January 17th, 2026
Alex Rickman
Is it a rebuild? A retool? A hybrid retool? Is there a plan at all? Frankly, none of us know at this point.
The Canucks front office has used a smattering of terms to describe what’s going to come next for a franchise that is clearly undergoing something of a transition period. However, with the majority of the fanbase, the desired next step is clear: it’s time for a rebuild.
Fans have grown tired of the directionless steps this organization has taken, with many having grown tired of the core group that has led this team to very little success and wanting to see a new, fresh group gracing the ice at Rogers Arena.
Whether or not the fans will get their wish is anyone’s guess, but with figures like Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin having finally used the word rebuild (along with various other terms) in describing the direction of the franchise, there is growing hope that change could finally be coming in Vancouver. Now, it’s on the team to go out and execute a proper rebuild to give the people what they want.
In the coming months, and possibly years, some critical decisions will have to be made. The paths the Canucks choose to go down in this transition period will have ramifications for years to come, and will decide whether this team can put together a group that can contend to bring the Stanley Cup home, or flame out and continue to sit in the misery that has faced the Canucks and our 1970 expansion twins in Buffalo.
Let’s take a look at some critical steps that will need to be undertaken in order for the Canucks to have a shot at breaking out and finally bringing Lord Stanley home.
Step 1: Sell off UFAs
One of the most agonizing parts of being a Canucks fan in recent years has been the team's refusal to move on from pending free agents at the deadline, resulting in plenty of buyer's remorse on contract extensions, as well as players walking for free who could have been traded for a pretty penny. From players like Pius Suter, Kevin Lankinen, and Brock Boeser last year, to the 2016 trade deadline when Jim Benning didn’t ship out Radim Vrbata or Dan Hamhuis, there is a long list of examples of this franchise failing to strike when the iron is hot and move on from players at the right time.
Not long ago, that fear set in again. Rumours began swirling that the Canucks were taking another look at an extension for Kiefer Sherwood, a player who’s sure to attract plenty of suitors on the trade market, with his value being estimated by some as a first-round pick and then some. While Sherwood is a fan favourite and the type of player any organization would want to have, with the position the Canucks are in, they simply cannot afford to extend him and miss the chance to cash in on futures. Strike while the iron is hot, and secure the assets that will help this team have a future rather than hyperfixating on keeping what you already have.
Evander Kane is another interesting piece as we approach the deadline. To say that Kane hasn’t exactly been the most popular figure among fans would be like saying that Conor Garland is a little shorter than Tyler Myers, so parting with Kane before the end of the season would likely be welcomed by Canucks nation. Additionally, with Kane’s history of solid playoff performances and his large frame, there is some hope of a team overpaying to acquire the winger, especially if the Canucks were to consider retaining salary. Even getting back the fourth-round pick the Canucks traded to acquire Kane would be a win in my book, but if the front office can get even more for Kane, that would turn into an incredibly tidy piece of business.
Beyond those two, there aren’t many pending UFAs to move out. With Derek Forbort’s maintenance days appearing to actually be a season-ending injury, that option is taken away. Moving Teddy Blueger or David Kämpf could potentially fetch a mid-round pick, and could be worthwhile sales to add to the Canucks pool of future assets, but realistically won’t be moved for anything that will make a critical impact on the future.
Step 2: Move Other Veterans
While moving out UFAs is a higher priority, the Canucks will also have to make some difficult decisions on veteran pieces who aren’t on expiring deals as well. It’s unlikely that simply trading away Sherwood and Kane will be enough to give the Canucks the assets needed to properly execute a rebuild, so some others will also have to be shipped off to focus on the future.
One name that has come up recently is Jake Debrusk. Currently in year two of a seven-year contract carrying a $5.5 million cap hit, Debrusk has been his usual streaky self this season, looking invisible at times and struggling to contribute much at even strength. Still, though, Debrusk has been arguably the Canucks best power play performer, and with the salary cap set to rise and Debrusk known as a player who steps it up in the playoffs from his time as a Bruin, there is still definite value there.
