Goals and expectations for Canucks veteran Tyler Myers in 2025-26

Entering the second year of a three-year contract extension signed last summer, 35-year-old Tyler Myers is very much in the twilight of his long and successful National Hockey League career. But given the way the Vancouver Canucks defence is constructed, the veteran defenceman remains a central figure on the team’s blueline.

As things stand right now, Myers appears set to hold down a top-four role – likely on a shutdown pair with Marcus Pettersson. Now things can change, and Myers certainly has to be prepared for youngsters like Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini to be looking to work their way up the team’s depth chart. At some point, the baton will be passed, and Myers will find himself lower in the lineup. But it doesn’t feel like the Canucks are at that point just yet.

So Myers will start into the 2025-26 season with the same job description as he’s had for years now. He has to use his enormous size and reach to be as disruptive as possible. Last season, Myers scored six goals and added 18 assists in 71 games. His 24 points ranked third among all Canucks defencemen and were the second highest total of his six seasons in Vancouver. 

At 5-on-5, captain Quinn Hughes was the only Canuck skater to log more minutes than Myers. And on the penalty kill, Myers munched more minutes than any other defender on the roster. 

With a healthy Filip Hronek and with Marcus Pettersson now in the fold, it would seem like Myers may see a reduction in responsibilities next season. And perhaps at this stage of his career, less can be more for a player who still has a penchant for taking too many penalties. Myers led the Canucks by a wide margin with 26 minors last season. Teddy Blueger was next on the list with 17.

As an assistant coach overseeing the blueline, Adam Foote seemed to find a way to reach Myers and bring out his best. At 5-on-5 last season, the Canucks were outscored by a goal with Myers on the ice, but the team actually held a positive expected goal differential in those minutes. It will be interesting to see what impact Foote taking over as head coach and leaving defensive responsibilities to new assistant Kevin Dean has on a player like Tyler Myers, who is set to begin his 17th NHL season.

A respected veteran and a popular teammate, Myers has become a significant locker room presence. And he has the kind of demeanour that will likely help bring some of the young defencemen in the system along. And while there is significant value in an experienced player like Myers sharing his knowledge and wisdom with prospects, his priority next season is still to fend off those players from taking his job and logging significant minutes for the hockey club.

Exceeding expectations for Tyler Myers

As the elder statesman on the team, Myers isn’t looked to for point production, although the Canucks will take any offensive contributions he can add. For Myers to exceed expectations, he needs to defend well, have a positive goal differential at 5-on-5, limit the penalties he takes, bring penalty killing utility and preside over a drama-free locker room.

Meeting expectations for Tyler Myers

It feels like this is a season of transition for the Canucks defence. In a perfect world, Tyler Myers will transition from a second-pair fixture to a third-pair role due to the emergence of at least one of the young players in the stable. For Myers to meet expectations, he will stay healthy, use his size effectively and will complement the likes of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson ahead of him on the depth chart. It’s hard for a 6’8” player to blend in with the crowd, but really, that’s all the Canucks need from Myers on a nightly basis.

Below expectations for Tyler Myers

Father Time catches up to a player who will turn 36 on February 1st. Penalties become too frequent as Myers chases the speed of today’s game. The shift of Adam Foote from hands-on defensive coach sees Myers revert to his struggles before Foote arrived on the scene. The Canucks need to consider buying out the final year of his contract at season’s end.

It’s not often a best-case scenario is that a key cog gets passed on the depth chart, but in some ways, that would be a successful transitional season for Tyler Myers. Where he starts the season on the depth chart and where he ends it will be fascinating to watch. As long as he stays healthy, Myers will reach the 1,100-game mark next season. That’s a testament to his longevity, professionalism and positive approach to the game. But even Tyler Myers knows he can’t play forever. It’s possible this will be his final NHL season as a full-time, every-day player.