May 22nd, 2025
Alex Rickman
Now that we know the Canucks are locked into the 15th selection in the upcoming draft, the question has to be asked: now what?
The Canucks have no shortage of needs in their organization right now. While, for the first time in a long time, Vancouver’s defence looks solid, the forward core is in desperate need of reinforcements, with at least two new top six fixtures needed in order to get this team back on the path to contention, if not more. In addition, the prospect pool, while better than the state it was left in by Jim Benning after his tenure, is still among the weaker groups in the league, and could really use a few more names to set the Canucks up for future success.
Opinions differ from person to person about what needs to happen with the Canucks first round pick this year. Some, believing that the Canucks best way forward is pushing to contend next year, believe that parting with the pick in a trade to add a top six forward is the right plan forward for the Canucks. Others, who believe in a more conservative approach to righting the ship, think that the Canucks need to keep the pick at all costs, as acquiring picks and prospects would be essential towards a rebuild. So, which of these approaches is the correct one? Let’s take a look at the cases for keeping and trading the Canucks 2025 first rounder to see what Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin should do to set the Canucks up for success.
The Case for Keeping
The argument in favour of keeping the pick usually hinges on a belief that the Canucks will not be able to build a contending team in the near future, and should instead shift their focus further down the line towards the long term future. Should that be the case, any win now moves that would see the Canucks parting with futures would be seen as a big no-no, making it a quick argument when debating what to do with this pick. And, with some of the things that have gone on in and around the Canucks organization since the teams second round loss to the Oilers in 2024, it’s not hard to see why some people are so cynical about the team’s outlook right now. From the team still lacking a practice facility to having to part ways with a head coach who had won the Jack Adams just a year ago to incredibly uninspired on ice performances throughout the 2024-25 campaign, not to mention the ongoing locker room drama and constant media circus surrounding the team and being perpetuated by Jim Rutherford’s repeated comments in the media, things aren’t exactly all sunshine and unicorns in Vancouver right now.
The Canucks prospect pool is also far from the deepest in the league. Things are better than they were a few years ago, when the Canucks had essentially zero young talent outside of the league to be excited about, but the Canucks prospect pool still simply isn’t as good as it should be for a team that just missed the playoffs. Adding to that, there isn’t a centre in the Canucks system to speak of who projects to have a future as a top six player. Even with the 2025 draft class not considered to be a particularly strong one, there are a few centres who could still be on the board when the Canucks pick who could immediately become the team’s top prospect down the middle, and could become top six pieces in the not-too-distant future. No matter the perceived quality of the draft class, there is an opportunity here for the Canucks to improve a prospect pool that is still a definite work in progress, and losing that opportunity would be a tough pill to swallow.
Adding to the Canucks current lack of high end prospects in their system, they have also traded out draft picks in the past, and as a result, don’t have as many picks as they otherwise could have in future drafts. In limiting the number of selections they have over the next few years, the challenge of replenishing the prospect pool and continuing what has proven to be a fairly successful development pipeline in Abbotsford gets even more difficult. Vancouver’s aggressive front office has also made it clear in the past that, to get their guys, they are willing to part with picks. This has paid off at times, as parting with picks has seen the Canucks acquire pieces like Filip Hronek, but has also seen them give up a first round pick for a few less than brilliant months of Elias Lindholm. Continually parting with draft picks before your team has established itself as a contender is a risky manouevre, and if this trend continues without the Canucks digging themselves out of their current hole, the path back to respectability becomes significantly more treacherous.
The Case for Trading
While the case for keeping the pick makes plenty of sense, there is also plenty of reason to consider why trading the pick could ultimately set the Canucks up for more success. Even if last year was a bitter disappointment, there is some reason to remain optimistic about the Canucks fortunes going forward. A disaster year for the Canucks still had them close to a playoff spot, and with the Canucks new look defence and two solid goaltenders under contract, the foundation is there for a good team if Vancouver can make the right improvements to their forward core. If parting with their first rounder allows the Canucks to bring in a forward, especially a centre, who can heavily contribute to bringing the team’s forward group up to snuff, it could be worth parting with. With names like Dylan Larkin, Marco Rossi, and Mathew Barzal being thrown around, and two or three more forwards needed for the Canucks top six, maybe parting with this pick allows the Canucks to get one of the pieces who can help see this organization get back to the winning ways of 2023-24.