Since the Quinn Hughes trade, some Canucks have not quite looked themselves. This rings especially true for Conor Garland, who has been noticeably different both on and off the ice since the deal. With Garland and Hughes having a very close relationship, and Garland having signed an extension this offseason with the expectation that this team would be trying to take a step forward, it’s no surprise that he doesn’t seem entirely thrilled with how things have shaped up this year. Could this be the end of the road for Vancouver’s favourite angry little elf?
After signing a surprise extension on July 1st when he seemed as good as gone, Brock Boeser has not had the year that Canucks fans hoped he would. The offensive numbers have dried up, and defensively, things have not been much better. Boeser is currently leading the race for the NHL Green Jacket, posting a -26 +/- at the time of writing. Flawed as it may be as a stat, being that far below even is never a sign that a player is performing like you hoped they would. Beloved as he may be, the front office may be regretting this deal.
In any rebuild, keeping some veterans present is important to give the team some stability and to allow for young players coming up to have a group around them that fosters positive development. Trading all three of these wingers would be an incredibly dangerous move for the Canucks, and would likely make getting out of a rebuild more challenging, as prospects would be thrown to the wolves immediately upon arriving in the league. Ultimately, depending on the available return, the Canucks should look to make a deal involving one or two of these wingers. With these three all being fan favourites, it might hurt to see them go, but it could be important for the team's greater good.
Beyond those three, other vets could also do with a move, although not necessarily all at once. Defencemen like Marcus Pettersson, Tyler Myers, and possibly even Filip Hronek could garner some interest on the market, and potentially land a strong return for a team that, even now, has a lot of young defencemen in their ranks. Parting with every single asset in their ranks might be taking too big of a swing, but potentially unloading a few of these pieces over the course of a rebuild could be worthwhile to get younger.
The biggest question mark for Vancouver is Elias Pettersson, who has been playing better of late, but does still seem to be the subject of some buyer's remorse from the organization. With recent reports indicating that the Canucks are taking calls on EP40, is it possible that we could see him moved? While it remains very unlikely due to his no-movement clause, as well as his underwhelming performance since signing his $11.6 million deal lowering his trade value, perhaps this long-discussed hypothetical could become a reality.
Step 3: Stabilize the Crease
What at one point felt like the Canucks most secure position has become a dumpster fire in no time at all. With Demko again out injured and having been unable to stay healthy all season, Kevin Lankinen underperforming on his new deal, and Arturs Silovs both struggling and, more importantly, a Pittsburgh Penguin, the goaltending situation going forward is in need of a major fix.
The situation in goal is not entirely doomed, as the Canucks have some talented young goaltenders in Nikita Tolopilo, Ty Young, and, most excitingly, 2025 second-round pick Alexei Medvedev. However, it’s hard to see Tolopilo ending up much more than a backup at the NHL level, and Young and Medvedev are both a few years away from earning a chance to show what they can do in the league. In the meantime, things are a little murky.
Trading one, or even both, of the team's veteran netminders seems like it would be a beneficial move for the team. However, it’s much easier said than done. Demko and Lankinen’s deals both come with trade protection, and between Demko’s health and Lankinen’s underperformance, are unlikely to land Vancouver the return they would have gotten had they traded them at an earlier date.
At his best, Demko is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. However, Demko is so rarely able to perform reliably at his peak that the value of having him in your crease is negated by his injuries. As important as Demko has been to this team, the time might be right to move off of him this offseason. The Canucks won’t get back what they could have if they had moved him this past summer as opposed to extending him, but in parting ways with Demko for future assets, the Canucks create a clearer path to the NHL for their young goalies, and accept that they don’t have to spend their future tied down to a goaltender who just can’t be relied on.
As for Lankinen, with the trade protection on his contract going from a full no-movement clause to a 15-team no-trade list in 2027, and the need to keep something of a veteran presence around for stability, it would make more sense to at least wait a while longer to trade him. This season has been one to forget for Lankinen, but he is capable of being a much better goaltender than this. As well, keeping Lankinen allows some shelter for Tolopilo, Young, and eventually Medvedev before forcing them into NHL roles, and having that coverage is important. At the bare minimum, there is no need to rush into a Kevin Lankinen deal.
