The Vancouver Canucks open their season tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, marking the beginning of a pivotal rebuild year for the franchise. The team enters with drastically lowered expectations following a dramatic fall from contention to last place in the NHL.
Two years ago, the Canucks appeared poised for a Stanley Cup run after reaching Game 7 of the second round against these same Oilers. That core—featuring Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko—seemed positioned for another leap. According to the source material, “the team is now further away from a Stanley Cup than they’ve ever been,” as the organization collapsed and subsequently underwent sweeping changes.
The Canucks finished last season 25-49-8, 58 points, missing the playoffs entirely. The Athletic projects them at just a 5 percent chance of making the playoffs this year and a 0.1 percent chance to win the Stanley Cup. ESPN ranked them last in the NHL, citing catastrophic defensive metrics: they allowed the most goals per game, ranked in the bottom three for high-danger chances allowed per 60, and had the worst penalty kill. Offensively, they ranked bottom-three in goals per game.
The rebuild centers on new head coach Manny Malhotra and new general manager Ryan Johnson. The focus is on building draft capital and developing younger prospects outside the NHL. The Athletic notes Vancouver has five players entering the final year of their contracts, creating potential trade assets. Over the next three years, the Canucks have 28 total draft selections, including 10 in 2027.
On the ice tonight, the Canucks face a dominant Oilers roster led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid has recorded at least a point in 23 of his last 25 regular-season games against Vancouver (16 goals, 32 assists), while Draisaitl has at least one point in 26 of his last 27 meetings with the Canucks (23 goals, 21 assists). The Oilers will be without second-line centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who suffered a lower-body injury Monday.
For Vancouver, winger Jake DeBrusk is expected to play tonight after suffering a lower-body contusion Saturday. He travelled with the team to Edmonton following imaging Monday. Meanwhile, goaltender Thatcher Demko is again starting the season rehabbing a long-term injury, a persistent issue for the franchise.
Key facts
- Canucks finished last season 25-49-8, 58 points, missing playoffs entirely
- The Athletic projects 5% playoff probability, 0.1% Stanley Cup odds
- ESPN ranked them last in NHL with worst goals-against-per-game and worst penalty kill
- Vancouver has 28 draft selections over next three years, including 10 in 2027
- Connor McDavid has 23 points in 25 recent games vs Canucks; Draisaitl has points in 26 of last 27 meetings
- New coach Manny Malhotra and GM Ryan Johnson leading rebuild focused on youth development
- Jake DeBrusk expected to play despite lower-body contusion suffered Saturday
- Thatcher Demko again starting season rehabbing long-term injury