As was mentioned earlier, the 2025 draft class is not viewed as being particularly strong. The 2026 class, on the other hand, has been called generational by some. Whether or not these claims of a generational class are true or not, we can’t say for sure, but on paper, the 2026 class looks far stronger than this year's. If the Canucks are going to push to get back on track next season, and need to part with assets to do so, it would be far easier to justify parting with a 2025 selection right now than it would be a 2026 pick. Having a first-round pick in a draft like 2026 would be great, whether the Canucks season goes to plan next year or not. If things go well, the Canucks can either flip that pick later to further improve their roster, or still hang onto the pick and make a selection late in a first round where the late picks could be better than what the Canucks may get at 15 this year. Or, if next season doesn’t go the way Vancouver wants it to go, at least they’ll have a ticket in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes. If a first has to go, better 2025 than 2026.
There is one more elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. With uncertainty surrounding Quinn Hughes’s future in Vancouver, keeping him happy has become more of a priority than ever. In my opinion, if the Canucks are able to show Hughes that he will have a chance to win a Stanley Cup and play on a contending team in Vancouver without having to wait for a miracle, he’ll stay. Otherwise, the Canucks can kiss their greatest ever defenceman, who could one day be known as their greatest ever player, goodbye. One thing is for sure, though: Hughes won’t sit through another rebuild. If the Canucks are going to try to show Hughes that this is where he wants to be, and that he will be given a chance to win here, they need ro right the ship fast. Parting with that first and bringing home a top six fixture who can finally start putting pucks in the net could prove to be essential towards these efforts, and if that’s what it’s going to take to hang on to Huggy, it needs to be taken into consideration.
The Verdict
This is not an easy decision to make, and ultimately comes down to what else you think the Canucks will be able to do this offseason to fix their forward core. If you don’t believe that, in addition to whoever the Canucks would acquire with this pick, they will be able to land a few more forwards who can contribute for Vancouver, or that Elias Pettersson will struggle to produce again next year, or simply that no matter what the Canucks do that they’re doomed, they have to keep the pick and hope for the best in the future. However, if you see a way that the Canucks can get the help they need up front, and that key contributors who had down years last year will be able to step things up this season, or that Adam Foote hockey will be different enough from the hockey Rick Tocchet was running the team into the ground with last season, then by all means, go get your guy.
Personally, I think there is a path back to contention for the Canucks that isn’t too unrealistic.
With a different voice at the helm and a full year’s worth of examples on what not to do to win NHL games, as well as, hopefully, a full year of healthy goaltending from the Demko-Lankinen tandem, the Canucks returning players will be able to give a better showing than we saw from last years team. If that can happen, the only key becomes making the right additions to supplement what the Canucks already have. While that’s easier said than done, this front office has shown a craftiness in getting what they want when they have clear direction, so if they’re truly committed to improving this team, there is a way for them to make the additions to the top six that the Canucks need to come back strong next year.
If, and only if, the front office is truly confident that they will get their necessary moves done, and parting with a first round pick can bring in a player who will seriously change the Canucks fortunes and potentially motivate Hughes to stick around, it’s worth giving it a shot. You don’t drink champagne if you don’t take risks, and if you want to find the road back to success and keep your captain in town, it’s time to consider all options that may bring the needed parts to Vancouver.
Does this mean they should force a trade? Absolutely not. Having a first is always better than not having one, and unless a player who is actually going to make a significant difference in Vancouver is on the table, that pick should stay in the organization and be used to bolster our prospect pool. But should it be considered untouchable? In my opinion, no.