Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Chaos Lurks Beneath the Surface

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I often wonder if, deep down, the Canucks brain-trust of Rutherford and Allvin, might privately have seen this kind of year coming?

I remember at the start of last season, Rutherford was quoted as saying that 'just about everything would have to go right for the Canucks to make the playoffs'. Obviously even he was probably surprised that the team soared to the top of the Pacific, and managed to stay there.

But this year over a long 82-game schedule, NHL teams end up basically where they should end up. And the Canucks are probably a lot closer to this year's team, than that magical season of a year-ago.

So just 'making the playoffs' shouldn't be the priority any more. The re-tool has to continue. More size, speed and scoring up front. A hopefully rapid development of players like D-Petey and Wilander on the back end.

Sad but true--that this current roster just isn't good enough.
 
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To Carolina: EPettersson1, Kunz

To Colorado: Rantanen, VAN 2028 6th

To Vancouver: Necas, CAR 2026 2nd, COL 2026 2nd
lol at the idea of Avs trying to get Rantanen back

I often wonder if, deep down, the Canucks brain-trust of Rutherford and Allvin, might privately have seen this kind of year coming?

I remember at the start of last season, Rutherford was quoted as saying that 'just about everything would have to go right for the Canucks to make the playoffs'. Obviously even he was probably surprised that the team soared to the top of the Pacific, and managed to stay there.

But this year over a long 82-game schedule, NHL teams end up basically where they should end up. And the Canucks are probably a lot closer to this year's team, than that magical season of a year-ago.

So just 'making the playoffs' shouldn't be the priority any more. The re-tool has to continue. More size, speed and scoring up front. A hopefully rapid development of players like D-Petey and Wilander on the back end.

Sad but true--that this current roster just isn't good enough.
They were way more bullish at the start of this season
 
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To Carolina: EPettersson1, Kunz

To Colorado: Rantanen, VAN 2028 6th

To Vancouver: Necas, CAR 2026 2nd, COL 2026 2nd
Ewwwwww EP1 is the best player in that trade, we end up with the worst player in the trade and a pair of essentially 3rd round picks

I like Necas a lot too, but we need a blue chip prospect AND a Necas level player

The Eichel trade or bust
 


Thoughts? I think it’s the best path forward.

I heard the actual quote and that’s a bit out of context. What Cam said is if he was a betting man the best odds might just be that they all are gone in two years.

For what it’s worth I’m not sure those would be strong odds but sure is it 51/49 that happens? Sure but that doesn’t matter right now because making the right decisions between now and summer 2026 pushes those odds in a different direction.


Many many things went right for us last year and many many things haven’t gone right for us this year. Despite that we are arguably one or two good moves away from looking more like the team from last year.

There’s a small but meaningful wave of prospects getting close to being ready. Demko will be in a contract year next year and if Petey is still here maybe just maybe he’ll bounce back to at least a PPG level. There’s reason to believe this team next year can look more like the team from last year and if that’s the case it definitely helps our chances of keeping Hughes.
 
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If we didn't rebuild in the Benning era we aren't rebuilding now. It's all in, every year, forever in Canucks land.

Could have easily reloaded in 2022/23 and been lightyears ahead of our current situation without sacrificing anything we aren't actively trying to sacrifice right now but this franchise simply does not work that way. If Hughes leaves, Demko is ruined, and EP turns into Lindholm we'll just sign a bunch of bloated UFA contracts and play pretend serious franchise like Cgy/Min did the last 20 years.

Also EP in his rookie year got asked by Bieksa if he'd met the Sedins and he said no, Bieksa asked why and EP said they hadn't invited him over. The tone was a guy a bit star struck by them and definitely wasn't going to invite himself over. It's a big nothingburger that the 26 year old doesn't hang out with the 40 somethings with kids in the middle of the season.
 
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I don't see the point in speculating what Quinn Hughes wants to do in two years time. The pressure point summer 2026.

From an asset management standpoint I disagree; I think the Canucks need to extend Hughes ASAP.

By summer of 2026 he only has 1 year left, if he doesn't resign then it will hurt his trade return versus 2 years term.

Quinn Hughes is also a very unique & odd situation in that he has 2 brothers already on the same NHL team, and all the talk of it being no secret they'd all love to play together. I dont think you can ignore that that fact can also hurt his trade return if you wait until summer of 2026, because the other 31 NHL teams are far less likely to open up the armored truck & lavish Vancouver with prized assets if they think he's just going to sign with New Jersey UFA no matter what.
 
From an asset management standpoint I disagree; I think the Canucks need to extend Hughes ASAP.

By summer of 2026 he only has 1 year left, if he doesn't resign then it will hurt his trade return versus 2 years term.

Quinn Hughes is also a very unique & odd situation in that he has 2 brothers already on the same NHL team, and all the talk of it being no secret they'd all love to play together. I dont think you can ignore that that fact can also hurt his trade return if you wait until summer of 2026, because the other 31 NHL teams are far less likely to open up the armored truck & lavish Vancouver with prized assets if they think he's just going to sign with New Jersey UFA no matter what.

hughes can't extend until july 1, 2026
 
Lol get outta here NJ shill

Not "shilling", just think I'm rationally war-gaming the situation from a risk-reward asset management standpoint.

Or perhaps it is because I'm from "NJ" and I'm still scarred 20 years later from a very similar situation when Lou Lamoriello (who rarely made asset management mistakes in his prime) completely ignored the not-so-secret talk that brothers wanted to play together, and instead of making a trade for an absolute boatload of assets the Devils lost a Hall-of-Famer defenseman for absolutely nothing because he did in fact leave to sign on & play with his brother as a UFA even though the Devils offered the then maximum allowed $$$ contract for >$1 Million per year more than the Ducks did (which would be > $2 Million per season more in today's money). They were a tight family and the one & only shot to play together was worth more to them than the money.

Not that I'm still bitter about Lamoriello's mistake or anything.
 
From an asset management standpoint I disagree; I think the Canucks need to extend Hughes ASAP.

By summer of 2026 he only has 1 year left, if he doesn't resign then it will hurt his trade return versus 2 years term.

Quinn Hughes is also a very unique & odd situation in that he has 2 brothers already on the same NHL team, and all the talk of it being no secret they'd all love to play together. I dont think you can ignore that that fact can also hurt his trade return if you wait until summer of 2026, because the other 31 NHL teams are far less likely to open up the armored truck & lavish Vancouver with prized assets if they think he's just going to sign with New Jersey UFA no matter what.

He can't sign an extension until the the summer of 2026.
 

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