.
High Risk Canucks Moves
Trading Elias Pettersson
Yes, the long-discussed possibility of moving out Elias Pettersson continues. His salary is high, with six years remaining at $11.6 million per season. His skill level isn’t in doubt, but his drive is. The chaos of this season circled around Pettersson and J.T. Miller and was a massive distraction for everyone involved.
Miller, of course, was moved on while Pettersson remained. That he was also on the trade block isn’t a secret, and with his no-trade clause coming up, the team could still move him early. But it is hard to picture a return of equal value coming back to Vancouver.
Petterson is a 26-year-old centre who has scored 185 goals and 457 points in his 471 NHL games. He’s locked up for six more seasons and has 100+ point talent. And currently, Vancouver’s second-line centre is the unproven Filip Chytil. The Canucks likely value Pettersson more right now than any other team in the league, which is an issue for trades.
Any team taking him on would have that contract, but also a player who only scored 15 goals and 45 points in 65 games last season. What are they going to give up to take a chance he’ll bounce back to even point-per-game levels?
Signing Their Best Goalie
Whatever deal finally gets signed with Thatcher Demko – whatever team he’s on – it will be done with a shaky hand. The amount of risk on both sides is astounding. It’s high-stakes because of his exceptional talent and the unique nature of his injury history. It’s almost surreal.
Demko, when fully healthy, is a top-five talent in the league. In 2023-24, he finished second in Vezina scoring with a 2.45 goals against average and .918 save percentage and five shutouts in 51 starts. He is also the reason fans in Vancouver suddenly became familiar with how the popliteus muscle stabilizes the knee joint.
In theory, Demko is one of the Big Three that can propel the Canucks into the future. A star goalie to go with the star centre in Pettersson and the star defenceman in Quinn Hughes. But with his future in question, how much is Vancouver willing to risk? He could bounce back and play another five years brilliantly. Or he might be average. Or his career may end in a week.
Nominative backup Kevin Lankinen has a new five-year contract. Artūrs Šilovs is starring in the AHL playoffs and would require waivers next year. The Canucks could trade Demko if they get scared, but for what return? Neither Vancouver nor Demko knows what will happen, making this a fascinating negotiation to watch.
Don’t. Just Don’t.
Giving Away Quinn Hughes
There will be no return worth trading Quinn Hughes for. Seriously, knock that nonsense off.
Conclusion
The St. Louis Blues reached the playoffs last season with just 96 points, which is a very reachable level. While it’s an exaggeration to say everything was a disaster last season – the penalty kill was excellent, for instance – there was a lot that went wrong. Which means it shouldn’t take much to go right again for the Canucks to improve.
Something as simple as a return to form from Pettersson or a healthy Demko could be the difference. If either of the teams they were chasing doesn’t do as well, that alone could be enough for Vancouver to reach the playoffs again. There will be risk in any Canucks moves, it’s true. But they might not need to risk as much as you think.