Step 4: Play the Kids in the Right Roles
Young players are going to be stepping into bigger roles in this team over the next couple of years, both as veterans are moved off and as more of an emphasis is placed on development than immediate results. What will be important is not only playing the kids, but playing them in roles and minutes that allow them to succeed. By not throwing talented prospects completely off the deep end or forcing them into roles that don’t suit their games, you give your talent the best chance of succeeding at the NHL level.
A problem the Canucks have had in recent history has been taking talented youngsters, be they recent draft picks or pieces acquired in rare trades for young talent, not giving them opportunities to play their own game, and stalling their development before eventually giving up on the player entirely. Pieces like Vasily Podkolzin and Jalen Chatfield were thrown into roles in Vancouver that didn’t allow them to play their best game, but they were able to hit their stride upon leaving the Canucks and taking up opportunities in Edmonton and Carolina. Even this season, we’ve seen Aatu Räty, Nils Höglander, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Lukas Reichel unable to get game time in roles that suit them, resulting in time in the press box for the first three, and what appears to be banishment to the shadow realm for Reichel.
If the Canucks are serious about rebuilding, they need to give their young talent serious chances to play in a role that suits them, rather than trying to force them to try to make it work elsewhere. Lekkerimäki has the offensive instincts to be a weapon in the top six, but if his only NHL opportunities continue to come on the fourth line, his potential will be seriously limited. If Räty continues to spend time in the press box rather than being given a serious run of games in the middle six, how can he be expected to lock down a permanent NHL position? If Reichel is never given a chance to play as a winger alongside real talent, it’s hard to imagine him ever hitting his stride in this league.
If Vancouver fails to recognize this flaw, other teams will continue to pick up these Canucks outcasts and turn them into the players they could have been here. This is, however, a double-edged sword. The Canucks, never an organization to make the same mistake twice, have also made the opposite mistake and rushed players into big roles too quickly to stunt development. This is why keeping some veteran presence around will also be critical, as sheltering rookies from some more demanding matchups and ensuring you aren’t overwhelming young players is also critical. The team has taken some good steps in this direction recently, giving Zeev Buium and Tom Willander each a game off to avoid overwhelming the rookie blueliners. If the Canucks can continue to follow this trend rather than those of the past, they should be doing themselves a big favour.
Step 5: No Shortcuts, Embrace the Pain
This season has sucked. From having to part with the most exciting player this franchise has had since Pavel Bure to the incredibly low quality we’ve seen on the ice nearly every game, this has been as difficult a season in recent memory as Canucks fans have sat through. Things are probably not going to get any more enjoyable on the ice any time soon, either. With more players set to be shipped off, a team that feels like it can’t get any worse just might find a way.
And that’s ok.
A big part of what has made this season so miserable is the feeling of hopelessness for the future among the fanbase. Beyond being a terrible team, fans have not felt as though the team is ready to make the necessary moves to right things in the future, instead chasing immediate success that simply can’t be found with what the team have now. Since the Hughes trade, however, things have felt different. By making such an uncharacteristic move, and following it up by talking about a rebuild and the future of the team in a way we haven’t heard before, there is a cautious sense of optimism creeping in about what’s to come.
If the Canucks miss the playoffs for the next few years, that is more than alright. Canucks fans are nothing if not used to spending their Aprils on the golf course, or wondering who the team might draft with their lottery pick come June. What has had the fanbase upset is not the lack of success this team has had, but the lack of success paired with nothing to get excited about in the coming years. By giving fans hope for the future, those who felt hopeless can now at least look to what may come as a beacon of hope for this team.
Rebuilds are not easy, and not nearly as fun as contending. But they are sometimes a necessary evil to get a team back to the winning ways that the fanbase craves. If the Canucks want to give the fanbase what they crave, they need absolute commitment to getting this rebuild right. By taking shortcuts, all you can achieve is extending the misery of a fanbase that has gone through all the pain of a rebuild without any of the benefits. By staying with the process, you reward the faith of those who stick around through it all by giving them the future they deserve, a future where the Vancouver Canucks are contending for a Stanley Cup.