Vancouver hockey fans, get ready for a season of change, hope, and high-stakes drama. The Vancouver Canucks, after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, have made bold moves both behind the bench and on the ice, signaling a new era under head coach Adam Foote. With the dust settling on a busy offseason, the Canucks are looking to retool and reignite their playoff ambitions in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.
The most eye-catching change came early in the offseason when the Canucks parted ways with Rick Tocchet. In his place, Adam Foote steps up, bringing a fresh perspective and a defensive-minded approach honed from years as an NHL blue-line stalwart. Foote inherits a roster in flux, tasked with blending a mix of seasoned veterans, returning stars, and an intriguing crop of young talent. The Canucks’ front office, led by GM Patrik Allvin, made it clear they’re not content to stand pat, orchestrating a series of signings, trades, and draft picks that could reshape the team’s trajectory.
Let’s start with the NHL Draft, where Vancouver’s scouting department delivered a class that has fans buzzing. First-round pick Braeden Cootes, who tallied a remarkable 71 points in 66 games for the Seattle Thunderbirds, headlines the group. Cootes’ combination of high-speed playmaking, two-way reliability, and physical strength fills a glaring need in Vancouver’s system. While he’s expected to return to the Thunderbirds for further seasoning, the Canucks see him as a future cornerstone. The draft haul didn’t stop there: Alexei Medvedev, a goaltender who posted a 22-8-2 record with a .912 save percentage in the OHL, joins the pipeline alongside forwards Kieren Dervin, Wilson Bjorck, Gabriel Chiarot, and Matthew Lansing. Each brings a unique skill set, with Dervin’s athleticism and Bjorck’s gritty, two-way play drawing particular praise.
The Canucks also made headlines on the trade front, acquiring veteran winger Evander Kane from Edmonton for a fourth-round pick. Kane, despite missing the 2024-25 regular season due to abdominal and knee surgeries, returned with a vengeance in the playoffs, notching 12 points in 21 games. His proven scoring touch and physical edge could provide much-needed punch to Vancouver’s middle six. Alongside Kane, the Canucks landed Ilya Safonov from Chicago and Chase Stillman from Pittsburgh, both of whom add depth and upside to the forward group. Safonov, a 6-foot-5 center, has shown promise in the KHL, while Stillman’s versatility and defensive acumen make him a candidate for a call-up if he impresses in Abbotsford.
Free agency was a balancing act for Vancouver, focused on retention and strategic additions. The headline signing was undoubtedly Brock Boeser’s seven-year, $50.75 million contract, locking up the winger as a key piece of the team’s secondary scoring. Derek Forbort returns on a one-year deal after providing reliable third-pairing defense, while Pierre-Olivier Joseph joins from St. Louis and Pittsburgh, aiming to seize the seventh defenseman spot. Other signings, such as Joseph Labate, MacKenzie MacEachern, and Jimmy Schuldt, offer depth and flexibility, especially with several contracts structured as two-way deals.
Re-signing restricted free agents was another priority. The Canucks inked Aatu Raty, Arshdeep Bains, Max Sasson, Jett Woo, Nikita Tolopilo, and Vitali Kravtsov to short-term deals, reinforcing the bottom of the roster and providing competition in training camp. Kravtsov’s return from a productive stint in the KHL—where he posted 58 points in 66 games—adds an intriguing wildcard to the mix. He’ll need to play in 16 NHL games to remain RFA-eligible, or he’ll hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
Vancouver also moved quickly to secure key extensions for Conor Garland (six years, $36 million) and Thatcher Demko (three years, $25.5 million). Garland’s consistent production—ranging from 46 to 52 points over the past four seasons—offers stability on the wing. Demko, coming off an injury-plagued year, is betting on a return to his Vezina-caliber form. The Canucks are now one of the league’s highest spenders in goal, pairing Demko with Kevin Lankinen. Whether that gamble pays off could determine the team’s playoff fate.
Of course, no offseason is without its losses. The departure of Pius Suter to the St. Louis Blues on a two-year, $8.25 million contract stings, especially given the team’s existing center depth concerns. Suter’s exit, along with the trades of Arturs Silovs and Dakota Joshua, leaves questions down the middle. Raty is poised for more NHL minutes, but whether he or Teddy Blueger can anchor a third line on a playoff contender remains to be seen. The Canucks also bid farewell to a handful of depth players, including Cole McWard, Tristen Nielsen, Noah Juulsen, and Phillip Di Giuseppe, each moving on to new opportunities.
So, where does this leave the Canucks heading into the 2025-26 season? The salary cap situation is tight, with roughly $3.27 million in space after the Joshua trade. That flexibility could allow for a late addition before training camp or provide a cushion against early-season injuries. The front office’s willingness to act decisively—whether in free agency, trades, or extensions—signals a commitment to contending now, not later.
Still, the road ahead is anything but certain. The Canucks’ playoff hopes rest largely on bounce-back campaigns from Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko. Pettersson, the team’s offensive engine, struggled to find his rhythm last season, while Demko’s health woes left a void in net. If both return to form, and if newcomers like Kane and the young guns deliver, Vancouver could surprise in the race for a postseason berth. Improved chemistry, a refreshed coaching staff, and a deeper roster all point to a team eager to shed the disappointment of last year.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on how Adam Foote molds this group. Will the new coach’s systems unlock the potential of a roster brimming with talent and promise? Can the Canucks overcome their center depth concerns and withstand the grind of an 82-game season? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—Vancouver hockey is set for an intriguing, high-stakes ride in 2025-26.
With anticipation building and questions swirling, the Canucks enter the new season with renewed optimism and a clear mandate: prove last year was an outlier and make a serious push for the playoffs. The next chapter in Vancouver’s hockey story is about to begin, and fans won’t want to miss a moment.
